Psychology and Human Behavior Flashcards
7 cards from real B.L.A.; occasionally A.L.B. Bachelor of Liberal Arts 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 and Human Behavior flashcards as text
According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, what is the first stage that infants experience from birth to approximately age two?
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.
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:
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.
B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory holds that behavior is shaped primarily by:
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.
Cognitive dissonance, a concept introduced by Leon Festinger, refers to the discomfort experienced when a person holds:
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.
John Bowlby's attachment theory proposes that the bond formed between an infant and a caregiver primarily serves which function?
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.
In social psychology, conformity refers to the tendency to:
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.
Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage theory describes the first stage of development (infancy) as which conflict that must be resolved for healthy development?
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.