BAPSY (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which research method involves systematically manipulating one variable while keeping all others constant to establish causality?

Controlled experiment (Correct answer)
Correlational study
Naturalistic observation
Case study

Correct answer: Controlled experiment

Only controlled experiments with random assignment allow researchers to infer that the independent variable caused changes in the dependent variable.

Question 2: Which theory proposes that people experience discomfort when holding two contradictory beliefs and are motivated to reduce this tension?

Cognitive dissonance theory (Correct answer)
Balance theory
Social identity theory
Equity theory

Correct answer: Cognitive dissonance theory

Cognitive dissonance theory, developed by Leon Festinger, states that inconsistency between cognitions creates psychological discomfort that motivates attitude or behavior change.

Question 3: Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner) predicts that simply being categorized into a group will lead people to:

Seek out new groups to join frequently
Favor their in-group over out-groups (Correct answer)
Develop equal preference for all groups
Reduce stereotyping toward all other groups

Correct answer: Favor their in-group over out-groups

Even minimal group categorization produces in-group favoritism because group membership contributes to positive social identity.

Question 4: What is the average of the numbers 7, 3, 5, 6, and 4?

6
3
4
5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5

To find the average (mean) of a set of numbers, you sum all the numbers and then divide by the count of the numbers. For 7, 3, 5, 6, and 4, the sum is 7 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 4 = 25. Since there are 5 numbers, the average is 25 / 5 = 5.

Question 5: Which of the following is most consistent with the concept of 'reciprocity' as a norm in social exchange?

Helping others without expectation of return
Withholding help from those who have not contributed
Returning favors received from others (Correct answer)
Distributing resources based on need

Correct answer: Returning favors received from others

The reciprocity norm creates an obligation to return benefits received, and is widely exploited as a compliance technique.

Question 6: Which of the following correctly describes the primary function of the hippocampus?

Serving as the brain's primary relay station for sensory information.
Processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.
Regulating basic survival functions like hunger and thirst.
Playing a critical role in the formation of new long-term memories. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Playing a critical role in the formation of new long-term memories.

The hippocampus is a key structure in the limbic system that is essential for consolidating information from short-term memory to long-term memory. It is also heavily involved in spatial memory and navigation.

Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a 'functional behavior assessment' (FBA) in applied behavior analysis?

To evaluate the effectiveness of medication on behavioral symptoms
To diagnose specific psychological disorders through structured interviews
To identify the antecedents and consequences maintaining a target behavior (Correct answer)
To measure a client's overall intelligence and adaptive functioning

Correct answer: To identify the antecedents and consequences maintaining a target behavior

An FBA systematically examines the environmental variables (antecedents and consequences) that trigger and reinforce a behavior to inform effective intervention planning.

Question 8: The concept of 'psychiatric advance directives' (PADs) allows individuals with mental illness to:

Document treatment preferences for future psychiatric crises (Correct answer)
Sue mental health providers for involuntary commitment
Request exemption from all involuntary treatment laws
Designate financial power of attorney to a family member

Correct answer: Document treatment preferences for future psychiatric crises

PADs are legal documents in which individuals specify their treatment preferences and designate surrogates to make decisions during psychiatric emergencies.

Question 9: In the diathesis-stress model, 'diathesis' refers to:

The severity of a current episode
A biological or psychological predisposition to disorder (Correct answer)
The course of illness over time
Environmental stressors that trigger symptoms

Correct answer: A biological or psychological predisposition to disorder

Diathesis refers to a pre-existing vulnerability or predisposition — genetic, biological, or psychological — that interacts with stress to produce a disorder.

Question 10: In a 2x3 factorial design, how many conditions are there in total?

3
6 (Correct answer)
5
8

Correct answer: 6

A 2x3 factorial design has 2 × 3 = 6 total conditions representing all combinations of both independent variables.

Question 11: Bandura's social learning theory emphasizes which process as critical for learning without direct reinforcement?

Observational learning (Correct answer)
Operant shaping
Classical conditioning
Insight learning

Correct answer: Observational learning

Bandura showed that people can learn by observing and imitating others, a process called observational (or vicarious) learning.

