Introduction, History and Schools of Psychology MCQs 2026

Health psychology is concerned with

1. ABank accounting✓
2. BSpace travel only✓
3. CBehavior, health and illness✓
4. DLanguage translation✓

Forensic psychology applies psychology to

1. AAgricultural production✓
2. BMarine navigation✓
3. CChemical engineering✓
4. DLaw and criminal justice✓

Counseling psychology most commonly deals with

1. ASevere weather systems✓
2. BAdjustment, guidance and life problems✓
3. CMachine coding✓
4. DPlant diseases✓

Social psychology studies how behavior is influenced by

1. AOther people and social situations✓
2. BOnly genetic codes✓
3. COnly inner organs✓
4. DOnly weather patterns✓

Developmental psychology studies

1. AOnly mental illness✓
2. BOnly brain surgery✓
3. CChanges across the lifespan✓
4. DOnly market behavior✓

Industrial and organizational psychology focuses on

1. AChild reflexes only✓
2. BWorkplace behavior and organizations✓
3. CDream content only✓
4. DAnimal migration✓

Educational psychology mainly applies psychology to

1. ACourtroom evidence only✓
2. BFactory machinery only✓
3. CPolitical campaigning only✓
4. DTeaching, learning and assessment✓

Clinical psychology is mainly concerned with

1. AAssessment and treatment of psychological disorders✓
2. BDesigning bridges✓
3. CWeather prediction✓
4. DTax collection✓

Applied psychology primarily aims to

1. AAvoid scientific methods✓
2. BUse psychological knowledge to solve practical problems✓
3. CStudy only animal behavior✓
4. DReject measurement✓

The main goal of basic psychology is to

1. ASell commercial products✓
2. BDiagnose all illnesses✓
3. CExpand scientific knowledge✓
4. DReplace medical treatment✓

Empiricism emphasizes that knowledge comes mainly from

1. AExperience and observation✓
2. BInherited memories✓
3. CUnconscious symbols✓
4. DAstrological forces✓

Rene Descartes is important in psychology partly because he discussed

1. ASocial facilitation✓
2. BOperant chambers✓
3. CIQ testing✓
4. DMind-body dualism✓

The ancient Greek philosopher often linked with the idea that knowledge is innate is

1. AAristotle✓
2. BPlato✓
3. CJohn Locke✓
4. DDavid Hume✓

The term tabula rasa is associated with the idea that the mind begins as

1. AA fixed instinct system✓
2. BA storehouse of archetypes✓
3. CA blank slate✓
4. DA set of reflexes only✓

The school that studied learned associations using experiments with dogs was led by

1. AWilliam James✓
2. BCarl Rogers✓
3. CEdward Titchener✓
4. DIvan Pavlov✓

The sociocultural perspective studies behavior with special attention to

1. ACulture and social context✓
2. BReflex arcs only✓
3. CSkull shape✓
4. DDream censorship✓

The evolutionary perspective emphasizes

1. AImmediate introspection✓
2. BAdaptive value of behavior✓
3. CFixed moral rules✓
4. DClassroom reinforcement only✓

The biological perspective explains behavior mainly in terms of

1. ABrain, genes and nervous system✓
2. BClassroom methods only✓
3. CSocial customs only✓
4. DDream symbols only✓

The cognitive perspective mainly studies

1. AGlandular secretions only✓
2. BUnconscious sexuality only✓
3. CMuscle movement only✓
4. DMental processes such as thinking and memory✓

Max Wertheimer is associated with the development of

1. AFunctionalism✓
2. BPsychoanalysis✓
3. CGestalt psychology✓
4. DTrait psychology✓

Gestalt psychology is summarized by the idea that

1. ABehavior is only reflexive✓
2. BThe whole is greater than the sum of its parts✓
3. CPersonality is fixed at birth✓
4. DLearning always requires reward✓

Carl Rogers is most closely associated with

1. AOperant conditioning✓
2. BTrait theory✓
3. CClient-centered therapy✓
4. DStructural analysis✓

Psychoanalysis gives central importance to

1. AReaction time✓
2. BUnconscious processes✓
3. CGroup norms✓
4. DSensory thresholds✓

Psychology is most accurately defined as the scientific study of

1. AThe soul only✓
2. BBehavior and mental processes✓
3. CDreams and symbols only✓
4. DBrain anatomy only✓

The first psychology laboratory is generally associated with

1. ASigmund Freud in Vienna✓
2. BWilliam James at Harvard✓
3. CJohn Watson at Chicago✓
4. DWilhelm Wundt at Leipzig✓

The year 1879 is important in psychology because it marks the establishment of

1. AWundt's laboratory at Leipzig✓
2. BFreud's psychoanalysis clinic✓
3. CWatson's behaviorist manifesto✓
4. DPiaget's child development center✓

The school of psychology that tried to analyze consciousness into basic elements was

1. AFunctionalism✓
2. BBehaviorism✓
3. CStructuralism✓
4. DHumanism✓

Edward B. Titchener is most closely linked with

1. APsychoanalysis✓
2. BStructuralism✓
3. CHumanistic psychology✓
4. DGestalt psychology✓

Functionalism mainly emphasized

1. AHow mental processes help adaptation✓
2. BThe structure of nerve cells✓
3. CUnconscious conflict only✓
4. DChemical changes in the brain✓

William James is commonly associated with

1. AGestalt psychology✓
2. BBehaviorism✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DFunctionalism✓

The method of observing one's own conscious experience is called

1. AProjection✓
2. BReinforcement✓
3. CIntrospection✓
4. DConditioning✓

Behaviorism rejected the study of consciousness mainly because consciousness was considered

1. ANot directly observable✓
2. BToo simple to study✓
3. CPurely biological✓
4. DAlways abnormal✓

The founder of behaviorism is usually identified as

1. ACarl Rogers✓
2. BMax Wertheimer✓
3. CJean Piaget✓
4. DJohn B. Watson✓

The statement that psychology should study observable behavior best represents

1. AStructuralism✓
2. BBehaviorism✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DHumanism✓

B. F. Skinner is best known for work on

1. ADream interpretation✓
2. BClient-centered therapy✓
3. COperant conditioning✓
4. DPsychosexual stages✓

The psychoanalytic school was founded by

1. ASigmund Freud✓
2. BJohn Watson✓
3. CIvan Pavlov✓
4. DAbraham Maslow✓

The approach that emphasizes free will, personal growth and self-actualization is

1. ABehaviorism✓
2. BStructuralism✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DHumanistic psychology✓

Abraham Maslow is best known for his theory of

1. AHierarchy of needs✓
2. BClassical conditioning✓
3. CMultiple intelligences✓
4. DCognitive dissonance✓

The psychodynamic perspective is historically rooted in the work of

1. AB. F. Skinner✓
2. BSigmund Freud✓
3. CJohn Locke✓
4. DWilhelm Wundt✓

The cognitive revolution restored scientific interest in

1. AMental processes✓
2. BPhrenology✓
3. CAstrology✓
4. DReflexes only✓

A psychologist who studies memory, attention and decision making is most likely a

1. AClinical psychologist✓
2. BForensic psychologist✓
3. CCognitive psychologist✓
4. DCounseling psychologist✓

A psychologist who studies hormones and neural activity in emotion uses the

1. AHumanistic perspective✓
2. BSociocultural perspective✓
3. CPsychodynamic perspective✓
4. DBiological perspective✓

The phrase nature versus nurture refers to the debate about

1. ATherapy versus medicine✓
2. BHeredity and environment✓
3. CReward versus punishment✓
4. DEmotion versus memory✓

Phrenology is now rejected mainly because it lacked

1. AScientific evidence✓
2. BPublic interest✓
3. CHistorical influence✓
4. DSimple language✓

The term psyche originally relates to

1. AMarket trade✓
2. BPhysical weight✓
3. CMind or soul✓
4. DLegal proof✓

The main feature that makes psychology scientific is its use of

1. APersonal opinion only✓
2. BReligious doctrine only✓
3. CLiterary imagination only✓
4. DSystematic observation and evidence✓

Positive psychology is especially concerned with

1. AHuman strengths and well-being✓
2. BSkull measurement✓
3. CPunishment schedules only✓
4. DDream symbols only✓

The biopsychosocial model explains behavior through

1. ABiological, psychological and social factors✓
2. BOnly unconscious wishes✓
3. COnly reinforcement schedules✓
4. DOnly sensory thresholds✓

A major weakness of early introspection was that it was

1. AToo objective✓
2. BToo mechanical✓
3. CDifficult to verify independently✓
4. DUnrelated to consciousness✓

A contemporary psychologist is most likely to describe psychology as

1. AOnly the study of abnormal people✓
2. BOnly the study of the soul✓
3. COnly the study of animals✓
4. DA science with multiple perspectives✓

Jung, Adler, and Horney are collectively referred to as

1. AStructuralists✓
2. BNeo-Freudians✓
3. CBehaviorists✓
4. DGestalt psychologists✓

Psychology is best defined as the scientific study of

1. AOnly abnormal behavior✓
2. BBehavior and mental processes✓
3. CThe soul and spirit✓
4. DOnly human emotions✓

Wilhelm Wundt established the first formal psychology laboratory in

1. A1879 at Leipzig, Germany✓
2. B1900 at Vienna, Austria✓
3. C1850 at Harvard, USA✓
4. D1920 at Oxford, England✓

According to Freud, personality consists of three components which are

1. AEgo, superego, libido✓
2. BConscious, subconscious, unconscious✓
3. CId, ego, and superego✓
4. DInstinct, drive, and reflex✓

According to Titchener's structuralism, the main goal of psychology was to

1. AAnalyze consciousness into its basic elements✓
2. BStudy adaptive functions of behavior✓
3. CModify observable behavior through reinforcement✓
4. DExplore childhood sexual conflicts✓

Wilhelm Wundt is often referred to as the

1. AFather of psychoanalysis✓
2. BFather of behaviorism✓
3. CFather of humanistic psychology✓
4. DFather of experimental psychology✓

Psychology that focuses on solving practical, real-world problems is known as

1. APure psychology✓
2. BTheoretical psychology✓
3. CApplied psychology✓
4. DComparative psychology✓

A major criticism of structuralism was that its reliance on introspection was

1. ASubjective and lacked reliability across observers✓
2. BToo focused on observable behavior✓
3. CToo costly to conduct✓
4. DImpossible to apply to any mental process✓

The philosopher who proposed mind-body dualism, influencing early psychological thought, was

1. AAristotle✓
2. BJohn Locke✓
3. CImmanuel Kant✓
4. DRene Descartes✓

Obtaining agreement from participants to take part in research after explaining its purpose and risks is known as

1. ADebriefing✓
2. BInformed consent✓
3. CRandom assignment✓
4. DConfidentiality✓

In an experiment, the variable that is measured to see the effect of manipulation is the

1. AIndependent variable✓
2. BControl variable✓
3. CDependent variable✓
4. DMediating variable✓

In an experiment, the variable that is deliberately manipulated by the researcher is the

1. AIndependent variable✓
2. BDependent variable✓
3. CConfounding variable✓
4. DExtraneous variable✓

A positive correlation between two variables means that

1. AOne variable causes the other✓
2. BAs one variable increases, the other also increases✓
3. CThe variables are unrelated✓
4. DAs one variable increases, the other decreases✓

A correlation coefficient can range in value from

1. A0 to 100✓
2. B0 to 10✓
3. C1 to 10✓
4. D-1 to +1✓

Observing behavior as it occurs in its real-life setting without interference is called

1. ACorrelational research✓
2. BExperimental research✓
3. CNaturalistic observation✓
4. DCross-sectional research✓

A research method that involves an in-depth investigation of a single individual or group is called a

1. ACase study✓
2. BSurvey✓
3. CField experiment✓
4. DLongitudinal study✓

A research method in which the investigator manipulates an independent variable to observe its effect is the

1. ACase study method✓
2. BExperimental method✓
3. CNaturalistic observation✓
4. DCorrelational method✓

The branch of psychology concerned with diagnosing and treating mental disorders is

1. AEducational psychology✓
2. BSocial psychology✓
3. CClinical psychology✓
4. DExperimental psychology✓

The branch of psychology that studies growth and change across the lifespan is

1. AClinical psychology✓
2. BCognitive psychology✓
3. CAbnormal psychology✓
4. DDevelopmental psychology✓

The branch of psychology applied to legal and courtroom matters is known as

1. ASocial psychology✓
2. BForensic psychology✓
3. CHealth psychology✓
4. DEducational psychology✓

The branch of psychology that studies human behavior in the workplace is called

1. AIndustrial/Organizational psychology✓
2. BClinical psychology✓
3. CDevelopmental psychology✓
4. DForensic psychology✓

The nature versus nurture debate in psychology concerns the relative influence of

1. AReward versus punishment✓
2. BConsciousness versus unconsciousness✓
3. CHeredity versus environment on behavior✓
4. DMemory versus perception✓

The psychoanalytic approach places central emphasis on the role of the

1. AReinforcement history✓
2. BCognitive schema✓
3. CSocial environment✓
4. DUnconscious mind✓

Behaviorists rejected the study of the unconscious mind and mental processes because they

1. ABelieved the mind did not exist✓
2. BConsidered these unobservable and unscientific✓
3. CFound them too easy to measure✓
4. DPreferred philosophical speculation✓

Functionalists were primarily concerned with

1. AHow mental processes help an organism adapt to its environment✓
2. BBreaking consciousness into basic elements✓
3. CReinforcement schedules✓
4. DUnconscious sexual conflicts✓

The primary research method used by structuralists to analyze consciousness was

1. ACase study✓
2. BNaturalistic observation✓
3. CIntrospection✓
4. DSurvey method✓

The city where the world's first psychology laboratory was established is

1. AVienna✓
2. BBoston✓
3. CLondon✓
4. DLeipzig✓

William James's influential book, considered a foundation of modern psychology, was titled

1. APrinciples of Psychology✓
2. BThe Interpretation of Dreams✓
3. CBeyond the Pleasure Principle✓
4. DThe Structure of Behavior✓

Kurt Koffka, along with Wertheimer and Kohler, helped establish

1. ABehaviorism✓
2. BGestalt psychology✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DFunctionalism✓

Wolfgang Kohler's experiments with chimpanzees demonstrated a form of learning called

1. AClassical conditioning✓
2. BTrial and error learning✓
3. CObservational learning✓
4. DInsight learning✓

Alfred Adler's theory, centered on striving for superiority and overcoming inferiority, is called

1. AAnalytical psychology✓
2. BPsychoanalysis✓
3. CIndividual psychology✓
4. DHumanistic psychology✓

Carl Jung's approach, which introduced the concept of the collective unconscious, is known as

1. AIndividual psychology✓
2. BAnalytical psychology✓
3. CBehavior analysis✓
4. DStructuralism✓

Francis Galton is regarded as a pioneer in the study of

1. AIndividual differences and mental testing✓
2. BClassical conditioning✓
3. CGestalt perception✓
4. DPsychosexual stages✓

Hermann Ebbinghaus is best known for his pioneering research on

1. APersonality traits✓
2. BOperant conditioning✓
3. CMemory and the forgetting curve✓
4. DSocial conformity✓

Edward Titchener, who brought structuralism to America, was a student of

1. AWilliam James✓
2. BSigmund Freud✓
3. CG. Stanley Hall✓
4. DWilhelm Wundt✓

The first psychology laboratory in the United States was founded in 1883 at Johns Hopkins University by

1. AWilliam James✓
2. BG. Stanley Hall✓
3. CJames McKeen Cattell✓
4. DEdward Titchener✓

The term 'cognitive psychology' was popularized in 1967 by

1. AUlric Neisser✓
2. BJean Piaget✓
3. CNoam Chomsky✓
4. DAlbert Bandura✓

Cognitive psychology primarily focuses on the study of

1. AReflexes and glandular secretions✓
2. BOvert behavior only✓
3. CUnconscious sexual drives✓
4. DMental processes such as memory, perception, and thinking✓

Carl Rogers developed which form of psychotherapy

1. APsychoanalysis✓
2. BSystematic desensitization✓
3. CClient-centered therapy✓
4. DAversion therapy✓

Abraham Maslow is best known for proposing the

1. AHierarchy of needs✓
2. BStages of psychosexual development✓
3. CTheory of cognitive dissonance✓
4. DLaw of effect✓

Humanistic psychology is best characterized by its emphasis on

1. AUnconscious conflicts and childhood trauma✓
2. BFree will, self-actualization, and personal growth✓
3. CReinforcement schedules and observable behavior✓
4. DStatistical analysis of mental testing✓

In Freud's structure of personality, the component that operates on the 'pleasure principle' is the

1. ASuperego✓
2. BEgo✓
3. CConscience✓
4. DId✓

The founder of psychoanalysis, who emphasized the role of the unconscious mind, was

1. ACarl Jung✓
2. BSigmund Freud✓
3. CAlfred Adler✓
4. DErik Erikson✓

The Gestalt principle stating that 'the whole is different from the sum of its parts' was proposed by

1. AMax Wertheimer✓
2. BSigmund Freud✓
3. CCarl Rogers✓
4. DWilliam James✓

Operant conditioning, which explains learning through reinforcement and punishment, is associated with

1. AIvan Pavlov✓
2. BWolfgang Kohler✓
3. CMax Wertheimer✓
4. DB.F. Skinner✓

Classical conditioning, in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response through association, was discovered by

1. AB.F. Skinner✓
2. BSigmund Freud✓
3. CIvan Pavlov✓
4. DJohn Watson✓

John B. Watson is widely regarded as the father of

1. APsychoanalysis✓
2. BBehaviorism✓
3. CGestalt psychology✓
4. DHumanistic psychology✓

Which perspective in psychology studies only observable and measurable behavior, rejecting introspection

1. ABehaviorism✓
2. BHumanism✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DGestalt psychology✓

The founder of functionalism, who emphasized the purpose of mental processes, was

1. AWilhelm Wundt✓
2. BEdward Titchener✓
3. CWilliam James✓
4. DJohn Watson✓

Which school of psychology relied mainly on the method of introspection to study conscious experience

1. ABehaviorism✓
2. BFunctionalism✓
3. CPsychoanalysis✓
4. DStructuralism✓