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Quizzes > Science

Psychological Theory Quiz: Test Your Understanding

Quick, free psychology theory test to check your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Devika ElumalaiUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art displaying a brain for Psychological Theory Knowledge Test quiz

This psychological theory quiz helps you check your grasp of major theories and terms in minutes. After you finish, keep building skills with a psychology practice test, review core concepts in the cognitive psychology quiz, or explore approaches with a personality theories quiz. See your score right away.

Which psychologist is most closely associated with classical conditioning?
B.F. Skinner
Jean Piaget
Carl Rogers
Ivan Pavlov
Ivan Pavlov pioneered classical conditioning by demonstrating how stimuli could elicit learned reflexes in dogs. Other theorists are associated with different psychological frameworks.
What is the primary focus of behaviorist psychology?
Unconscious conflicts
Observable behavior
Self-actualization
Cognitive schemas
Behaviorism focuses on observable and measurable behaviors, disregarding internal mental states. Other options refer to psychoanalytic, humanistic, or cognitive concepts.
Who introduced the hierarchy of needs?
Albert Bandura
B.F. Skinner
Abraham Maslow
Erik Erikson
Abraham Maslow proposed the hierarchy of needs as part of humanistic psychology. The other theorists are known for behaviorism, social learning theory, and psychosocial development respectively.
Which approach emphasizes internal mental processes like memory and problem-solving?
Psychoanalytic psychology
Humanistic psychology
Behaviorist psychology
Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology studies internal mental processes such as memory, perception, and problem-solving. Other approaches focus on behavior, personal growth, or unconscious conflicts.
In humanistic psychology, self-actualization refers to:
Uncovering unconscious conflicts
Reinforcing desirable actions
Reducing maladaptive behavior
Realizing one's full potential
Humanistic psychology defines self-actualization as achieving one's fullest potential and personal growth. Other options describe behaviorist or psychoanalytic concepts.
Which schedule of reinforcement is characterized by delivering a reward after a varying number of responses?
Fixed interval
Variable interval
Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
A variable ratio schedule provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, producing a high and steady response rate. Other schedules are based on time intervals or fixed response counts.
At which stage of Piaget's theory do children begin logical operations on concrete objects?
Formal operational
Concrete operational
Preoperational
Sensorimotor
The concrete operational stage, occurring roughly between ages 7 and 11, is when children develop logical thinking about concrete events. Other stages cover infancy, symbolic play, and abstract reasoning.
Albert Bandura's social learning theory highlights which process as central to learning?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Self-actualization
Observational learning
Social learning theory emphasizes learning through observing and imitating others, known as observational learning. Classical and operant conditioning are behaviorist concepts, while self-actualization is humanistic.
Carl Rogers is best known for which therapeutic approach?
Behavior modification
Psychoanalysis
Gestalt therapy
Client-centered therapy
Carl Rogers developed client-centered (person-centered) therapy, focusing on unconditional positive regard and empathy. Gestalt, behavior modification, and psychoanalysis are distinct approaches.
In cognitive psychology, a schema is best defined as:
A personality structure
A mental framework for organizing information
A type of reinforcement schedule
An observable behavior pattern
A schema is a cognitive structure that helps individuals organize and interpret information. It differs from behaviorist and personality constructs.
Negative reinforcement in operant conditioning involves:
Presenting a positive stimulus to increase behavior
Presenting an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior
Removing a positive stimulus to decrease behavior
Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior
Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus when the behavior occurs. Other options describe punishment or positive reinforcement.
Lev Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development refers to:
Skills mastered independently
Behaviors extinguished over time
Innate reflexes present at birth
Tasks a learner can perform with guidance
The zone of proximal development describes the difference between what children can do alone and what they can achieve with help from more knowledgeable others, distinct from innate or extinguished behaviors.
A teacher gives students points for each correct answer to encourage more participation. This is an example of:
Operant conditioning
Trait theory
Cognitive restructuring
Classical conditioning
Awarding points for correct answers exemplifies operant conditioning, where behaviors are influenced by consequences like rewards. Other options do not involve systematic reinforcement.
Which theorist introduced the idea of self-efficacy?
Abraham Maslow
Jean Piaget
Albert Bandura
B.F. Skinner
Albert Bandura coined self-efficacy to describe an individual's belief in their capability to perform actions to achieve goals. Other theorists focused on development, behavior, or human needs.
Which psychological approach would focus on a person's unique subjective experience?
Behaviorist
Biological
Cognitive
Humanistic
