Psychology Degree Principles of Psychology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the central conflict of adolescence is:
- Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
- Intimacy vs. isolation
- Industry vs. inferiority
- Identity vs. role confusion (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Identity vs. role confusion
Erikson described adolescence as the stage where individuals must forge a coherent sense of self or risk confusion about their roles in society.
Question 2: A researcher finds that as ice cream sales increase, drowning rates also increase. This most likely reflects:
- Ice cream causes drowning
- Drowning causes ice cream sales
- A third variable (hot weather) causes both (Correct answer)
- Random sampling error
Correct answer: A third variable (hot weather) causes both
This classic example illustrates spurious correlation — hot weather drives both ice cream consumption and swimming (drowning risk), making them correlated without causation.
Question 3: The gate-control theory of pain proposes that pain perception can be modulated by:
- Endorphin release only
- Neural gates in the spinal cord that can be opened or closed (Correct answer)
- The somatosensory cortex blocking signals
- Dopamine suppressing pain signals
Correct answer: Neural gates in the spinal cord that can be opened or closed
Melzack and Wall's gate-control theory suggests spinal cord mechanisms can amplify or inhibit pain signals before they reach the brain.
Question 4: The phi phenomenon, in which stationary lights flashing in sequence create the perception of movement, is an example of:
- Perceptual constancy
- Gestalt figure-ground principle
- Apparent motion and Gestalt principles (Correct answer)
- Bottom-up processing
Correct answer: Apparent motion and Gestalt principles
The phi phenomenon, demonstrated by Wertheimer, shows how the brain (Gestalt) constructs the perception of continuous motion from discrete stimuli.
Question 5: Which ethical principle, central to the APA's guidelines, requires psychologists to avoid actions that harm research participants or clients?
- Fidelity
- Justice
- Nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
Correct answer: Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence — 'do no harm' — is a core APA ethical principle requiring psychologists to minimize risk and avoid causing harm.
Question 6: Cognitive dissonance theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, states that people are motivated to reduce discomfort caused by:
- Unmet biological needs
- Social rejection
- Holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors (Correct answer)
- Failure to achieve goals
Correct answer: Holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors
Festinger showed that inconsistency between attitudes and behaviors creates psychological tension that people resolve by changing one element.
Question 7: Which approach to psychology emphasizes the role of unconscious processes, early childhood experiences, and internal conflicts in shaping behavior?
- Humanistic psychology
- Behavioral psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Psychodynamic psychology (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Psychodynamic psychology
Psychodynamic psychology (rooted in Freud) focuses on unconscious drives, early experiences, and defense mechanisms as determinants of behavior.
Psychology Degree Principles of Psychology 5
According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the central conflict of adolescence is: