BAPSY Exploring Theories and Concepts 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept in Erikson's psychosocial theory describes the crisis faced during adolescence?
- Industry vs. Inferiority
- Identity vs. Role Confusion (Correct answer)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
Correct answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Erikson identified Identity vs. Role Confusion as the central crisis of adolescence, during which individuals explore who they are.
Question 2: In classical conditioning, what term describes a previously neutral stimulus that elicits a conditioned response after repeated pairing?
- Unconditioned stimulus
- Conditioned stimulus (Correct answer)
- Neutral reinforcer
- Discriminative stimulus
Correct answer: Conditioned stimulus
A conditioned stimulus is originally neutral but acquires the ability to elicit a response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Question 3: Vygotsky's concept of the 'zone of proximal development' (ZPD) refers to:
- Tasks a child can complete independently
- The gap between what a learner can do alone and with guidance (Correct answer)
- Cognitive skills already mastered by the child
- The optimal age range for formal education
Correct answer: The gap between what a learner can do alone and with guidance
The ZPD is the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with skilled assistance.
Question 4: Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to another person?
- Repression
- Rationalization
- Projection (Correct answer)
- Sublimation
Correct answer: Projection
Projection involves unconsciously attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.
Question 5: The humanistic concept of 'unconditional positive regard,' introduced by Carl Rogers, means:
- Accepting a person only when they meet specific conditions
- Providing complete acceptance regardless of behavior (Correct answer)
- Offering praise only for positive actions
- Ignoring negative behaviors to encourage growth
Correct answer: Providing complete acceptance regardless of behavior
Unconditional positive regard means accepting and valuing a person fully without conditions or judgment.
Question 6: According to attribution theory, the 'fundamental attribution error' occurs when people:
- Overestimate situational factors in others' behavior
- Underestimate dispositional factors in their own behavior
- Overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors in others' behavior (Correct answer)
- Correctly balance internal and external causes
Correct answer: Overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors in others' behavior
The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overweight personality traits and underweight situational factors when explaining others' behavior.
Question 7: Which theoretical perspective emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences in shaping personality?
- Behaviorism
- Cognitive psychology
- Psychoanalytic theory (Correct answer)
- Humanistic psychology
Correct answer: Psychoanalytic theory
Psychoanalytic theory, founded by Freud, holds that unconscious drives and early experiences are central to personality development.
BAPSY Exploring Theories and Concepts 2
Which concept in Erikson's psychosocial theory describes the crisis faced during adolescence?