Biology

Behavioral Psychology and Physiology

1,324 Questions

Behavioral psychology and physiology explore cognitive processes, attention, memory, and learning mechanisms like conditioning. These concepts are frequently tested in general science and psychology sections of various competitive exams. Prepare thoroughly using these practice questions covering key behavioral theories and physiological functions.

Cognitive processesMemory and learningAttention and focusDevelopmental milestonesSensory perception

Behavioral Psychology and Physiology Questions

Multiple choice

The concrete operational stage is on the development stages is given by

  1. Bruner

  2. Piaget

  3. Freud

  4. Gagne
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development identifies four stages: sensorimotor (0-2 years), pre-operational (2-7 years), concrete operational (7-11 years), and formal operational (11+ years). The concrete operational stage is characterized by logical thought about concrete objects and events. Bruner proposed modes of representation, Freud developed psychoanalytic theory, and Gagne studied instructional design.

Multiple choice

The ability to play cooperatively with other children occurs in the

  1. stage of formal operation

  2. stage of concrete operation

  3. pre-operational stage

  4. sensory motor stage
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

According to Piaget's theory, cooperative play develops during the concrete operational stage (ages 7-11). In this stage, children become less egocentric and can engage in organized, rule-based play with peers. Earlier stages involve parallel or associative play, while formal operations involves abstract thinking beyond play skills.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a type of course reversal?

  1. Teardrop pattern

  2. Holding pattern

  3. Procedure turn

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All three patterns mentioned - teardrop pattern, holding pattern, and procedure turn - are recognized types of course reversal procedures used in aviation. Course reversals are maneuvers used to reverse aircraft direction in instrument flight conditions when approaching from a certain direction.

Multiple choice

The tendrillar movement is an example of

  1. phototropism

  2. geotropism

  3. hydrotropism

  4. chemotropism

  5. thigmotropism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Thigmotropism is a movement in which a plant moves or grows in response to touch or contact stimuli. Eg. tendrillar movements.

Multiple choice

Movements which occur without any external stimuli are termed as

  1. tropic movements

  2. spontaneous movements

  3. seismonastic movements

  4. induced movements
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Spontaneous movements occur autonomously without external stimuli, driven by internal plant factors (like turgor pressure changes). Tropic movements are directional responses to stimuli, seismonastic movements respond to touch/shock, and induced movements require external triggers.

Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Some species of dolphins find their prey by echolocation; they emit clicking sounds and listen for echoes returning from distant objects in the water. Marine biologists have speculated that those same clicking sounds might have a second function: particularly loud clicks might be used by the dolphins to stun their prey at close range through sensory overload. Which of the following, if discovered to be true, would cast the most serious doubt on the correctness of the speculation described above?

  1. Dolphins that use echolocation to locate distant prey also emit frequent clicks at intermediate distances as they close in on their prey.

  2. The usefulness of echolocation as a means of locating prey depends on the clicking sounds being of a type that the prey is incapable of perceiving, regardless of volume.

  3. If dolphins stun their prey, the effect is bound to be so temporary that stunning from far away, even if possible, would be ineffective.

  4. Echolocation appears to give dolphins that use it information about the richness of a source of food as well as about its direction.

  5. The more distant a dolphin's prey, the louder the echolocation clicks must be if they are to reveal the prey's presence to the hunting dolphin.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If echolocation works precisely because prey CANNOT perceive the clicks (as stated in B), then those same clicks could NOT also stun prey through sensory overload: sensory overload requires the prey to perceive and be overwhelmed by the stimulus. This creates a logical contradiction, undermining the speculation.

Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

The Burmese ferret badger burrows its home in the ground. Based on the fact that different local populations of Burmese ferret badgers of the same species dig homes of different styles, zoologists have concluded that the badgers building styles are a culturally acquired, rather than a genetically transmitted, trait. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the zoologists?

  1. There are more common characteristics than there are differences among the Burmese ferret badger's styles of the local Burmese ferret badger population that has been studied most extensively.

  2. Young Burmese ferret badgers are inept at digging burrows and apparently spend years watching their elders before becoming accomplished in the local style.

  3. The homes of one species of badger lack the characteristics of the homes of most other species of badger.

  4. Burmese ferret badgers are found only in Burma and India, where local populations of the badgers apparently seldom have contact with one another.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The best answer is (2). The information in choice (2) says that young Burmese ferret badgers progress slowly towards mastery of a burrow-digging style. This suggests that the skill is one they must learn, rather than one whose transmission is wholly genetic. Choice (2) also suggests a means of cultural transmission, namely, observation of older badger's techniques.

Multiple choice

The effect / influence which the environment exercises on an organism and reuses it to do activity is called _____________.

  1. response

  2. stimulus

  3. emotion

  4. force
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A stimulus is any external or internal change that affects an organism and provokes a response or reaction. Response is the organism's reaction. Emotion is a psychological state. Force is a physics concept. Stimulus is the environmental influence that triggers activity.

Multiple choice

Conditioned Reflex Technique was developed by _________.

  1. pavlov

  2. thorndike

  3. watson

  4. skinner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ivan Pavlov developed the Conditioned Reflex Technique through his famous experiments with dogs, demonstrating classical conditioning. While Thorndike, Watson, and Skinner contributed to behaviorism, Pavlov's work on conditioned reflexes was foundational and came first.