Introductory Psychology
Description of the Examination
The Introductory Psychology examination covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester undergraduate course in introductory psychology. It stresses basic facts, concepts, and generally accepted principles in the thirteen areas listed in the following section.
The examination contains approximately 95 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time candidates spend on tutorials and providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Questions on the Introductory Psychology examination require candidates to demonstrate one or more of the following abilities.
- Knowledge of terminology, principles, and theory
- Ability to comprehend, evaluate, and analyze problem situations
- Ability to apply knowledge to new situations
The subject matter of the Introductory Psychology examination is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions on that topic.
| 8–9% |
|
History, Approaches, Methods
- History of psychology
- Approaches: biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic
- Research methods: experimental, clinical, correlational
- Ethics in research
|
| 8–9% |
|
Biological Bases of Behavior
- Endocrine system
- Etiology
- Functional organization of the nervous system
- Genetics
- Neuroanatomy
- Physiological techniques
|
| 7–8% |
|
Sensation and Perception
- Attention
- Other senses: somesthesis, olfaction, gestation, vestibular system
- Perceptual development
- Perceptual processes
- Receptor processes: vision, audition
- Sensory mechanisms: thresholds, adaptation
|
| 5–6% |
|
States of Consciousness
- Hypnosis and meditation
- Psychoactive drug effects
- Sleep and dreaming
|
| 10–11% |
|
Learning
- Biological bases
- Classical conditioning
- Cognitive process in learning
- Observational learning
- Operant conditioning
|
| 8–9% |
|
Cognition
- Intelligence and creativity
- Language
- Memory
- Thinking and problem solving
|
| 7–8% |
|
Motivation and Emotion
- Biological bases
- Hunger, thirst, sex, pain
- Social motivation
- Theories of emotion
- Theories of motivation
|
| 8–9% |
|
Developmental Psychology
- Dimensions of development: physical, cognitive, social, moral
- Gender identity and sex roles
- Heredity-environment issues
- Research methods: longitudinal, cross- sectional
- Theories of development
|
| 7–8% |
|
Personality
- Assessment techniques
- Growth and adjustment
- Personality theories and approaches
- Research methods: idiographic, nomothetic
- Self-concept, self-esteem
|
| 8–9% |
|
Psychological disorders and health
- Affective disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Health, stress, and coping
- Personality disorders
- Psychoses
- Somatoform disorders
- Theories of psychopathology
|
| 7–8% |
|
Treatment of psychological disorders
- Behavioral therapies
- Biological and drug therapies
- Cognitive therapies
- Community and preventive approaches
- Insight therapies: psychodynamic and humanistic approaches
|
| 7–8% |
|
Social Psychology
- Aggression/antisocial behavior
- Attitudes and attitude change
- Attribution processes
- Conformity, compliance, obedience
- Group dynamics
- Interpersonal perception
|
| 3–4% |
|
Statistics, Tests, and Measurement
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential statistics
- Measurement of intelligence
- Mental handicapping conditions
- Reliability and validity
- Samples, populations, norms
- Types of tests
|