Question 12: Which personality disorder cluster is described as 'odd or eccentric' in the DSM-5?

Cluster D
Cluster B
Cluster A (Correct answer)
Cluster C

Correct answer: Cluster A

Cluster A includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders, characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior.

Question 13: In Kanazawa's mathematical analysis, what shape or pattern does the age-sex crime curve exhibit?

None of the above
Both A and B
The difference between reproductive benefits minus costs (Correct answer)
The difference between costs minus reproductive benefits

Correct answer: The difference between reproductive benefits minus costs

Satoshi Kanazawa's evolutionary theory of crime posits that criminal behavior, particularly among young males, can be understood as a risky strategy to gain reproductive benefits. The age-sex crime curve, which shows a peak in crime rates for young men, reflects a period where the potential reproductive benefits of risky, competitive behavior are perceived to outweigh the associated costs. His mathematical analysis models this cost-benefit calculation, where the curve represents the net reproductive benefit.

Question 14: A child repeatedly pulls out their own hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss. The DSM-5 classifies this as:

Stereotypic movement disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder
Trichotillomania (Correct answer)
Excoriation disorder

Correct answer: Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) is classified in DSM-5 under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders and involves recurrent compulsive hair pulling.

Question 15: What is the misinformation effect as described by Elizabeth Loftus?

The tendency to remember the first items in a list
The distortion of memory when misleading post-event information is introduced (Correct answer)
The tendency to forget information over time
The inability to form new memories after brain injury

Correct answer: The distortion of memory when misleading post-event information is introduced

The misinformation effect occurs when exposure to incorrect information after an event alters a person's memory of that original event.

Question 16: A researcher finds r = 0.85 between study hours and exam scores. What does this indicate?

Study hours cause better exam scores
85% of variance is explained
The relationship is non-linear
A strong positive linear relationship (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A strong positive linear relationship

r = 0.85 indicates a strong positive linear relationship, but correlation does not imply causation.

Question 17: Who is known for emphasizing the developmental nature of infant behavior?

Erik Erikson
Jean Piaget
Sigmund Freud
Charles Darwin (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Charles Darwin

While Piaget, Freud, and Erikson are prominent developmental theorists, Charles Darwin, through his detailed observations of his own children, particularly his son Doddy, provided early and significant insights into the developmental nature of infant behavior. His work, 'A Biographical Sketch of an Infant,' published in 1877, highlighted the evolutionary aspects of early human development and influenced later developmental psychology.

Question 18: Which defense mechanism involves unconsciously attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to others?

Projection (Correct answer)
Sublimation
Rationalization
Repression

Correct answer: Projection

Projection involves attributing one's own unwanted thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto another person as a way of reducing anxiety.

Question 19: Who is considered the most important team member in the rehabilitation process?

Family and friends
Physiotherapist
Individual or patient (Correct answer)
Occupational therapist

Correct answer: Individual or patient

The individual or patient is considered the most important team member in the rehabilitation process because their active participation, motivation, and commitment are fundamental to successful outcomes. Rehabilitation is a collaborative effort, but the patient's goals, preferences, and engagement drive the process and ultimately determine the extent of their recovery and adaptation. Without their active involvement, even the best interventions may fail.

Question 20: Which disorder is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise?

Pica
Bulimia nervosa (Correct answer)
Binge eating disorder
Anorexia nervosa

Correct answer: Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by purging, fasting, or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.

Question 21: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is most commonly associated with depression onset during which season?

Fall/Winter (Correct answer)
Late spring
Spring
Summer

Correct answer: Fall/Winter

SAD most commonly presents with depressive episodes beginning in fall or winter, likely linked to reduced sunlight and disrupted circadian rhythms.

Question 22: Which phenomenon describes the finding that memory for an event can be altered by post-event information, such as misleading questions?

Misinformation effect (Correct answer)
Source monitoring error
Cryptomnesia
Flashbulb memory

Correct answer: Misinformation effect

The misinformation effect, studied extensively by Elizabeth Loftus, shows that exposure to misleading post-event information can distort eyewitness memories.

