UExcel Psychology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment?
- They are the same thing
- Negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus; punishment decreases behavior (Correct answer)
- Negative reinforcement decreases behavior; punishment increases it
- Both decrease behavior but through different mechanisms
Correct answer: Negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus; punishment decreases behavior
Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an aversive stimulus, while punishment weakens behavior by adding or removing stimuli.
Question 2: Which part of the brain is primarily associated with emotion and memory formation?
- Cerebellum
- Frontal lobe
- Limbic system (Correct answer)
- Brainstem
Correct answer: Limbic system
The limbic system, including the amygdala and hippocampus, is central to emotional processing and memory formation.
Question 3: What does IQ stand for and how is it calculated?
- Intelligence Quotient; mental age divided by chronological age, multiplied by 100 (Correct answer)
- Intelligence Qualification; raw score divided by sample mean, multiplied by 100
- Intellectual Quality; percentile rank converted to a scale score
- Intelligence Quantity; number of correct answers on a standardized test
Correct answer: Intelligence Quotient; mental age divided by chronological age, multiplied by 100
IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient, originally calculated as (mental age ÷ chronological age) × 100.
Question 4: Social learning theory, developed by Bandura, emphasizes learning through:
- Reinforcement schedules
- Unconscious drives
- Observation and modeling (Correct answer)
- Classical conditioning
Correct answer: Observation and modeling
Bandura's social learning theory holds that people learn by observing and imitating the behavior of others.
Question 5: Which of the following is a characteristic of long-term memory?
- Limited capacity and brief duration
- Unlimited capacity and relatively permanent storage (Correct answer)
- Holds about 7 items for up to 30 seconds
- Relies only on acoustic encoding
Correct answer: Unlimited capacity and relatively permanent storage
Long-term memory has virtually unlimited capacity and can store information for years or a lifetime.
Question 6: The DSM-5 is used by mental health professionals to:
- Prescribe medications for mental disorders
- Measure intelligence across populations
- Classify and diagnose mental disorders (Correct answer)
- Design therapy treatment plans
Correct answer: Classify and diagnose mental disorders
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) provides standardized criteria for classifying and diagnosing mental health conditions.
UExcel Psychology 2
What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment?