1. What does cognitive psychology primarily focus on?
A. The unconscious mind
B. The behavior of animals
C. Mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving
D. Emotional responses
Answer: C. Mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on understanding the internal mental processes, including perception, memory, decision-making, problem-solving, and language.
2. Who is considered the father of modern cognitive psychology?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Carl Rogers
C. Noam Chomsky
D. Ulric Neisser
Answer: D. Ulric Neisser
Explanation: Ulric Neisser is widely considered the father of cognitive psychology. His work laid the foundation for modern cognitive theories, particularly in the areas of perception and memory.
3. Which of the following best describes the main research focus of cognitive psychology?
A. Behavior of individuals in social settings
B. The biological functions of the brain
C. Mental processes and how people perceive, remember, and solve problems
D. The effect of environment on learning
Answer: C. Mental processes and how people perceive, remember, and solve problems
Explanation: Cognitive psychology is centered on understanding mental functions such as perception, memory, learning, attention, and problem-solving.
4. Cognitive psychology emerged as a reaction to which other field of psychology?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Behaviorism
C. Humanism
D. Social psychology
Answer: B. Behaviorism
Explanation: Cognitive psychology emerged as a reaction to behaviorism, which focused on observable behavior. Cognitive psychologists argued that mental processes could be scientifically studied, despite being unobservable.
5. The concept of cognitive schemas refers to:
A. Physical responses to stimuli
B. Organized knowledge structures that influence perception and memory
C. Emotional reactions to events
D. Observable behaviors
Answer: B. Organized knowledge structures that influence perception and memory
Explanation: Cognitive schemas are mental structures that help individuals organize and interpret information. They guide how we perceive new experiences and recall memories.
6. In cognitive psychology, “encoding” refers to:
A. The storage of information in memory
B. The retrieval of stored information
C. The transformation of information into a format suitable for storage in memory
D. The emotional impact of memories
Answer: C. The transformation of information into a format suitable for storage in memory
Explanation: Encoding refers to the process of converting sensory input into a form that can be stored in the brain for later retrieval.
7. Which cognitive process is primarily involved when solving a math problem?
A. Perception
B. Memory
C. Attention
D. Reasoning
Answer: D. Reasoning
Explanation: Reasoning is the cognitive process involved in solving problems, including mathematical ones. It involves logical thinking, planning, and drawing conclusions.
8. What does the “dual-task paradigm” in cognitive psychology study?
A. Memory recall under stress
B. The effect of multitasking on cognitive performance
C. The effect of sleep on memory
D. Problem-solving abilities
Answer: B. The effect of multitasking on cognitive performance
Explanation: The dual-task paradigm is used to study how people perform multiple tasks simultaneously and how this affects their cognitive resources and performance.
9. The “cognitive revolution” refers to:
A. A shift in psychology towards studying observable behaviors
B. A movement to emphasize biological approaches in psychology
C. The emergence of cognitive psychology and focus on mental processes
D. The rise of social psychology
Answer: C. The emergence of cognitive psychology and focus on mental processes
Explanation: The cognitive revolution, which took place in the 1950s and 1960s, marked a shift away from behaviorism to studying internal mental processes, like thinking and memory.
10. What is the “information processing model” in cognitive psychology?
A. A model that focuses on how individuals react to stimuli
B. A framework that compares human cognition to computer processing
C. A theory focused on the unconscious mind
D. A model emphasizing the role of emotional regulation
Answer: B. A framework that compares human cognition to computer processing
Explanation: The information processing model likens human cognition to how computers process data, focusing on encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.
11. Which cognitive function is primarily associated with the prefrontal cortex?
A. Memory
B. Attention
C. Decision-making and problem-solving
D. Visual perception
Answer: C. Decision-making and problem-solving
Explanation: The prefrontal cortex is primarily responsible for higher-order cognitive functions such as decision-making, planning, and problem-solving.
12. What is the term “cognitive load” in psychology?
A. The amount of emotional strain an individual experiences
B. The amount of information the working memory can hold at once
C. The process of learning new skills
D. The psychological effect of multitasking
Answer: B. The amount of information the working memory can hold at once
Explanation: Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required to process information in working memory. If the load exceeds capacity, it can impair learning and task performance.
13. Which of the following is NOT typically studied in cognitive psychology?
A. Sensory perception
B. Attention
C. Genetic predispositions
D. Problem-solving
Answer: C. Genetic predispositions
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving. Genetic predispositions are more often studied in behavioral and biological psychology.
14. The study of “mental imagery” in cognitive psychology deals with:
A. The way the brain processes emotions
B. The creation of mental pictures or representations of objects or events
C. The effect of dreams on memory
D. The unconscious influence on thoughts
Answer: B. The creation of mental pictures or representations of objects or events
Explanation: Mental imagery refers to the ability to create visual representations in the mind without direct sensory input.
15. What does the “Atkinson-Shiffrin model” propose?
A. A theory of unconscious behavior
B. A model of memory with sensory, short-term, and long-term stages
C. A model for emotional regulation
D. A model for sensory perception
Answer: B. A model of memory with sensory, short-term, and long-term stages
Explanation: The Atkinson-Shiffrin model outlines how memory functions by moving information through sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
16. Which cognitive theory suggests that our mind works like a computer, processing information in a systematic way?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
C. Cognitive information processing
D. Gestalt psychology
Answer: C. Cognitive information processing
Explanation: The cognitive information processing theory suggests that the brain processes information systematically, similar to how a computer processes data.
