Psychology - UGC MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Psychology - UGC - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 'Factor analysis'

Key Points

• Trait theories and statistical analysis:
  • Trait theories focus on quantifiable and measurable characteristics of individuals. These traits can be analyzed statistically to understand relationships, patterns, and dimensions.
  • Factor analysis is a statistical method that identifies underlying variables (factors) that explain the patterns of correlations among observed variables. It is particularly suited for examining traits because it can group related traits into broader factors or dimensions.
  • For example, in personality psychology, factor analysis has been used to develop models like the Big Five personality traits, grouping numerous traits into five broad dimensions.
  • Thus, factor analysis is the appropriate statistical tool for trait theories as it helps identify and categorize traits based on their interrelationships.

Additional Information

• Chi-square analysis:
  • Chi-square analysis is used to test the independence or association between categorical variables. It is not suitable for analyzing continuous traits or identifying dimensions.
  • While useful in other contexts, such as examining whether traits are distributed differently across groups, it lacks the ability to uncover underlying factors or dimensions in trait theories.
• ANOVA (Analysis of Variance):
  • ANOVA is a statistical method used to compare means across multiple groups to determine if there are significant differences. It is primarily used for group-based comparisons rather than identifying relationships among traits.
  • Although it can be applied to study traits in group settings, it does not provide insights into the underlying structure or dimensions of traits, which is central to trait theories.
• Discriminant analysis:
  • Discriminant analysis is used to classify data into predefined categories based on predictor variables. While it can help differentiate groups based on traits, it does not uncover the dimensions or factors that explain the traits themselves.
  • Trait theories aim to identify broader factors rather than just classifying individuals, making discriminant analysis less suitable for this purpose.

The correct answer is 'Traits are normally distributed in the population.'

Key Points

• Trait Theory:
  • Trait theory focuses on identifying specific traits that make up an individual's personality.
  • Traits are considered continuous variables that can vary in degree across individuals within a population.
  • The assumption that traits are normally distributed implies that most individuals fall near the average, while fewer people are found at the extremes.
  • This statistical approach allows psychologists to measure and compare traits quantitatively across different individuals.
  • Trait theory does not rigidly categorize individuals into fixed types but instead views personality on a spectrum.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Personality is determined at birth:
  • This statement is not generally accepted in trait theory, as trait theory recognizes that personality traits can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
  • While genetics play a role, trait theory does not exclusively attribute personality to birth conditions.
• Option 2: Individuals can be consistently categorized:
  • This assumption aligns more with type theory, which categorizes individuals into distinct types based on specific characteristics (e.g., introvert vs. extrovert).
  • Trait theory, on the other hand, uses a continuous scale to assess variations in traits rather than rigid categories.
• Option 4: Traits are more relevant for clinical populations:
  • This is incorrect because trait theory applies broadly to all populations, not just clinical ones.
  • Trait theory seeks to understand personality in both everyday contexts and clinical settings, making it widely applicable across diverse groups.

The correct answer is 'The trait approach.'

Key Points

• The trait approach:
  • The trait approach focuses on measuring and identifying where individuals fall on a continuum of specific personality traits, rather than categorizing them into distinct types or labels.
  • In this case, the psychologist’s use of a continuous scale to assess extraversion aligns with the trait approach, as it emphasizes the degree to which a person exhibits a trait (e.g., extraversion) rather than assigning them to rigid categories like "extrovert" or "introvert."
  • This approach is grounded in the idea that personality traits are relatively stable over time and can vary in intensity among individuals.
  • Prominent examples of trait theories include the Big Five Personality Traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) and Eysenck’s three-factor model.