Question 23: In an experimental design, the variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable is known as the:

Dependent variable
Control variable
Confounding variable
Independent variable (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Independent variable

The independent variable is the factor that the experimenter directly manipulates or changes to determine if it has an effect on the dependent variable. The dependent variable is what is measured to see if the manipulation had an effect.

Question 24: According to the elaboration likelihood model, which route to persuasion involves careful evaluation of message arguments?

Automatic route
Peripheral route
Central route (Correct answer)
Heuristic route

Correct answer: Central route

The central route involves thoughtful consideration of the strength and quality of persuasive arguments, typically leading to more lasting attitude change.

Question 25: A researcher is investigating the impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. An unintended variable, such as the participants' caffeine intake, is not controlled and systematically varies with the independent variable (sleep duration), potentially affecting the results. What is the term for this type of variable?

Dependent variable
Independent variable
Operational variable
Confounding variable (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Confounding variable

A confounding variable is an extraneous variable that is related to both the independent and dependent variables, making it impossible to determine if the independent variable truly caused the change in the dependent variable. In this case, caffeine intake could confound the results because it also affects cognitive performance and may be related to how much sleep a person gets.

Question 26: Which stage of the Transtheoretical Model of Change involves a person actively taking steps to modify their problematic behavior?

Preparation
Action (Correct answer)
Contemplation
Maintenance

Correct answer: Action

The action stage is characterized by individuals making observable modifications to their behavior, environment, or experiences to overcome their problems.

Question 27: A client experiences recurring intrusive thoughts about contamination and washes their hands dozens of times daily. Which DSM-5 diagnosis is most appropriate?

Specific phobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Correct answer)
Illness anxiety disorder

Correct answer: Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Recurrent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) paired with repetitive behaviors performed to reduce distress (compulsions) are the hallmark features of OCD.

Question 28: Which phenomenon explains why jurors may give undue weight to confident eyewitness testimony even when it is known to be unreliable?

Fundamental attribution error
Availability heuristic
Illusory correlation
Confidence-accuracy relationship misconception (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Confidence-accuracy relationship misconception

Research shows that witness confidence is a poor predictor of accuracy, yet jurors consistently rate confident witnesses as more credible.

Question 29: Which ethical principle requires researchers to inform participants about potential risks before they agree to take part in a study?

Confidentiality
Beneficence
Informed consent (Correct answer)
Debriefing

Correct answer: Informed consent

Informed consent requires that participants receive clear information about procedures, risks, and their right to withdraw before agreeing to participate.

Question 30: The 'bystander effect' suggests that the likelihood of a person receiving help in an emergency decreases as the number of bystanders:

Reaches exactly two
Increases (Correct answer)
Decreases
Stays constant

Correct answer: Increases

The bystander effect demonstrates that diffusion of responsibility among more onlookers reduces the probability any individual will intervene.

Question 31: A therapist practicing 'motivational interviewing' would avoid which of the following responses?

Affirmations
Reflective listening
Confrontation and direct persuasion (Correct answer)
Summarizing

Correct answer: Confrontation and direct persuasion

MI explicitly avoids confrontation and argumentation, relying instead on empathy and evoking the client's own reasons for change.

Question 32: What are the three concepts or factors that Kanazawa (2003) provides an explanation for?

Crime Drop, Accounts for majority of crimes, and Intelligence
Accounts for majority of crimes, Sex difference, and Intelligence (Correct answer)
Intelligence, Crime Drop, and Sex Difference
Psychopathy, Intelligence, and Crime Drop

Correct answer: Accounts for majority of crimes, Sex difference, and Intelligence

Satoshi Kanazawa's work often seeks to explain broad patterns in human behavior through an evolutionary lens. In the context of crime, he addresses why the majority of crimes are committed by a small segment of the population, particularly young males (sex difference). He also explores the role of intelligence, often arguing that lower intelligence can be a risk factor for criminal behavior, as it may limit access to conventional, less risky strategies for success.

Question 33: What is the primary goal of systematic desensitization in behavioral therapy?

