Quiz 1 - Psy1301
Quiz 1 - Psy1301
Quiz 1 - Psy1301
If you want to know why you earned the grade you were given – then, compare this answer key with
‘your’ quiz answers. Each of the 10 questions was worth 10 pts.
1. Dr. Siefert – proposed in her research the concept of ‘predictive encoding’ which was imagining
a possible future event in your mind and ‘seeing’ yourself acting-out the happy positive desired
outcome. – 3 pts
She, as an introvert, ‘imagined’ herself being more outgoing and engaging with the people she
might meet. So, when she met the dry-cleaning man, she ‘engaged’ and flirted with the man
who had just flirted with her. – 3 pts
Dr. Siefert’s research indicated that there was a 50% possibility of doing the things that you had
imagined. -2 pts
We discussed in class how we might act if someone ‘flipped-us-off’ or how we might respond to
a child who spilled something. -2 pts
2. Researchers designed an experiment to test the ‘luck’ of optimists and pessimists who would be
given the same set of conditions.
Brenda, a pessimist, never saw the money or initiated a conversation.
Martin, an optimist, saw the money and initiated a conversation.
The conclusion was that ‘luck’ is more of a state-of-mind. – 4 pts
To get your mind ready you should follow these 4 steps: - 6 pts
-Prepare your mind and your future for the type of ‘luck’ you want – ‘predictive encoding’
-Give chance a chance – by trying new things, going to new places, having a more outgoing and
venturesome personality.
-Relax – breathe, do relaxation exercises, calm your life through meditation or spiritual
reflections, don’t take everything so seriously, try to have some fun
-Expand your network of friends, be friendly, meet new people, initiate conversations
6. Selective Attention – means that the brain can only CONSCIOUSLY process ONE THING at a time.
Like a flashlight beam that can only shine on one thing at a time. – 4 pts
In the Cell-Phone article – participants were instructed to drive 8 miles down the road and take
a certain exit. Of those talking to a passenger, 88% successfully made the exit. Of those who
were talking on a cell-phone, only 50% made the exit. Conclusion – you can’t drive and talk on
the phone at the same time. – 3 pts
In the Gorilla article – participants were required to count the number of times that a basketball
was passed. In the middle of the game, either a person carrying an umbrella or dressed-up as a
gorilla walked through the middle of the game. Overall, 46% of the participants missed the
unexpected event. If you were a participant required to watch how many times the White team
passed the ball – 73% missed the unexpected event. – 3 pts
7. When watching TV
a. There is a left to right switch in the brain
b. This causes the immediate release of endorphins – which is like giving yourself a ‘feel
good’ cookie - so like a form of ‘positive reinforcement’ you are training yourself to
become addicted to TV
c. The neo-cortex (Frontal Lobe)turns off because there is no chaotic disequilibrium – that
you can really only get when your brain is trying to solve a problem – as in reading,
writing, and any mental ‘calcul’ –
d. Image processing drops into the lower brain – limbic system, unconscious emotional
processing – sometimes known as the ‘reptile’ brain since it reacts to stimulus without
thinking – fight or flight
e. At this point you can’t tell the difference between reality and fabricated images (since
your logic processor – the neocortex – is off)
f. You end up with an irrational, emotional, unconscious ‘culture of fear’, violence and
racism. – 8 pts
Watching TV also produces hunger hormones – ghrenlin – so you get hungry and eat
and get fat watching TV… this further leads to laziness, low self-esteem and depression.
– 2 pts
8. We sleep because.. (2 pts each)
a. We evolved (evolution) as the species that was protected by sleep. Walking around at
night, most humanoids died – they were eaten, fell off cliffs, or fell out of trees.
b. Recuperation – sleep allows the body time to recharge the immune system, repair
damaged cells, and clean house (ie., get rid of free radicals)
c. Memory – sleep gives the hippocampus time to file away memories so you can have
access to the data the following day.
d. Creativity – gives the brain time to solve problems while we dream.
e. Sleep gives the pituitary gland time to regulate the body’s growth process.
9. What happens if we don’t get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
You should have listed about 10 things that the text discussed – 10 pts
I was a little disappointed by the lack of effort that many of you showed, especially when you
were given the chance to have an OPEN book quiz.