B.L.A.; occasionally A.L.B. Bachelor of Liberal Arts Psychology and Human Behavior 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, what is the first stage that infants experience from birth to approximately age two?
- Preoperational stage
- Concrete operational stage
- Sensorimotor stage (Correct answer)
- Formal operational stage
Correct answer: Sensorimotor stage
The sensorimotor stage (birth to ~2 years) is Piaget's first stage, during which infants learn about the world through sensory experiences and motor actions, developing object permanence.
Question 2: The bystander effect, studied by Latané and Darley following the Kitty Genovese case, suggests that people are less likely to offer help in an emergency when:
- They are in a hurry
- They do not know the victim personally
- Other bystanders are present (Correct answer)
- The emergency occurs at night
Correct answer: Other bystanders are present
The bystander effect occurs because the presence of others creates a diffusion of responsibility — each person assumes someone else will act, reducing individual likelihood of helping.
Question 3: B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory holds that behavior is shaped primarily by:
- Unconscious drives and repressed memories
- Genetic predispositions
- Consequences such as reinforcement and punishment (Correct answer)
- Observation and imitation of role models
Correct answer: Consequences such as reinforcement and punishment
Skinner demonstrated that voluntary behavior is strengthened through reinforcement and weakened through punishment, forming the foundation of operant conditioning.
Question 4: Cognitive dissonance, a concept introduced by Leon Festinger, refers to the discomfort experienced when a person holds:
- Two contradictory beliefs or attitudes simultaneously (Correct answer)
- A belief inconsistent with their social group's values
- An irrational fear of a specific object
- Memories that conflict with historical records
Correct answer: Two contradictory beliefs or attitudes simultaneously
Cognitive dissonance arises when a person holds two or more conflicting cognitions, motivating them to reduce the inconsistency by changing a belief, attitude, or behavior.
Question 5: John Bowlby's attachment theory proposes that the bond formed between an infant and a caregiver primarily serves which function?
- Teaching language acquisition
- Developing motor skills
- Providing a secure base for exploration and emotional regulation (Correct answer)
- Establishing peer social hierarchies
Correct answer: Providing a secure base for exploration and emotional regulation
Bowlby argued that secure attachment to a primary caregiver gives infants a safe haven and secure base, supporting healthy emotional development and future relationships.
Question 6: In social psychology, conformity refers to the tendency to:
- Assert one's opinions forcefully in a group
- Change one's behavior or beliefs to match group norms (Correct answer)
- Refuse to comply with authority figures
- Prefer individual achievement over collective goals
Correct answer: Change one's behavior or beliefs to match group norms
Conformity is the adjustment of behavior, attitudes, or beliefs to align with perceived group standards or the expectations of others, as demonstrated by Asch's line-judgment experiments.
Question 7: Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage theory describes the first stage of development (infancy) as which conflict that must be resolved for healthy development?
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
- Initiative vs. Guilt
- Trust vs. Mistrust (Correct answer)
- Identity vs. Role Confusion
Correct answer: Trust vs. Mistrust
Erikson's first stage (birth to ~18 months) centers on Trust vs. Mistrust — infants who receive consistent, responsive care develop a sense of trust in the world and in others.
B.L.A.; occasionally A.L.B. Bachelor of Liberal Arts Psychology and Human Behavior 2
According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, what is the first stage that infants experience from birth to approximately age two?