To restructure cognitive distortions about the feared object
To flood the client with the feared stimulus until anxiety subsides
To identify unconscious conflicts driving phobic responses
To gradually reduce anxiety by pairing relaxation with feared stimuli (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To gradually reduce anxiety by pairing relaxation with feared stimuli

Systematic desensitization, developed by Joseph Wolpe, uses a hierarchy of feared stimuli paired with progressive relaxation to reduce anxiety through counterconditioning.

Question 34: What is one possible psychosocial response following spinal cord injury?

Increased motivation for vocational pursuits
Positive body image
Increased self-esteem
Lack of motivation for educational pursuits (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Lack of motivation for educational pursuits

Following a spinal cord injury, individuals often face immense physical and psychological challenges, which can lead to various psychosocial responses. A common issue is a significant decrease in motivation, including for educational or vocational pursuits, due to feelings of hopelessness, changes in self-perception, and the overwhelming demands of rehabilitation. This loss of drive can hinder reintegration into previous life roles.

Question 35: In Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the conflict of 'Trust vs. Mistrust' occurs during:

Early school age (ages 6–12)
Adolescence (ages 12–18)
Infancy (birth to 1 year) (Correct answer)
Toddlerhood (ages 1–3)

Correct answer: Infancy (birth to 1 year)

Trust vs. Mistrust is the first stage in Erikson's model, occurring in infancy when caregivers' responsiveness determines whether the baby develops basic trust in the world.

Question 36: The bystander effect is best explained by which two psychological processes identified by Latané and Darley?

Diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance (Correct answer)
Social loafing and conformity
Groupthink and social facilitation
Obedience and deindividuation

Correct answer: Diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance

Bystanders fail to help because they assume others will act (diffusion of responsibility) and misread others' calm as a sign there is no emergency (pluralistic ignorance).

Question 37: In language comprehension, 'garden-path sentences' demonstrate that the mind:

Always processes sentences from right to left
Commits to an initial syntactic interpretation that may need revision (Correct answer)
Holds all possible interpretations simultaneously until disambiguation
Uses top-down processing exclusively

Correct answer: Commits to an initial syntactic interpretation that may need revision

Garden-path sentences show that readers commit to the most probable initial parse, requiring costly reanalysis when the sentence ends unexpectedly.

Question 38: A team of expert financial advisors is known for its strong camaraderie and respect for its highly charismatic leader. During a high-stakes meeting, they quickly reach a unanimous decision to invest heavily in a risky new stock, dismissing any dissenting information as flawed. This scenario is most indicative of which group decision-making flaw?

Social facilitation
Social loafing
Group polarization
Groupthink (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Groupthink

Groupthink is a phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Key antecedents, as identified by Irving Janis, include high group cohesion, a directive leader, and insulation from outside opinions, all of which are present in the scenario.

Question 39: In a crowded public park, a man suddenly collapses. Dozens of people see the incident, but no one immediately steps forward to help or call for an ambulance, as each person assumes someone else will take action. This phenomenon is best described as:

Normative social influence
Pluralistic ignorance
The bystander effect (Correct answer)
Social loafing

Correct answer: The bystander effect

The bystander effect is a social psychological theory stating that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. A primary cause is the diffusion of responsibility, where the presence of others makes each individual feel less personally responsible for intervening.

Question 40: Heritability estimates from twin studies indicate the proportion of variance in a trait that is due to:

Environmental factors exclusively
Random mutation rates
Genetic factors in a given population (Correct answer)
Epigenetic modifications only

Correct answer: Genetic factors in a given population

Heritability is a population-level statistic estimating how much of trait variance within that population is attributable to genetic differences.

Question 41: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'cognitive dissonance' as proposed by Leon Festinger?

Conflict between the id and superego
Anxiety caused by unresolved social comparisons
The tendency to seek out information that confirms existing beliefs
Psychological discomfort arising from holding contradictory beliefs or behaving contrary to one's beliefs (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Psychological discomfort arising from holding contradictory beliefs or behaving contrary to one's beliefs

Cognitive dissonance motivates attitude change or rationalization to restore psychological consistency between beliefs and behaviors.

Question 42: What is cognitive dissonance?

