Problem Solving & Decision Making
Which of the following best describes the first step in effective problem solving?
A) Generating multiple possible solutions
B) Identifying and clearly defining the problem
C) Selecting the best possible solution
D) Evaluating the outcome of the decision
Correct Answer: B) Identifying and clearly defining the problem
Explanation: The first step in effective problem solving is to identify and clearly define the problem. Without a clear understanding of what the problem actually is, any solutions generated may be ineffective or irrelevant. This step sets the direction for all the following steps—like generating solutions, evaluating them, and making a decision. If the problem is misunderstood or vaguely defined, the entire process can lead to poor outcomes.
Which of the following best describes the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?
A) Fluid intelligence involves learned knowledge, while crystallized intelligence is the ability to think quickly and adapt to new situations
B) Fluid intelligence increases with age, while crystallized intelligence declines steadily throughout life
C) Crystallized intelligence involves accumulated knowledge and experience, while fluid intelligence refers to problem-solving and thinking on your feet
D) Crystallized intelligence is inherited, while fluid intelligence is shaped only by the environment
Correct Answer: C) Crystallized intelligence involves accumulated knowledge and experience, while fluid intelligence refers to problem-solving and thinking on your feet
Explanation: Fluid intelligence is thinking on your feet, noticing patterns and solving puzzles. It is adaptive and usually is the strongest at younger ages, and decreases throughout life. It’s measured with abstract reasoning problems (e.g. Raven’s Matrices). Crystallized intelligence is knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is stronger when you are an older adult, and increases with age. It’s measured with tests of skills and knowledge (e.g. Jeopardy).
After hearing about a robbery where the victim was walking alone at night, Marcus says, “Well, they shouldn’t have been out that late anyway.” Which psychological concept best explains Marcus’s response?
A) Self-serving bias
B) Groupthink
C) Just-world belief
D) Actor-observer bias
Correct Answer: C) Just-world belief
Explanation: The just-world belief is the assumption that people get what they deserve. It can lead to blaming victims for their misfortunes, as a way to maintain the comforting idea that the world is fair and predictable.
Which of the following best defines a psychological disorder?
A) A temporary feeling of sadness or stress after a difficult event
B) Significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that impair daily functioning
C) A consistent pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that deviate from cultural expectations but do not interfere with daily life
D) A lifestyle choice that involves thinking differently from societal norms
Correct Answer: B) Significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that impair daily functioning
Explanation: A psychological disorder defined by the American Psychiatric Association is “significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur in atypical/unusual ways.” These disorders often lead to distress and can impair the functioning of someone’s daily life. Psychological disorders do NOT reflect expected/culturally approved responses to events (e.g. Grief after losing a loved one).
What does the colonoscopy study tell us about our overall happiness in an event?
A) A whole event accounts for our overall happiness
B) The beginning of an event is what affects our happiness
C) The end of an event influences our happiness
D) No one part of an event changes the outcome more than another
Correct Answer: C) The end of an event influences our happiness
Explanation: The end of an event is what is most easily recalled by our memories, therefore we attribute much of an event to how we felt at the end of it.
Mandy is looking for a place to eat when she comes across two restaurants serving the cuisine she is craving. They both have similar menus, however one of the restaurant's online pictures displays a cleaner and more modern looking exterior. Mandy likes that aesthetic better and therefore decides to eat at that restaurant. What is this an example of?
A) System 1 Algorithm
B) Heuristic
C) System 2 Algorithm
D) Intelligence
Correct Answer: B) Heuristic
Explanation: A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that helps people make decisions quickly and efficiently without having to analyze every single detail. It’s not always perfectly logical or rational, but it often works well enough in everyday life—especially when time or effort is limited.
Jordan and Kelly both receive a 65% on their math tests. Jordan exclaims that he knew he’d always fail anyways. Kelly is unhappy with her score and decides she needs to study harder for the next test. On the next exam Jordan receives a similar score of 60% and Kelly gets an 80%. What is Kelly demonstrating?
