Psychology Flashcards
7 cards from real MCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Psychology flashcards as text
Which theory of emotion proposes that physiological arousal and the cognitive label applied to that arousal together produce the emotional experience?
Answer: Schachter-Singer two-factor theory
The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory holds that emotion = physiological arousal + cognitive label assigned to explain that arousal.
A surgeon who has operated thousands of times can perform routine incisions while simultaneously planning the next surgical step. This demonstrates which concept?
Answer: Automaticity through procedural learning
Automaticity occurs when a skill becomes so well-practiced it requires minimal conscious attention, freeing cognitive resources for other tasks.
In Milgram's obedience studies, the factor most effective at reducing participants' compliance with authority was:
Answer: Having two confederates refuse to continue
When confederates modeling defiance were present, obedience rates dropped dramatically, showing social support for resistance reduces compliance.
A child who can only understand the world from their own perspective and has difficulty recognizing that others have different viewpoints is exhibiting:
Answer: Egocentrism
Egocentrism, characteristic of Piaget's preoperational stage, is the inability to adopt another's perspective or recognize that others see things differently.
According to signal detection theory, a radiologist who sets a very liberal criterion to catch all cancers, even at the cost of many false positives, is said to have:
Answer: A lenient criterion (low beta) producing many false alarms
A lenient (low beta) criterion means the observer says 'yes' (signal present) even when uncertain, resulting in many hits but also many false alarms.
The concept of 'cognitive dissonance' predicts that when a person behaves in a way inconsistent with their beliefs, they will most likely:
Answer: Alter their attitude to align with the behavior
Cognitive dissonance causes psychological discomfort, which people typically reduce by changing their attitudes to match their behavior (post hoc rationalization).
Which sleep stage is characterized by large-amplitude, low-frequency delta waves and is most important for physical restoration and immune function?
Answer: Stage 3 (N3) slow-wave sleep
Stage 3 (N3) slow-wave sleep features delta waves and is associated with growth hormone release, physical restoration, and immune system consolidation.