Psych/Soc AAMC Practice Test
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when a concept is activated, the activation spreads to concepts that are semantically or associatively related to it
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spreading of activation theory
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recalling objects that were not presented but are from the same category as the training objects
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according to the spreading of activation theory, which type of memory error is most likely when participants have to recall training objects they have seen?
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concrete operations stage 7-12
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according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, conservation tasks are mastered during which stage? and what age?
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behaviorist
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focusing on the role of classical conditioning is most closely related to which approach to psychological disorders?
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conditioned stimuli
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mild changes in bodily sensations become cues that are associated with excessive panic. thus, those mild changes in bodily sensations act as? A. unconditioned stimuli B. conditioned stimuli C. unconditioned response D. conditioned responses
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positive punishers the patient describes the panic attacks as highly aversive and mentions that he no longer goes to meetings for fear of a panic attack. thus, the frequency of the patient's attendance at meetings has decreased as the result of the panic attacks.
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Patient 2: I am terrified of having a panic attack at a meeting. I dread the thought of others noticing how nervous I am. I'm worried that others will think I am weird. I don't go to meetings anymore. For patient 2, panic attacks act as: A. discriminatory stimuli B. signaling stimuli C. positive punishers D. negative punishers
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autonomic nervous system interoceptive awareness is described as increased sensitivity to internal bodily sensations, such as heartbeat and blood pressure, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system
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Interoceptive awareness involves sensitivity to increases in the activity of the: A. reticular activation system B. autonomic nervous system C. limbic system D. somatic nervous system
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experimental studies
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limitations in the ability to systematically manipulate participants' physiological states and their sensitivity to changes in those states is a characteristic of what type of research
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cornea the cornea is in direct contact with the eyelid and is thus most susceptible to damage from flaking skin
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Harlequin ichthyosis, a rare genetic disorder, causes the skin to become thick and scaly. Flaking skin behind the eyelids of individuals with this condition is most likely to damage which structure of the eye? A. choroid B. cornea C. lens D. retina
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mechanically hair cells of the cochlea are specialized mechanoreceptors
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sound-induced vibrations depolarize hair cells of the cochlea by opening ion channels that are gated in what way? A. chemically B. mechanically C. electrically D. synaptically
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actors attribute their own behavior to situational factors (not feeling well) whereas observers attribute actors' behavior to dispositional factors (social awkwardness)
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actor-observer bias
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habituation and dishabituation the study involves reduced responding to a repeating stimulus, which is best described as habituation. the researcher then changes the stimulus, which will likely lead to dishabituation
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in a study, each trial involves administering a drop of lemon juice to the participant's tongue and measuring the participants level of salivation. as more trials are conducted, the researcher finds that the magnitude of salivation declines. after a certain point, the researcher switches to administering lime juice. this researcher is most likely studying which process? A. sensory perception B. habituation and dishabituation C. stimulus generalization in classical conditioning D. conditioned responses in classical conditioning
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optimal performance requires optimal arousal and that arousal levels that are too high or too low will impede performance
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optimal arousal theory
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a measure of electrical conductivity of the skin increased electrical conductivity of the skin is a physiological indication of increased sympathetic arousal, which is associated with anxiety
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which measure would be most useful if the researchers were interested in studying the degree of sympathetic arousal experienced in different conditions? A. a measure of electrical conductivity of the skin B. a CT scan of the hindbrain C. a PET scan of the parietal cortex D. a measure of melatonin levels
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people's response to various stressor is SIMILAR
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Selye's general adaptation syndrome
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cerebellum involved in the execution of a coordinated motor task
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damage to which nervous system structure is most likely to cause problems in the participants' ability to perform synchronous behaviors? A. hippocampus B. hypothalamus C. cochlea D. cerebellum
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experimental methods it would be unethical and impractical to randomly assign participants to groups in which segregation is manipulated as an independent variable
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which type of design is LEAST appropriate for research on residential segregation? A. ethnographic methods B. experimental methods C. quantitative methods D. survey methods
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social network analysis social network analysis involves the mapping of social relationships among individuals
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often utilized when studying communicable diseases, which type of analysis maps the series of relationships among a set of individuals? A. social support analysis B. social network analysis C. social stratification analysis D. social reproduction analysis
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development of affordable housing
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which effect is LEAST likely to occur with the process of gentrification? A. development of affordable housing B. increased neighborhood stratification C. displacement of lower-income residents D. expanded tax base for local government
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the reinvestment in lower income neighborhoods in urban areas, which results from the influx of more affluent groups with the arrival of more affluent residents, housing demand increases and generally results in a decrease of affordable housing for lower income residents