A) Fixed mindset
B) Intelligence
C) Problem solving
D) Growth mindset
Correct Answer: D) Growth mindset
Explanation: A growth mindset refers to a belief that through work you can better your knowledge and it is shown that this mindset leads you to perform better.
In Solomon Asch’s classic conformity experiments, participants were shown a standard line and three comparison lines. They were asked to choose which line matched the standard. Although the correct answer was obvious, participants often gave the wrong answer after hearing several confederates (actors in on the experiment) give incorrect responses before them.
What psychological concept best explains why participants conformed to the clearly incorrect answers?
A) Informational social influence
B) Normative social influence
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Group polarization
Correct Answer: B) Normative social influence
Explanation: This occurs when individuals conform to gain approval or avoid disapproval from others, even if they know the group is wrong. In Asch’s experiment, participants went along with the incorrect group responses to avoid standing out or facing social rejection.
What is one critique of the DSM-5 that we discussed in class?
A) It is universally accepted and rarely updated to reflect new research
B) It focuses too heavily on cultural and social factors rather than biological causes
C) Mental illness is defined categorically - all or nothing misses experiences occurring on a spectrum
D) It encourages patients to self-diagnose, rather than seeking medical help
Correct Answer: C) Mental illness is defined categorically - all or nothing misses experiences occurring on a spectrum
Explanation: One of the critiques of the DSM-5 that we discussed in class, is that it defines mental illnesses categorically, where individuals either meet the criteria for a particular disorder or they do not. There is evidence that suggests that psychopathology occurs on a continuum with normal-range functioning. When diagnosing someone, the all or nothing approach, misses experiences that occur along a spectrum and does not account for individual differences. (e.g. A child who potentially has ADHD may show some hyperactive symptoms, but not all symptoms listed in the DSM-5).
What factor is NOT associated with happiness?
A) Age
B) Money
C) Parenthood
D) Education
Correct Answer: C) Parenthood
Explanation: The answer is C. because people WITHOUT children tend to be happier, whereas age, money, and education are all correlated with happiness.
During a job interview, the interviewer mentions that the typical salary for the position is around $70,000. Later, when asked what salary she expects, Emily—who originally planned to ask for $80,000—asks for $72,000 instead. What cognitive bias most likely influenced Emily's response?
A) Confirmation bias
B) Anchoring bias
C) Representativeness heuristic
D) Availability heuristic
Correct Answer: B) Anchoring bias
Explanation: The answer is B because anchoring bias occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive when making decisions. In this case, the initial mention of a $70,000 salary influenced Emily’s expectation, even though she originally intended to ask for more. That first number “anchored” her thinking.
A student excels in music and foreign languages but struggles with math and science. Their teacher argues that the student is still highly intelligent, just in different ways. Which theory of intelligence best supports the teacher’s view?
A) Spearman’s g factor theory
B) Wechsler’s IQ model
C) Sternberg’s triarchic theory
D) Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences
Correct Answer: D) Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences
Explanation: Gardner’s theory views intelligence as a set of distinct abilities rather than a single score. It recognizes that people can be strong in areas like music, language, or movement, even if they struggle in more traditional academic subjects. This allows for a broader and more individualized understanding of intelligence.
Jamie is watching a commercial for a new fitness tracker. The ad includes a detailed explanation of how the tracker monitors heart rate, tracks sleep, and syncs with health apps. Jamie is really into fitness and carefully considers all the features before deciding to buy it. Later, Jamie sees another ad for a different fitness tracker that shows a popular celebrity wearing it while jogging. The ad doesn’t explain much about the product, but Jamie thinks it looks cool and considers buying it too.
Which types of persuasion are being used in the two ads Jamie saw?
