Study Guide: Introduction to Psychology – Exam 3 Review

Exam Structure and Key Topics

This study guide outlines the format and main content areas for Exam 3 in an Introduction to Psychology course. The exam includes multiple choice and matching sections, focusing on psychological theories, disorders, and terminology.

Exam Format Overview

• Multiple Choice Questions: 33 questions (2 points each)

• Matching Sections: Two sections covering social psychology terms and psychological disorders

Major Areas of Focus

1. Social Psychology Terms and Examples

Students should be able to define, recognize, and provide examples of the following social psychology concepts:

• Fundamental Attribution Error: The tendency to overemphasize personal traits and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

• Self-serving Bias: Attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

• Social Norms: Accepted behaviors within a group or society.

• Social Facilitation: Improved performance on tasks in the presence of others.

• Social Loafing: The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group.

• Group Polarization: The strengthening of a group's prevailing opinions after discussion.

• Groupthink: The desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making.

• Deindividuation: Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations.

• Conformity: Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with group standards.

• Obedience: Following orders from an authority figure.

• Altruism: Selfless concern for the well-being of others.

• Bystander Effect: Individuals are less likely to help when others are present.

Example: In the classic Asch conformity experiments, participants conformed to group pressure even when the group was clearly wrong.

2. Psychological Disorders: Identification and Symptoms

Students should be able to match psychological disorders with their main symptoms or descriptions. Key disorders include:

• Major Depressive Disorder: Persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and other emotional and physical symptoms.

• Bipolar Disorder: Alternating periods of depression and mania.

• Panic Disorder: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions).

• Phobic Disorder: Irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life.

• Schizophrenia: Disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior, including delusions and hallucinations.

• Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and often criminal behavior.

• Autism Spectrum Disorder: Deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors.

Example: A person with panic disorder may experience sudden episodes of intense fear, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath without an obvious trigger.

Study Strategies

• Review class notes, slides, and assigned readings for detailed explanations and examples.

• Practice matching terms with definitions and identifying symptoms of disorders.

• Understand the main approaches to therapy and how they relate to different psychological disorders (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic).

Additional Info

• Be prepared to differentiate between major psychological approaches and their applications to therapy.

• Know the main symptoms and diagnostic criteria for each disorder listed.

• Familiarize yourself with classic studies and examples related to social psychology concepts.