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gentrification
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people's attitudes toward some attitude object become more extreme after interacting with like-minded individuals
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group polarization
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the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior
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behaviorist theory focuses on
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a measure that actually measures what it is intended to measure
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validity
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mid-adulthood
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according to erkison's theory of psychosocial development, the generativity versus stagnation crisis occurs in
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assimilation is the influence that cultural changes have on an individuals health this answer speculates about a possible consequence of assimilation
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which statement does NOT identify an aspect of the concept of assimilation? A. assimilation is the influence that cultural changes have on an individual's health B. assimilation is the process of cultural adaptation that results from geographic mobility C. assimilation occurs when individuals adopt the cultural norms of a dominant culture D. assimilation occurs when individuals relinquish the cultural norms of their childhood
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the process of social integration and generally refers to when new members adopt the main elements of a culture aspects of assimilation- cultural adaptation, adopting new norms, relinquishing old norms
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assimilation
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linguistic relativity
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a researcher suggests that the benefits of bilingualism are related to the idea that the structure of language affects the perceptions of its speakers. this researcher is referring to which concept? A. weber's law B. the nativist hypothesis C. schacter-singer theory D. linguistic relativity
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social activities that help individuals to avoid loneliness and boredom activities rather than relationships in this option
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sociologists describe the health benefits of social support as resulting from all of the following EXCEPT: A. friends and family members that help patients adhere to medical treatment B. friends and family members that help patients to reduce harmful behaviors C. social relationships that help individuals to cope with stressful events D. social activities that help individuals to avoid loneliness and boredom
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refers to social network ties (friends, family, and other relationships) that provide an individual with various types of assistance, which are associated with improving health or reducing harm
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social support
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"7 plus or minus 2" between 5 and 9 items
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capacity of working memory in adults
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participants' answer on the exit questionnaire the only subjective measure taken because they provided their personal opinions and degree to which they liked the game providing an INDIRECT measure of motivation objective measures are DIRECT
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which assessment represents a subjective measure of motivation? A. the number of grid sequences participants attempted to solve on the computer task B. the participants' decision to continue playing the game or stop to read a magazine C. participants' answers on the exit questionnaire D. participants' time spent not playing the game using the computer mouse
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reference group
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an immigrant teen starts to reject the ethnic customs of his family and instead identifies himself as an American by dressing, speaking, and acting in ways that are associated with American culture. In this scenario, Americans become which type of group for the teenager? A. assimilated group B. reference group C. majority group D. peer group
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groups that individuals emulate the attitudes and behaviors of that they admire and would like to join important for self-evaluation and identity formation
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reference group
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procedural
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after initially learning to ride a bike, riding a bike becomes easy for an individual. each time the individual rides a bike thereafter, what type of memory is being used? A. semantic B. episodic C. explicit D. procedural
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memory for the performance of particular types of action
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procedural memory
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tension that results from competing demands within the context of a single role
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role strain
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tension between different roles that a single individual holds
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role conflict
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emphasizes the competition between groups over the allocation of societal resources. it assumes that power and authority are unequally distributed across a society, and that groups attempt to maintain their advantages
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conflict theory
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the amount of time a student takes to assist another student in distress
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a student is investigating the bystander effect and receives permission to conduct the study in the school cafeteria. what is a potential dependent variable that can be measured by the student? A. the time of day that the experiment is carried out B. the number of people present in the cafeteria C. the amount of time a student takes to assist another student in distress D. the temperature in the cafeteria
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helping response
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dependent variable in studies of the bystander effect
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ethnographic methods
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which research methodology involves the extended, systematic observation of a complete social environment? A. comparative methods B. enthographic methods C. experimental methods D. survey methods
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caste systems
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which term refers to closed status positions that hinder social mobility? A. class systems B. caste systems C. economic systems D. financial system
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closed stratification systems that do not allow for social mobility
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caste system