A) Both ads used the central route because they involved important health products
B) The first ad used the central route, and the second used the peripheral route
C) The first ad used the peripheral route, and the second used the central route
D) Both ads used the peripheral route because Jamie didn’t make a final decision
Correct Answer: B) The first ad used the central route, and the second used the peripheral route
Explanation: The first ad utilized central persuasion because it included facts and knowledge about the fitness device to try to persuade buyers. The second ad used a peripheral approach by showing a celebrity wearing it while jogging, to try to convince buyers.
Which of the following is a part of psychotherapy?
A) Brain stimulation techniques
B) Medication
C) Coping mechanisms
D) Psychosurgery
Correct Answer: C) Coping mechanisms
Explanation: Psychotherapy focuses on a mental health professional helping a person change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to psychological aspects of mental illness . Biomedical therapy uses medical and or medical procedures to address biological aspects of mental illness
Julia spends a lot of her free time engaging in activities that make her feel happy and content, like eating her favorite foods, watching movies she loves, and hanging out with friends. She focuses on experiencing enjoyment day-to-day.
Based on the three-factor model of happiness discussed in class, which aspect of a happy life is Julia primarily focusing on?
A) Meaningful Life
B) Good Life
C) Pleasant Life
D) Purposeful Life
Correct Answer: C) Pleasant Life
Explanation: The answer is C because a pleasant life is characterized by seeking pleasure, positive emotions, and enjoyment in the present moment. Julia's focus on activities that bring immediate happiness, like eating favorite foods and spending time with friends, is a clear example of pursuing a pleasant life. A good life would focus on using strengths and skills in a satisfying way. A meaningful life involves serving something larger than oneself, like contributing to a community or cause.
You are part of a team working on a class project that is due in three days. One of your team members has not responded to messages or contributed to their part of the assignment. The rest of the group is unsure how to proceed without causing conflict or missing the deadline.
A) Report the unresponsive member to the instructor immediately.
B) Complete their portion of the work yourself to avoid risking the grade.
C) Reach out directly to the team member to check in and offer help if needed.
D) Exclude the member from the group and divide their work among the rest of the team
Correct Answer: C) Reach out directly to the team member to check in and offer help if needed.
Explanation: This approach prioritizes communication and problem-solving while maintaining team dynamics. It gives the unresponsive member a chance to explain or re-engage before escalating the issue.
Two students score equally high on a standardized IQ test. One thrives in independent tasks like logic puzzles, while the other excels in group projects that require managing conflict and understanding others’ emotions. Despite their different strengths, both receive nearly identical feedback on their intelligence profiles. What does this situation highlight about traditional intelligence testing?
A) It overestimates the role of effort in success
B) It underrepresents culturally learned behaviors
C) It fails to capture non-academic forms of intelligence
D) It inaccurately separates aptitude from achievement
Correct Answer: C) It fails to capture non-academic forms of intelligence
Explanation: Standardized IQ tests primarily measure verbal, spatial, and logical reasoning abilities. They don’t assess social, emotional, or creative strengths, which means they can miss meaningful differences between individuals who have the same score but very different skill sets.
At a middle school, students are asked to write essays in support of healthy eating, even though many of them eat junk food daily. Weeks later, those students begin choosing healthier options in the cafeteria. What psychological process most likely caused this change in behavior?
A) Normative social influence
B) Self-serving bias
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Central route persuasion
Correct Answer: C) Cognitive dissonance
Explanation: Writing an essay that supports healthy eating while continuing to eat unhealthily creates a conflict between attitude and behavior. To reduce this internal discomfort (dissonance), students are likely to change their behavior to match the attitude they publicly expressed. This shows how dissonance can be used to encourage positive change.
Alex has a family history of depression and grew up in a supportive home environment with no major issues. In college, Alex begins to experience intense academic pressure, social isolation, and financial stress. After several months, Alex starts to show symptoms of major depressive disorder, including fatigue, loss of interest in activities, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.
How does the Diathesis-Stress Model explain Alex’s development of depression?
A) Alex developed depression purely because of genetic factors from his family history
B) Alex’s depression was caused solely by the stress of college and has nothing to do with personal vulnerability
C) Alex would have developed depression no matter what because all mental illnesses are biologically determined.