Additional Information

• The Jungian approach:
  • The Jungian approach is based on Carl Jung’s theories and typically emphasizes dichotomies such as introversion vs. extraversion and thinking vs. feeling.
  • While it categorizes individuals into distinct "types," it does not use a continuous scale, making it different from the trait approach.
• The psychodynamic approach:
  • The psychodynamic approach, rooted in the work of Freud, focuses on unconscious processes, inner conflicts, and the influence of early childhood experiences on personality.
  • This approach does not emphasize the measurement of traits or the use of scales for assessing personality.
• The type approach:
  • The type approach focuses on categorizing individuals into discrete personality types, such as "introvert" or "extrovert," without considering the gradations in between.
  • This is the opposite of the trait approach, which allows for a spectrum of variation within personality traits.

The correct answer is 'Oversimplification of personality into rigid categories'

Key Points

• Type Approach in Personality:
  • The type approach categorizes individuals into distinct personality types, such as introverts or extroverts, based on specific characteristics.
  • This method seeks to group people into fixed and rigid categories, often oversimplifying the complexities of human behavior and personality.
• Criticism of Oversimplification:
  • One significant criticism of the type approach is that it oversimplifies personality by dividing individuals into rigid categories, ignoring the fluidity and nuances of personality traits.
  • Human behavior is dynamic and multidimensional, making it challenging to confine individuals to a single personality type. This rigidity often fails to account for variations in behavior across different situations.
  • Unlike the trait approach, which focuses on dimensions and gradations of personality traits (e.g., degrees of introversion or extroversion), the type approach lacks flexibility and can lead to inaccuracies in understanding personality.

Additional Information

• Explanation of Other Criticisms:
  • Over-reliance on self-report methods: While self-report methods are common in both type and trait approaches, they are not uniquely problematic for the type approach. Both methods can face issues of bias or inaccuracies in self-assessment.
  • Difficulty in replicating factor structures: This criticism applies more to the trait approach, which relies heavily on statistical techniques like factor analysis to identify dimensions of personality. The type approach does not involve such factor structures as it deals with predefined categories.
  • Poor cross-cultural generalizability: Both type and trait approaches may face challenges in cross-cultural applicability, but this is not a criticism specific to the type approach. Cultural differences can affect the interpretation and application of any personality framework.
• Trait Approach:
  • The trait approach emphasizes measuring personality on dimensions or spectrums rather than categorizing individuals into fixed types.
  • This approach is considered more nuanced and flexible, allowing for a better understanding of individual differences.

The correct answer is 'It lacks factor-analytic support'

Key Points

• Overview of MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator):
  • The MBTI is a widely-used personality assessment tool based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types.
  • It categorizes individuals into 16 personality types based on preferences in four dichotomies: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving.
  • Despite its popularity, the MBTI faces criticism from the trait-theoretical perspective.
• Why it lacks factor-analytic support:
  • Factor analysis is a statistical method used to determine whether a set of observed variables can be grouped into underlying factors.
  • Critics argue that the MBTI lacks robust factor-analytic evidence to support its dichotomies and structure.
  • The absence of statistical validation undermines its scientific reliability and credibility within the field of psychology.
  • Many researchers have found that the MBTI dimensions do not consistently align with established personality traits, such as those in the Big Five model.

Additional Information

• Other options explained:
  • Fails to account for unconscious motivation:
    • This criticism is more relevant to psychodynamic theories of personality, not the trait-theoretical perspective.
    • The MBTI does not aim to explore unconscious motives, as its primary focus is on conscious preferences and observable behavior.
  • Focuses on maladaptive traits:
    • The MBTI does not specifically focus on maladaptive traits. Instead, it categorizes personality preferences without labeling them as adaptive or maladaptive.
    • This criticism is irrelevant to the MBTI since it does not address pathological or dysfunctional personality traits.
  • Cannot predict behavior in specific situations:
    • While the MBTI provides insights into general personality preferences, it does not claim to predict behavior in specific contexts.
    • This limitation is acknowledged by MBTI practitioners and is not a central critique from the trait-theoretical perspective.
• Conclusion:
  • The MBTI’s lack of factor-analytic support is a fundamental critique from the trait-theoretical perspective, as it challenges the tool’s scientific validity.
  • Other criticisms, while valid in their own contexts, do not directly address the core scientific concerns raised by trait theorists.