Humanistic psychology emphasizes individual subjective experience and personal growth, in contrast to behaviorist, cognitive, or biological views that focus on behavior, mental processes, or physiology.
After a behavior that was previously reinforced stops being rewarded, the behavior gradually decreases. This process is called:
Extinction
Spontaneous recovery
Generalization
Shaping
In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when reinforcement is withdrawn and the conditioned behavior diminishes over time. Spontaneous recovery is a temporary return of the behavior, while shaping and generalization describe different processes.
Which statement best contrasts behaviorist and cognitive approaches?
Both approaches ignore mental states and focus only on behavior
Behaviorism studies observable actions, while cognitive focuses on internal mental processes
Behaviorism emphasizes subjective experiences, while cognitive focuses on reinforcement
Cognitive psychology denies the importance of memory and attention
Behaviorism is concerned with observable behavior, whereas cognitive psychology investigates internal processes like memory and attention. The other options misrepresent both approaches.
A tutor provides support just beyond a student's current ability, gradually withdrawing help as competence increases. This practice exemplifies:
Scaffolding in the zone of proximal development
Operant shaping
Accommodation in cognitive development
Classical conditioning extension
Scaffolding is a method where support is adjusted as learners progress within their zone of proximal development. It differs from Piaget's accommodation, behavioral shaping, or classical extension.
Which reinforcement schedule typically produces the highest rate of responding with the most resistance to extinction?
Fixed interval
Fixed ratio
Variable interval
Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules yield high, steady response rates and resistance to extinction because reinforcement is unpredictable. Interval schedules or fixed ratios produce different patterns of responding.
In person-centered therapy, the discrepancy between one's self-concept and experiences is termed:
Incongruence
Displacement
Introjection
Transference
Incongruence describes the gap between a person's self-concept and actual experiences in Carl Rogers' theory. The other terms relate to psychodynamic defense mechanisms or transference phenomena.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze key psychological theory concepts and principles.
  2. Identify major theoretical frameworks used in psychology.
  3. Evaluate differences between behaviorist, cognitive, and humanistic approaches.
  4. Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world psychological scenarios.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of foundational theorists' contributions.
  6. Master terminology related to psychological models and theories.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the Core Psychological Theories - Dive into the five major perspectives - behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and biological - to see how each one explains different facets of human thought and action. Grasping these theories gives you a versatile toolkit for interpreting behavior in everyday life.
  2. Explore Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory - Delve into Freud's id, ego, and superego model to uncover how unconscious drives and early experiences shape our personalities. This theory reveals the hidden tug-of-war in your mind that influences behavior.
  3. Study Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Climb Maslow's famous pyramid to understand how our basic needs for food and safety evolve into deeper desires for love, esteem, and self-actualization. This framework highlights the stages of personal growth we all pass through.
  4. Examine Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development - Follow children through sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages to see how thinking skills evolve. Piaget's model maps out key milestones in reasoning and problem-solving.
  5. Analyze Erikson's Psychosocial Development Stages - Review Erikson's eight life-span stages where each presents a core conflict - like trust vs. mistrust or identity vs. role confusion - that shapes our social and emotional identity. It's a roadmap of growth from infancy to old age.
  6. Differentiate Between Behaviorist, Cognitive, and Humanistic Approaches - Compare how behaviorism studies observable actions, cognitive psychology dives into mental processes, and humanistic psychology celebrates personal potential and self-fulfillment. Spotting their differences helps you pick the right lens for each scenario.
  7. Understand Bandura's Social Learning Theory - Discover how we learn by watching others, imitating behaviors, and seeing the consequences. Bandura's model emphasizes the power of role models and observational learning in shaping new skills.
  8. Learn About Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions - Spin through Robert Plutchik's eight primary emotions and see how they blend into complex feelings. This colorful wheel helps you identify and articulate emotional experiences.
  9. Familiarize Yourself with Defense Mechanisms - Study how the ego protects us through denial, repression, projection, and other tactics when faced with stress or conflict. Recognizing these strategies can boost your self-awareness and coping skills.
  10. Apply Theoretical Knowledge to Real-World Scenarios - Practice by analyzing case studies or everyday situations using different psychological theories to sharpen your critical thinking and application skills. This hands-on approach cements your understanding and makes theory come alive.
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