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Quizzes > Science

Psychology 100 Exam 1 Practice Quiz

Quick psych 100 practice quiz to check your understanding. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Amit AnandUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Psychology 100 Exam 1 practice quiz on coral background

This Psychology 100 Exam 1 practice quiz helps you check your grasp of structuralism, functionalism, research methods, and core terms. Work through quick questions to spot gaps and build confidence before your test. For extra practice, warm up with an intro to psychology quiz, sharpen memory and perception with a cognitive psychology quiz, or review foundations in a psychology chapters 1-3 quiz.

What is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes called?
Sociology
Anthropology
Physiology
Psychology
Psychology is defined as the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. It emerged as a distinct scientific discipline in the late 19th century. It integrates research from biology, neuroscience, and social sciences to understand mind and behavior.
Who is often considered the father of structuralism in psychology?
William James
Wilhelm Wundt
John B. Watson
Sigmund Freud
Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879 and is credited with structuralism. His approach used introspection to break down mental processes into basic elements. Structuralism laid the groundwork for experimental psychology.
Which early school of thought focused on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments?
Psychoanalysis
Behaviorism
Structuralism
Functionalism
Functionalism, founded by William James, emphasized the purpose of consciousness and behavior. It focused on how mental processes operate in aiding adaptation. This approach contrasted with structuralism's focus on mental elements. https://www.britannica.com/science/functionalism-psychology
What did behaviorism, as proposed by John B. Watson, emphasize?
Observable behavior
Introspection
Genetic influences
Unconscious motives
Behaviorism, championed by Watson, focused exclusively on observable behavior. It rejected introspection and unconscious processes as unscientific. This approach led to rigorous experimental methods in psychology.
Who founded psychoanalysis?
Ivan Pavlov
Sigmund Freud
Carl Rogers
B.F. Skinner
Sigmund Freud established psychoanalysis, emphasizing unconscious motives and early childhood experiences. His method of therapy used techniques like free association and dream analysis. Psychoanalysis influenced later psychodynamic theories.
Which research method involves an in-depth analysis of an individual or group?
Survey
Case study
Naturalistic observation
Experiment
Case studies involve detailed examination of one individual or small group. They provide rich qualitative data but lack generalizability. Classic examples include Freud's studies of patient personalities.
What is the primary advantage of an experimental method?
High ecological validity
Detailed personal insights
Ease of data collection
Establishing cause and effect
Experiments allow researchers to manipulate independent variables and observe effects on dependent variables. This control enables causal inferences. Other methods cannot definitively establish cause and effect.
In research, what does the term 'operational definition' refer to?
Hypothesis formulation
Ethical guidelines for participants
Statistical formula for analysis
Definition of variables in measurable terms
An operational definition specifies precisely how variables are measured or manipulated. It ensures that the research can be replicated. Clear operational definitions enhance reliability and validity.
What does a correlation coefficient of -0.80 indicate?
Strong positive relationship
Strong negative relationship
No relationship
Weak negative relationship
Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1. A negative sign indicates inverse relationship. -0.80 reflects a strong negative correlation.
Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals?
Dendrite
Myelin sheath
Synaptic terminal
Axon
Dendrites are branched extensions that receive messages from other neurons. They conduct impulses toward the cell body. This structure allows cells to integrate information.
What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
GABA
Acetylcholine
Glutamate
Dopamine
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) reduces neural excitability throughout the nervous system. It is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Abnormal GABA activity is linked to disorders like anxiety.
Which brain structure is primarily involved in regulating vital life functions such as breathing and heartbeat?
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
Thalamus
The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls basic life functions. It includes the medulla and pons. Damage to this area can be life-threatening.
What is sensory adaptation?
Failure of sensory receptors
Conversion of physical energy to neural signals
Decreased sensitivity after constant stimulation
Heightened sensitivity after deprivation
Sensory adaptation occurs when we become less sensitive to an unchanging stimulus. It allows us to focus on changes in the environment. For example, you stop noticing the feel of your clothes after a while.
Which gestalt principle describes our tendency to perceive objects close together as part of the same group?
Closure
Similarity
Proximity
Continuity
The principle of proximity states that elements near each other tend to be perceived as a group. This is one of the core Gestalt laws of perceptual organization. It helps explain how we visually sort complex scenes.
In classical conditioning, the stimulus that naturally elicits a response is called the:
Unconditioned stimulus
Reinforced stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
Neutral stimulus
An unconditioned stimulus (US) automatically triggers an unconditioned response without prior conditioning. For example, food (US) elicits salivation (UR) in Pavlov's dogs. It contrasts with a conditioned stimulus.
Which researcher is known for the foundational work in operant conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
B.F. Skinner
Edward Tolman
Albert Bandura
B.F. Skinner expanded on Thorndike's law of effect to develop operant conditioning. He studied how consequences shape behavior using reinforcement and punishment. His work introduced the Skinner box experimental paradigm.
Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme scores?
Mean
Median
Range
Mode
The mean is calculated by summing all scores and dividing by the number of scores, so it is sensitive to outliers. A single extreme score can shift the mean substantially. The median and mode are less influenced by extremes.
Which brain imaging technique measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow?
PET scan
EEG
CT scan
fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) detects changes in blood oxygenation levels. It maps active brain areas while participants perform tasks. It has high spatial resolution but lower temporal resolution. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/functional-mri-fmri
In Piaget's stages of cognitive development, the concrete operational stage is characterized by:
Object permanence emergence
Sensory-motor coordination
Abstract and hypothetical thinking
Logical reasoning about concrete events
During the concrete operational stage (ages 7 - 11), children develop logical thought about concrete events. They master concepts such as conservation and reversibility. Abstract or hypothetical reasoning emerges later in the formal operational stage.
Which of the following best illustrates positive reinforcement?
Removing chores when chores are done
Time-out for bad behavior
Scolding a pet for misbehavior
Giving a child candy for doing homework
Positive reinforcement involves presenting a pleasant stimulus following a behavior to increase its occurrence. Giving candy after homework encourages future homework completion. Removing chores would be negative reinforcement.
What is the cocktail party effect?
Selective attention to one conversation while filtering others
Enhanced memory for emotionally charged events
Tendency to complete patterns in perception
Improved performance under moderate stress
The cocktail party effect describes focusing auditory attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli. It demonstrates selective attention in noisy environments. Research shows that personally relevant information, like one's name, captures attention.
Which memory system has the largest capacity but shortest duration?
Working memory
Long-term memory
Short-term memory
Sensory memory
Sensory memory briefly holds large amounts of incoming sensory information for a fraction of a second. It allows perception of a continuous experience. Short-term and working memory have smaller capacity but longer duration.
Which type of long-term memory is concerned with facts and general knowledge?
Procedural memory
Episodic memory
Sensory memory
Semantic memory
Semantic memory stores facts, concepts, and general knowledge about the world. It differs from episodic memory, which stores personal experiences. Procedural memory involves skills and actions.
Which theory suggests that emotions are the result of physiological arousal plus cognitive interpretation?
James-Lange theory
Schachter-Singer two-factor theory
Cannon-Bard theory
Drive-reduction theory
The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory posits that emotion arises from physiological arousal and a cognitive label. Both the bodily response and the interpretation are necessary. It differs from James-Lange and Cannon-Bard accounts.
In social psychology, what is the fundamental attribution error?
Attributing successes to external factors
Bystander apathy
Overestimating dispositional factors and underestimating situational factors
Conforming to group norms
The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal traits rather than situational factors. People often ignore situational influences on behavior. This bias is robust across cultures but somewhat reduced in Eastern cultures.
Which part of the limbic system is crucial for the formation of new memories?
Hypothalamus
Thalamus
Amygdala
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is essential for consolidating short-term memories into long-term storage. Damage to it leads to anterograde amnesia. It works closely with other limbic structures for memory processing.
Which stage in Erikson's psychosocial theory involves adolescents forming a sense of identity?
Intimacy vs. isolation
Identity vs. role confusion
Integrity vs. despair
Industry vs. inferiority
Erikson's fifth stage, identity vs. role confusion, occurs during adolescence. Individuals explore different roles to form a coherent identity. Successful resolution leads to fidelity and direction.
Which psychological perspective focuses on free will and self-actualization?
Humanistic
Behavioral
Biological
Cognitive
The humanistic perspective emphasizes individual free will, personal growth, and self-actualization. It was developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. It contrasts with deterministic behavioral and psychodynamic approaches.
What term describes the activation, in memory, of specific associations in the absence of explicit cues?
Rehearsal
Chunking
Priming
Encoding
Priming is the process by which exposure to one stimulus influences response to a subsequent stimulus. It operates without conscious guidance. Priming demonstrates that memory retrieval can be automatic.
Which sleep stage is characterized by vivid dreaming and rapid eye movements?
Stage 1
Stage 2
REM sleep
Stage 3
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep features high brain activity, vivid dreaming, and muscle atonia. It cycles every 90 minutes and increases in duration towards morning. It is critical for memory consolidation.
Which phenomenon describes the drop in performance when individuals believe their abilities are limited by stereotype?
In-group bias
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Stereotype threat
Confirmation bias
Stereotype threat occurs when awareness of a negative stereotype impairs performance. It has been shown in domains such as women in math. Interventions reducing threat improve outcomes.
What does the term 'neuroplasticity' refer to?
Automatic spinal reflexes
Brain's production of neurotransmitters
Degeneration of neurons over time
Brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections
Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt to experience by rewiring neural pathways. It underlies learning, memory, and recovery from brain injury. It demonstrates that the adult brain is not fixed.
In signal detection theory, what term describes a stimulus present but not detected?
Hit
Correct rejection
Miss
False alarm
A miss occurs when a signal is present but the observer fails to detect it. Signal detection theory distinguishes sensitivity from response bias. Hits, misses, false alarms, and correct rejections form the four outcomes.
Which brain wave pattern is most prominent during relaxed wakefulness with eyes closed?
Beta waves
Theta waves
Alpha waves
Delta waves
Alpha waves (8 - 12 Hz) appear when individuals are awake but relaxed and eyes are closed. They diminish when attention turns inwards or during mental exertion. Beta waves dominate during active thinking.
Which memory error occurs when misleading information corrupts one's memory of an event?
Proactive interference
Retroactive interference
False memory syndrome
Misinformation effect
The misinformation effect describes how post-event information can distort memory recall. Elizabeth Loftus demonstrated that wording of questions can alter eyewitness testimony. This effect highlights reconstructive aspects of memory.
In developmental psychology, what is 'object permanence'?
Developing motor coordination
Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight
Ability to categorize objects
Recognition of self in a mirror
Object permanence emerges in the sensorimotor stage (about 8 - 12 months). It indicates that infants recognize objects exist even when they cannot be seen. This marks a critical cognitive milestone.
Which assessment technique involves a client responding to ambiguous stimuli, like inkblots?
Self-report questionnaire
Behavioral observation
Objective test
Projective test
Projective tests, such as the Rorschach inkblot test, ask clients to interpret ambiguous stimuli. They aim to uncover unconscious aspects of personality. Critics question their reliability and validity.
Which statistical test would you use to compare means of three or more independent groups?
t-test
Chi-square
Correlation
ANOVA
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) compares the means of three or more groups to see if at least one differs significantly. It partitions variance into between-group and within-group components. It controls Type I error better than multiple t-tests.
What does 'double-blind' refer to in experimental design?
Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments
Participants but not researchers know assignments
Both know assignments
Researchers but not participants know assignments
In a double-blind design, both participants and experimenters are unaware of who receives the treatment or control. This reduces expectancy effects and experimenter bias. It is widely used in clinical trials.
Which phenomenon describes improved recall when retrieval occurs in the same context as encoding?
State-dependent memory
Context-dependent memory
Encoding specificity
Mood-congruent memory
Context-dependent memory shows that people recall information better when in the same environment where they learned it. The physical context serves as a cue. It is one example of the encoding specificity principle.
Which disorder is characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression?
Cyclothymia
Bipolar disorder
Major depressive disorder
Dysthymia
Bipolar disorder involves mood swings from manic highs to depressive lows. Type I features full manic episodes, while Type II involves hypomania. It differs from unipolar depression without mania.
Which therapy integrates cognitive restructuring with behavioral techniques?
Psychoanalytic therapy
Gestalt therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Humanistic therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) addresses maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. It uses techniques like cognitive restructuring and exposure. CBT is evidence-based for depression and anxiety disorders.
What does the term 'eclectic approach' in therapy refer to?
Strictly following one school of therapy
Alternating therapists over time
Combining medication only with counseling
Using techniques from multiple therapeutic approaches
An eclectic approach tailors therapy by drawing from various schools and techniques. Clinicians select methods best suited to each client and problem. It contrasts with allegiance to a single theoretical orientation.
What is the main claim of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
Thought determines language
Language and thought are unrelated
Language influences thought
Language is innate
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis asserts that the structure of a language affects cognition and worldview. Strong version claims language determines thought; weaker version suggests influence. Studies show linguistic relativity in color perception.
Which statistical concept describes the probability of incorrectly rejecting a true null hypothesis?
Type I error
Type II error
Confidence interval
Power
A Type I error occurs when researchers conclude there is an effect when none exists. It is denoted by alpha (?). Maintaining ? at .05 means 5% risk of false positives.
In classical conditioning, which phenomenon describes the reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period?
Acquisition
Spontaneous recovery
Generalization
Discrimination
Spontaneous recovery is the sudden reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest interval. It demonstrates that extinction suppresses rather than erases learning. Recurrence tends to be weaker than initial conditioning.
Which brain area is most implicated in the experience of fear?
Hippocampus
Thalamus
Amygdala
Prefrontal cortex
The amygdala processes threats and triggers fear responses. It interacts with the hypothalamus and brainstem to coordinate physiological reactions. Damage to the amygdala can impair fear recognition.
What is the bystander effect?
Increased helping in groups
Decreased likelihood of helping when others are present
Ignoring group norms
Group decision making leads to extreme choices
The bystander effect shows people are less likely to help in an emergency when more bystanders are present. Diffusion of responsibility and social influence explain this phenomenon. Classic research by Darley and Latané illustrates it.
Which concept describes systematic changes in behavior or knowledge that result from experience?
Sensitization
Maturation
Learning
Habituation
Learning is a lasting change in behavior or knowledge due to experience. It contrasts with maturation, which refers to biological growth processes. Habituation and sensitization are forms of non-associative learning.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Foundational Theories -

    Define and explain the core principles of structuralism and functionalism as covered in Psychology 100 Exam 1, enabling you to articulate how each approach shaped the study of human behavior.

  2. Compare Major Psychological Perspectives -

    Analyze the similarities and differences among behaviorism, cognitive psychology, humanism, and other key perspectives to strengthen your ability to differentiate concepts on your Psychology 100 test 1.

  3. Identify Influential Psychologists -

    Recall the contributions of landmark figures such as Wundt, James, Watson, and Skinner, preparing you to recognize their roles and theories on the psych 100 exam 1.

  4. Apply Research Methodologies -

    Distinguish between experimental, correlational, and observational study designs, so you can accurately evaluate research approaches featured in the Psychology 100 Exam 1 practice quiz.

  5. Evaluate Empirical Findings -

    Interpret data and research outcomes presented in quiz questions to assess the validity and reliability of psychological studies covered in your psychology 100 test 1.

  6. Analyze Quiz Performance -

    Review your practice quiz results to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement, guiding targeted study efforts for the psych 100 exam 1.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Structuralism vs Functionalism -

    Structuralism, pioneered by Wundt and Titchener, used introspection to break consciousness into basic elements. Functionalism, led by William James, focused on the adaptive functions of behavior - imagine how thoughts help us "function" in daily life. Reviewing these foundations is key for psychology 100 exam 1 success.

  2. Major Psychological Perspectives -

    Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner) examines observable behavior, while the cognitive perspective studies mental processes like memory and language. The psychoanalytic view (Freud) emphasizes unconscious drives, and the humanistic approach (Rogers, Maslow) highlights personal growth. A helpful mnemonic is "BBC-PH" to recall Behaviorism, Biological, Cognitive, Psychoanalytic, Humanistic.

  3. Research Methods and Experimental Design -

    Understand the difference between descriptive, correlational, and experimental studies; only experiments determine causation through manipulation and control of variables. Familiarize yourself with key terms like independent/dependent variables and random assignment - think IV/DV as "Input - Output." This knowledge is often tested on psych 100 exam 1 and psychology 100 test 1 quizzes.

  4. Neuron Structure and Neurotransmitters -

    Recall that neurons consist of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon; signals travel via action potentials described by the all-or-none principle. Key neurotransmitters include dopamine (reward/motivation) and serotonin (mood regulation) - use the phrase "Dope Mood" to recall dopamine for reward and serotonin for stability. A solid grasp of neural communication is essential for psych 100 exam 1.

  5. Ethical Principles in Psychological Research -

    Memorize the APA ethical standards: informed consent, confidentiality, protection from harm and the right to withdraw. A quick mnemonic is "ICPR" (Informed, Confidentiality, Protection, Right to withdraw). Ethical considerations are frequently quizzed on the psychology 100 test 1 because they ensure research integrity and participant welfare.

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