ATI RN
Psychological Exam
1. Kai and Ken received their Christmas gifts from their parents. Although their gifts vary in many characteristics, the two compared their gifts based on size. This tendency among children is known as:
- A. Semiotic
- B. Abstraction
- C. Preoperational
- D. Overextension
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Overextension. Overextension happens when children compare objects or experiences based on one characteristic, such as size. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Semiotic refers to the study of signs and symbols; Abstraction is the process of thinking about something as a general concept rather than a specific example; Preoperational is a stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, not related to comparing gifts based on size.
2. Strict behaviorists would be most sympathetic to which one of the following statements?
- A. Human behavior is primarily caused by inherited factors.
- B. Human behavior is primarily caused by environmental factors.
- C. Human behavior is primarily caused by equal contributions of inherited and environmental factors.
- D. No one really knows the primary causes for human behavior.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Strict behaviorists, who adhere to behaviorism, believe that human behavior is primarily influenced by environmental factors. This perspective asserts that individuals' actions and responses are shaped by their interactions with the environment, learning experiences, and external stimuli. Choice A is incorrect because strict behaviorists do not focus on inherited factors but on how behavior is learned and shaped through environmental influences. Choice C is also incorrect as behaviorists do not believe in equal contributions of inherited and environmental factors; they emphasize environmental determinants. Choice D is incorrect as behaviorists have a clear stance that behavior is influenced by environmental stimuli and learning experiences.
3. What is a person's total genetic endowment?
- A. Phenotype
- B. Genotype
- C. Chromosomes
- D. DNA
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Genotype. A genotype refers to a person's total genetic endowment, representing the specific genetic makeup inherited from their parents. This includes all the genes and genetic information contained in an individual's DNA. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because: A) Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics resulting from the interaction of genetics and the environment; C) Chromosomes are physical structures that contain genes, not the total genetic endowment itself; D) DNA carries genetic information but is just one component of an individual's total genetic endowment.
4. With which of the following statements would a behaviorist agree?
- A. Conscious experiences can be studied in an objective, precise way.
- B. In order to understand behavior, one must understand the motives behind the behavior.
- C. Behavior can only be explained in terms of phenomenology, that is, an individual's interpretation of experience.
- D. Psychology should be the science of behavior that can be observed by others.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Behaviorists argue that psychology should focus on observable behavior that can be studied objectively. Choice A is incorrect because behaviorists do not typically focus on conscious experiences, as they are not directly observable. Choice B is incorrect because behaviorists emphasize that behavior can be understood without delving into internal motives. Choice C is incorrect as behaviorists do not exclusively explain behavior through an individual's interpretation of experience; they focus on observable actions and reactions.
5. William James, who was a pioneer in the development of functionalism, was most heavily influenced by?
- A. Charles Darwin.
- B. Sigmund Freud.
- C. John Watson.
- D. B.F. Skinner.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: William James was heavily influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which shaped his functionalist views on psychology. This influence is evident in James's emphasis on adaptation, survival, and the functional purposes of behavior. Choice B, Sigmund Freud, is incorrect because Freud's psychoanalytic theory focused on unconscious processes and childhood experiences, which differ significantly from James's functionalism. Choice C, John Watson, is incorrect as Watson was a behaviorist who emphasized observable behavior and rejected mental processes, which contrasts with James's focus on mental processes. Choice D, B.F. Skinner, is also incorrect as Skinner was a behaviorist known for his work on operant conditioning, which is not directly aligned with James's functionalist perspective.
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