The correct answer is 'The product of the relationships in a triad is negative.'

Key Points

• Fritz Heider's Balance Theory:
  • Fritz Heider's Balance Theory is a psychological theory that examines the consistency in relationships among triads of individuals or objects.
  • The theory posits that people strive for balance in their relationships and that an unbalanced state generates psychological discomfort, prompting individuals to take action to restore balance.
  • In the context of triads, balance is achieved when the product of the signs of the relationships among three entities is positive.
• Unbalanced State:
  • An unbalanced state occurs when the product of the relationships in a triad is negative.
  • This means that if the multiplication of the signs of the three relationships results in a negative value, the triad is considered unbalanced.
  • For example, if two relationships are positive and one is negative, or if one relationship is positive and two are negative, the overall product will be negative, indicating an unbalanced state.

Additional Information

• Other Options:
  • All three relationships in the triad are positive:
    • This scenario represents a balanced state, not an unbalanced one, as the product of the relationships is positive.
  • Two out of three relationships in a triad are positive:
    • If two relationships are positive and one is negative, the product of the relationships will be negative, leading to an unbalanced state.
  • All relationships in the triad are negative:
    • When all three relationships are negative, the product of the relationships is negative, indicating an unbalanced state.

The correct answer is 'A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II'

Key Points

• Continuous Performance Test (CPT) - I: Sustained attention and impulsivity
  • The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is designed to measure a person's sustained and selective attention and impulsivity.
  • It is commonly used in the assessment of attention deficit disorders and other conditions that affect attention.
• Stroop Test - III: Working memory capacity
  • The Stroop Test evaluates cognitive flexibility and attention, particularly the ability to inhibit cognitive interference.
  • It is used to understand how well an individual can manage conflicting information.
• Trail Making Test - IV: Attention control and processing speed
  • The Trail Making Test assesses visual attention and task switching.
  • It is often used to evaluate processing speed and cognitive flexibility.
• Digit Span Test - II: Cognitive flexibility and sequencing
  • The Digit Span Test measures working memory capacity by requiring individuals to recall sequences of numbers.
  • This test is crucial in understanding an individual's ability to hold and manipulate information in their mind over short periods.

Additional Information

• Incorrect Options:
  • The other options mix up the associations between the tests and their respective cognitive functions.
  • For instance, Option 2 incorrectly matches Stroop Test with Cognitive Flexibility and Sequencing, whereas it actually measures Working Memory Capacity.
  • Option 3 and Option 4 similarly mix up the correct associations, leading to incorrect answers.

The correct answer is 'Jean Piaget'

Key Points

• Jean Piaget:
  • Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist known for his pioneering work in child development.
  • His theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called "genetic epistemology".
  • Piaget's work focused on how children think and how their thinking changes as they grow older.
  • Lawrence Kohlberg was greatly influenced by Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, which inspired Kohlberg's stages of moral development.

Additional Information

• Lev Vygotsky:
  • Lev Vygotsky was a Soviet psychologist known for his work on sociocultural theory.
  • He emphasized the importance of social interactions and cultural tools in cognitive development.
  • Vygotsky's ideas about the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and scaffolding are widely studied in educational psychology, but his theories differ from those of Piaget and Kohlberg.
• John Watson:
  • John Watson was an American psychologist who established the psychological school of behaviorism.
  • He is known for his research on the conditioning process and his belief that psychology should primarily focus on observable behavior.
  • Watson's work did not directly influence Kohlberg's theories, as behaviorism contrasts with the cognitive-developmental approach.
• Erik Erikson:
  • Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychosocial development across the lifespan.
  • His theory outlines eight stages of human development, each characterized by a different psychological crisis.
  • While Erikson's work is influential, it focuses more on psychosocial development rather than the moral development that Kohlberg studied.

The correct answer is 'Relationships and social order'

Key Points

• Conventional level of moral development:
  • The conventional level of moral development, as proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, is the second of three levels in his theory of moral development.
  • At this stage, individuals' moral decisions are influenced by their adherence to rules and the expectations of society.
  • People at this level believe that maintaining social order and fulfilling social roles are important for the functioning of society.
  • They make decisions based on how they align with societal norms, laws, and the expectations of others.

Additional Information

• Rewards and punishments:
  • Decisions based on rewards and punishments pertain to the pre-conventional level of moral development, where behavior is guided by external consequences rather than internalized values.
  • At this stage, children make decisions to avoid punishment or gain rewards.
• Higher ethical principles:
  • Higher ethical principles are associated with the post-conventional level of moral development, where individuals follow universal ethical principles and personal conscience.
  • Decisions are made based on abstract reasoning about what is right, justice, and equality, regardless of societal norms.
• Personal benefits:
  • Decisions based on personal benefits can also be linked to the pre-conventional level, where actions are taken primarily for personal gain or to avoid negative outcomes.
  • This approach is more self-centered and does not consider broader societal implications.

The correct answer is 'Obedience and Punishment Orientation'

Key Points

• Obedience and Punishment Orientation:
  • This stage is the first in Kohlberg's model of moral development.
  • It is part of the pre-conventional level of moral reasoning, where individuals' decisions are primarily driven by the desire to avoid punishment.
  • In this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute and obey them to avoid the consequences of breaking them.

Additional Information

• Instrumental Relativist Orientation:
  • This is the second stage in Kohlberg's model, part of the pre-conventional level.
  • At this stage, individuals act in their own interest and understand that others do the same. They follow rules when it is to their advantage.
• Social Order Maintaining Orientation:
  • This stage is the fourth in Kohlberg's model, part of the conventional level.
  • Individuals in this stage believe in maintaining the social order by following laws and respecting authority.
• Good Boy-Nice Girl Orientation:
  • This is the third stage in Kohlberg's model, part of the conventional level.
  • Here, individuals make decisions based on social approval and the desire to be seen as good or nice by others.

The correct answer is 'People tend to perceive incomplete shapes as complete'.

Key Points

• Principle of Closure in Gestalt Psychology:
  • Gestalt psychology is a theory of mind that proposes that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and unified wholes.
  • The principle of closure suggests that our brains tend to fill in missing information to perceive a complete image, even when parts of the image are absent or incomplete.
  • This principle demonstrates how our perception strives for simplicity and completeness, often overriding incomplete or fragmented visual stimuli.

Additional Information

• Other Gestalt Principles:
  • Continuity: This principle states that the human eye prefers to see continuous forms rather than disconnected segments. This helps in perceiving smooth, continuous patterns rather than abrupt changes.
  • Symmetry: According to this principle, objects that are symmetrical are more likely to be perceived as a unified group. Symmetry aids in the visual organization of elements.
  • Proximity: This principle suggests that objects that are close to each other are often seen as a group. Physical closeness in visual elements leads to their being perceived collectively.
• Applications of Closure Principle:
  • The principle of closure is widely used in graphic design, art, and user interface design to create visually appealing and intuitive layouts.It also plays a role in everyday perception, helping us recognize objects and faces even when they are partially obscured.

The correct answer is A and C Only.

Key Points

• Gestalt Principle of Figure-Ground Perception:
  • This principle is a fundamental concept in Gestalt psychology, which studies how people organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes.
  • Figure-ground perception explains how we distinguish an object (the figure) from its surrounding environment (the ground).
• Reversible Figures:
  • Reversible figures are visual images that can be perceived in more than one way, often switching between figure and ground.
  • An example is the Rubin vase, which can be seen as either a vase or two faces in profile.
• Camouflage:
  • Camouflage involves blending the figure into the ground to make it difficult to distinguish the object from its background.
  • This technique is used in nature by animals to avoid predators and in military contexts to conceal equipment and personnel.

Additional Information

• Visual Hierarchy:
  • Visual hierarchy refers to the arrangement or presentation of elements in a way that implies importance. It is not specifically related to the figure-ground relationship.
• Perceptual Set:
  • Perceptual set is a tendency to perceive or notice some aspects of the available sensory data and ignore others, influenced by expectations, experiences, and context. It is not directly about figure-ground perception.
• Depth Perception:
  • Depth perception is the visual ability to perceive the world in three dimensions (3D) and judge the distance of objects. It is related to how we perceive spatial relationships, not specifically figure-ground relationships.

The correct option is 'The law of closure'.

Key Points

• Statement: The perceptual attitude of mind to furnish the slots and finalize the figure.
  • This statement is true.
  • Definition of the Law of Closure: The Law of Closure is one of the Gestalt principles of perceptual organization. It states that when we look at a complex arrangement of visual elements, we tend to look for a single, recognizable pattern. We fill in the gaps to perceive a complete, whole object, even when none exists.
  • Example: For instance, if parts of a shape are missing, our brain can still perceive the whole shape by filling in the missing information.
• Relationship Between Statement and Answer:
  • The statement describes a mental process where the mind fills in missing information to perceive a complete figure. This is directly related to the Law of Closure.
  • According to the Law of Closure, our mind tends to see complete figures even when parts are missing, thereby "furnishing the slots" and "finalizing the figure" as mentioned in the statement.
  • Therefore, the Law of Closure is the principle that explains this perceptual attitude of the mind.

Additional Information

• Other Gestalt Laws: Besides the Law of Closure, there are other Gestalt laws of perceptual organization such as the Law of Proximity (objects that are close to each other are perceived as a group), the Law of Similarity (similar objects are grouped together), the Law of Continuity (we perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones), and the Law of Simplicity (we perceive the simplest shape possible).
• Application in Design: These principles are widely used in various fields such as design, art, and user interface (UI) development to create visually pleasing and easily understandable layouts.

The correct answer is 'A and C Only.'

Key Points

• Richard Gregory's constructivist theory of perception:
  • Richard Gregory proposed that perception is not just a direct process of interpreting sensory input but is highly influenced by hypotheses and inferences.
  • According to this theory, perception is constructed through past experiences and knowledge, which help to interpret and make sense of sensory information.
  • This means that what we perceive is partly determined by what we already know, and our brain uses this prior knowledge to fill in gaps and make educated guesses about what we are seeing.

Additional Information

• Based primarily on sensory input:
  • This option suggests that perception is a direct process relying solely on sensory information, without the influence of prior knowledge or experience.
  • While sensory input is crucial, Gregory's theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in interpreting these inputs.
• A direct process that requires no prior knowledge:
  • This perspective aligns with the concept of direct perception, where sensory information alone is sufficient for perception.
  • Gregory, however, argues that perception is not purely direct and that our brain actively constructs our perceptual experience using past knowledge.

The correct answer is A, B, and E Only.

Key Points

• Gate Control Theory of Pain:
  • This theory was proposed by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall in 1965.
  • It suggests that non-painful input closes the "gates" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system.
  • Therefore, stimulation by non-noxious input can suppress pain.
• Involved Fibers:
  • A-delta fibers: These are myelinated fibers that transmit sharp, acute pain signals quickly.
  • C fibers: These are unmyelinated fibers that carry dull, throbbing pain signals more slowly.
  • Small nerve fibers: These include both A-delta and C fibers and are involved in transmitting pain signals to the spinal cord and brain.

Additional Information

• Other Fibers Not Primarily Involved in Pain Transmission:
  • A-beta fibers: These are large, myelinated fibers that generally transmit touch and pressure sensations, not pain. They can modulate pain by activating inhibitory neurons in the spinal cord, which is why they are involved in the gate control theory but not as primary transmitters of pain.
  • Large nerve fibers: These typically refer to fibers like A-beta fibers that are involved in non-painful sensory input. Their activation can help "close the gate" to pain signals, but they are not directly responsible for transmitting pain.