The tendency to favor members of one's own group
A bias toward confirming existing hypotheses
Psychological discomfort from holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors (Correct answer)
A failure to encode new memories properly

Correct answer: Psychological discomfort from holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors

Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory states that people experience mental discomfort when their attitudes and behaviors conflict, motivating them to reduce the inconsistency.

Question 43: Which of the following characterizes 'grandiose type' delusional disorder?

Belief that one is being followed or persecuted
Belief that a famous person is in love with them
Conviction of having a great but unrecognized talent, insight, or identity (Correct answer)
Conviction that one has a serious illness despite medical reassurance

Correct answer: Conviction of having a great but unrecognized talent, insight, or identity

Grandiose-type delusional disorder involves the belief that one has some great (unrecognized) talent or insight, or has made an important discovery.

Question 44: The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon is best explained as a failure of:

Retrieval (Correct answer)
Sensory registration
Encoding
Storage consolidation

Correct answer: Retrieval

The TOT state occurs when a memory is stored but temporarily inaccessible, reflecting a retrieval failure rather than a storage or encoding problem.

Question 45: For what achievement is Robert Hare best known or recognized?

MMPI
VRAG
Psychopathy Checklist (Correct answer)
Principles of Effective Correctional Programming

Correct answer: Psychopathy Checklist

Dr. Robert Hare is a renowned psychologist and researcher best known for his pioneering work on psychopathy, particularly the development of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). The PCL-R is a widely used and highly respected diagnostic tool for assessing psychopathic traits in individuals, especially within forensic and clinical settings. His work has significantly advanced the understanding and measurement of psychopathy.

Question 46: The 'Oedipus complex,' according to Freudian theory, occurs during which psychosexual stage?

Latency stage
Phallic stage (Correct answer)
Oral stage
Anal stage

Correct answer: Phallic stage

Freud proposed the Oedipus complex arises during the phallic stage (ages 3–6), when children develop unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent.

Question 47: What is the significance or interpretation of the M'Naghten Rule concerning the present legal framework concerning offenders who have mental illness?

Those with a mental illness who commit a crime should recieve the same treatment as one without illness regardless of the situation
A person with a mental illness who commits a crime but knew what they were doing at the time will serve their punishment, as guilty (Correct answer)
A person with a mental illness who commits a crime but knew what they were doing at the time will be acquitted
Those with a mental illness who commit a crime are automatically acquitted

Correct answer: A person with a mental illness who commits a crime but knew what they were doing at the time will serve their punishment, as guilty

The M'Naghten Rule, originating from an 1843 English legal case, is a foundational test for legal insanity in many common law jurisdictions. It states that for a defendant to be acquitted by reason of insanity, it must be clearly proven that, at the time of committing the act, they were laboring under such a defect of reason as not to know the nature and quality of the act, or that it was wrong. Therefore, if they did know what they were doing and that it was wrong, they are held accountable and will serve their punishment.

Question 48: Resilience in developmental psychology is best defined as:

Positive adaptation despite significant adversity or risk (Correct answer)
High IQ scores in children from disadvantaged backgrounds
Emotional numbness as a coping strategy
The absence of any adverse childhood experiences

Correct answer: Positive adaptation despite significant adversity or risk

Resilience refers to the dynamic process of successful adaptation when facing significant challenges, not the absence of stress.

Question 49: According to Erikson, the primary conflict of adolescence is:

Identity vs. role confusion (Correct answer)
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
Initiative vs. guilt
Intimacy vs. isolation

Correct answer: Identity vs. role confusion

Erikson described adolescence as the stage where individuals explore who they are and work toward a stable sense of identity.

Question 50: According to the gate control theory of pain, psychological factors such as anxiety can:

Open the 'gate' and amplify pain signals to the brain (Correct answer)
Only affect pain after the signal reaches the brain
Have no effect on pain perception
Close the 'gate' and reduce pain signals to the brain

Correct answer: Open the 'gate' and amplify pain signals to the brain

Gate control theory proposes that psychological states like anxiety can open the neural 'gate,' increasing the transmission of pain signals.