17. Which of the following is an example of an automatic cognitive process?
A. Solving a complex math problem
B. Driving a car on a familiar route
C. Learning a new language
D. Writing an essay
Answer: B. Driving a car on a familiar route
Explanation: Automatic processes are those that occur without conscious thought, such as driving a car on a familiar route, whereas controlled processes require attention and effort.
18. What role does “attention” play in cognitive psychology?
A. It involves our emotional responses to stimuli
B. It helps us process information and focus on specific tasks
C. It helps with muscle coordination
D. It regulates unconscious behaviors
Answer: B. It helps us process information and focus on specific tasks
Explanation: Attention is the cognitive process that allows us to focus mental resources on particular information while ignoring other stimuli.
19. Which of the following describes “working memory” in cognitive psychology?
A. A system responsible for the long-term storage of information
B. A process where information is encoded and stored for later use
C. A short-term memory system that is used for active processing
D. A type of memory related to emotions
Answer: C. A short-term memory system that is used for active processing
Explanation: Working memory is the system that temporarily holds and processes information needed for tasks like problem-solving and decision-making.
20. The “self-serving bias” in cognitive psychology refers to:
A. The tendency to take credit for successes and blame others for failures
B. The ability to recall positive memories more easily than negative ones
C. The tendency to see the world from a negative perspective
D. The belief that one’s abilities are superior to others
Answer: A. The tendency to take credit for successes and blame others for failures
Explanation: The self-serving bias is a cognitive distortion where individuals attribute their successes to internal factors and their failures to external factors.
21. The “cognitive behavioral therapy” (CBT) approach is focused on:
A. Modifying unconscious desires
B. Changing negative thought patterns and behaviors
C. Analyzing dream content
D. Focusing on childhood experiences
Answer: B. Changing negative thought patterns and behaviors
Explanation: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to alter negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress and mental disorders.
22. Which cognitive process is involved in the ability to recognize faces?
A. Memory
B. Perception
C. Attention
D. Reasoning
Answer: B. Perception
Explanation: The ability to recognize faces is a perceptual process that involves interpreting visual information to identify people.
23. The “serial position effect” in cognitive psychology describes:
A. The tendency to remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle items
B. The effect of anxiety on memory recall
C. The ability to remember faces more easily than names
D. The preference for recent experiences over older ones
Answer: A. The tendency to remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle items
Explanation: The serial position effect suggests that people are more likely to remember items presented at the beginning and end of a list, with a memory dip for items in the middle.
24. In cognitive psychology, the term “metacognition” refers to:
A. The process of storing memories for long-term use
B. The awareness and regulation of one’s cognitive processes
C. The study of emotional regulation
D. The automatic processing of information
Answer: B. The awareness and regulation of one’s cognitive processes
Explanation: Metacognition involves being aware of one’s own thinking and learning processes, and using that awareness to improve memory and problem-solving skills.
25. Which of the following is a key factor in the effectiveness of cognitive therapy?
A. The exploration of unconscious desires
B. Understanding and changing distorted thought patterns
C. A focus on the client’s past trauma
D. Interpretation of dream content
Answer: B. Understanding and changing distorted thought patterns
Explanation: Cognitive therapy helps individuals recognize and change distorted thoughts that negatively impact their emotions and behavior.
26. What role do “cognitive biases” play in our thinking?
A. They help us make accurate decisions
B. They lead to systematic errors in judgment and perception
C. They are always conscious and deliberate
D. They improve memory accuracy
Answer: B. They lead to systematic errors in judgment and perception
Explanation: Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of thinking that deviate from rationality and lead to errors in judgment, such as overestimating the likelihood of events.
27. Which area of the brain is primarily involved in cognitive functions like decision-making and attention?
A. Temporal lobe
B. Occipital lobe
C. Prefrontal cortex
D. Cerebellum
Answer: C. Prefrontal cortex
Explanation: The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher cognitive functions, including decision-making, attention, problem-solving, and planning.
28. What is “semantic memory” in cognitive psychology?
A. Memory for motor skills
B. Memory for personal experiences
C. Memory for general knowledge and facts
D. Memory for emotional events
Answer: C. Memory for general knowledge and facts
Explanation: Semantic memory refers to the type of memory related to general knowledge about the world, such as facts, concepts, and meanings.
29. The concept of “cognitive dissonance” involves:
A. The discomfort felt when holding contradictory beliefs or attitudes
B. The process of remembering past experiences
C. The process of forming new beliefs
D. The ability to focus on a single task
Answer: A. The discomfort felt when holding contradictory beliefs or attitudes
Explanation: Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, which motivates individuals to resolve the inconsistency.
30. In cognitive psychology, “reconstructive memory” suggests that:
A. Memories are accurate and unchangeable
B. Memories can be distorted or altered over time
C. Memory retrieval is an automatic process
D. Memory loss is always due to brain injury
Answer: B. Memories can be distorted or altered over time
Explanation: Reconstructive memory refers to the idea that memories are not static; they can be influenced by various factors and may change over time based on new information or external influences.