D) Alex’s genetic vulnerability combined with environmental stress triggered the onset of depression
Correct Answer: D) Alex’s genetic vulnerability combined with environmental stress triggered the onset of depression
Explanation: The diathesis-stress model suggests that people can have underlying genetic or psychological dispositions (diathesis), that makes the person more likely to develop a disorder when faced with an adverse environment (stress). In this case, the stress from college that Alex is facing caused the onset of depression to occur whether that was due to genetics or other psychological dispositions.
According to psychological research, which of the following is most strongly associated with long-term happiness?
A) Earning a high income
B) Owning luxury items
C) Having strong social relationships
D) Watching television and relaxing alone
Correct Answer: C) Having strong social relationships
Explanation: Research consistently shows that meaningful social connections are one of the strongest predictors of long-term happiness and well-being.
Two patients have the exact same condition, but their forms describe it differently. One says there’s a “90% chance of survival,” and the other says there’s a “10% chance of death.” Even though the numbers are equivalent, the doctor makes different treatment recommendations. This demonstrates:
A) Anchoring bias caused by System 2 thinking
B) The representativeness heuristic
C) Rational problem solving using the algorithmic model
D) A System 1 judgment influenced by framing
Correct Answer: D) A System 1 judgment influenced by framing
Explanation: System 1 relies on fast, intuitive processing and is sensitive to how information is presented. Framing the same outcome in positive (“90% survival”) versus negative (“10% mortality”) terms can lead to different judgments, even though the underlying facts are identical. This reflects a bias in decision making driven by emotional and superficial cues.
Maria is confident in her understanding of the material but performs poorly on a timed intelligence test. She later reveals she had severe test anxiety and wasn’t feeling well that day. Based on what you know about intelligence testing, what does this scenario most clearly illustrate?
A. That test results reflect effort more than ability
B. That standardized intelligence tests are not valid measures of intelligence
C. That intelligence tests can be influenced by factors unrelated to actual ability
D. That intelligence tests primarily measure fixed traits
Correct Answer: C) That intelligence tests can be influenced by factors unrelated to actual ability
Explanation: One major limitation of intelligence testing is that scores can be affected by outside factors like anxiety, health, fatigue, or test-taking environment. These do not reflect a person’s true intellectual ability but can significantly lower their performance on test day.
A school board holds a meeting to discuss a controversial new policy. At the start, most members are moderately in favor of it. By the end of the meeting, after discussing it only with like-minded members, they all strongly support the policy and are even more critical of those who disagree. What social psychology concept does this best illustrate?
A. Groupthink
B. Conformity
C. Group polarization
D. Informational social influence
Correct Answer: C. Group polarization
Explanation: Group polarization occurs when group discussion with people who share similar opinions leads individuals to adopt more extreme positions. Instead of balancing each other out, like-minded individuals often reinforce each other's initial views, making the group’s overall stance more extreme.
Which of the following best describes a core feature of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
A) Focusing on unconscious conflicts from childhood to resolve current issues
B) Using medication to correct chemical imbalances in the brain
C) Changing patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to a person’s psychological problems
D) Encouraging individuals to express their emotions freely through art and music
Correct Answer: C) Changing patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to a person’s psychological problems
Explanation: CBT aims to help individuals identify and change distorted thoughts and maladaptive behaviors, and is one of the most evidence-based therapies for a wide range of disorders.
According to research in positive psychology, which of the following activities has been shown to reliably increase happiness over time?
A) Frequently checking social media to stay connected
B) Winning a large sum of money through the lottery
C) Practicing gratitude by regularly writing down things you're thankful for
D) Avoiding negative emotions by ignoring stressful situations
Correct Answer: C) Practicing gratitude by regularly writing down things you're thankful for
Explanation: Studies have shown that gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude journal, can lead to sustained increases in happiness and well-being.