Question 51: Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation procedure identified an attachment pattern in which infants become highly distressed during separation but resist comfort and remain inconsolable when the caregiver returns. This pattern is called:

Anxious-ambivalent attachment (Correct answer)
Disorganized attachment
Avoidant attachment
Secure attachment

Correct answer: Anxious-ambivalent attachment

Anxious-ambivalent (also called resistant) attachment is characterized by intense distress upon separation combined with an inability to be soothed upon reunion, often because caregiving has been inconsistent, leaving the child uncertain about the caregiver's availability.

Question 52: Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the gold-standard behavioral treatment for which disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Correct answer)
Specific phobia
Panic disorder
Social anxiety disorder

Correct answer: Obsessive-compulsive disorder

ERP involves exposing the patient to obsession-triggering stimuli while preventing the compulsive response, which is the evidence-based behavioral treatment for OCD.

Question 53: Which nonparametric test is the appropriate alternative to a one-sample t-test when normality cannot be assumed?

Wilcoxon signed-rank test (Correct answer)
Kruskal-Wallis test
Friedman test
Mann-Whitney U test

Correct answer: Wilcoxon signed-rank test

The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compares a single sample's median to a hypothesized value without assuming normality.

Question 54: According to Thomas and Chess's temperament research, a child who is irregular in biological rhythms, slow to adapt, and frequently negative in mood is classified as:

Inhibited temperament
Slow-to-warm-up temperament
Difficult temperament (Correct answer)
Easy temperament

Correct answer: Difficult temperament

Thomas and Chess categorized children with irregular schedules, negative mood, and poor adaptability as having a 'difficult' temperament.

Question 55: In the context of psychological assessment, 'reliability' refers to:

The consistency of a test's results across time or raters (Correct answer)
The extent to which test results predict real-world outcomes
Whether a test produces results applicable to a target population
Whether a test measures what it claims to measure

Correct answer: The consistency of a test's results across time or raters

Reliability refers to the degree to which a measure produces consistent, stable results — whether across time (test-retest), items (internal consistency), or raters (inter-rater).

Question 56: When consumers buy a product because they see it as scarce or limited-edition, they are responding to which influence principle?

Scarcity (Correct answer)
Authority
Social proof
Liking

Correct answer: Scarcity

Cialdini's scarcity principle states that people assign more value to opportunities, objects, or information when they are rare or becoming unavailable.

Question 57: Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy?

Histrionic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder (Correct answer)
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder

Correct answer: Narcissistic personality disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and impaired empathy toward others.

Question 58: In play therapy, when a therapist reflects a child's feelings by saying 'You really wanted to win that game,' they are using:

Tracking
Empathic reflection (Correct answer)
Interpretation
Limit setting

Correct answer: Empathic reflection

Empathic reflection in play therapy mirrors the child's underlying emotional experience, building the therapeutic relationship.

Question 59: Which theorist proposed the bioecological model of human development, emphasizing nested environmental systems?

B.F. Skinner
Urie Bronfenbrenner (Correct answer)
Albert Bandura
John Bowlby

Correct answer: Urie Bronfenbrenner

Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model describes development as influenced by microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem layers.

Question 60: What is the term for the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural action potential?

Resting membrane potential
Action potential threshold (Correct answer)
Absolute refractory period
Summation potential

Correct answer: Action potential threshold

The action potential threshold is approximately -55 mV; if depolarization reaches this level, an all-or-none action potential fires.

Question 61: Leon Festinger's concept of social comparison theory proposes that we evaluate our opinions and abilities by comparing ourselves to:

Similar others (Correct answer)
Objective standards
Our past selves
Idealized media figures

Correct answer: Similar others

Festinger argued that in the absence of objective criteria, people turn to similar others as a benchmark for self-evaluation.

Question 62: What is the primary purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

To eliminate all confounding variables
To ensure participants give honest responses
To increase the sample size
To provide a baseline for comparison against the experimental group (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To provide a baseline for comparison against the experimental group

A control group provides a baseline that allows researchers to determine whether the independent variable caused the observed changes in the experimental group.

BAPSY (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) Exam

The BAPSY (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) Exam exam validates essential knowledge and skills required for certification or licensure in this field.

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