1
← Back to quizzesFree quiz
Key Findings in Biological and Social Psychology
Harry Harlow’s classic experiment with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated that physical comfort and emotional warmth are crucial for attachment formation. The study used two surrogate…
0 / 20
Score: 0%
2
In the hypothalamic lesion study, which brain region's damage led to aphagia in rats?
3
Which result from the MMR vaccine withdrawal study most directly refutes a causal link between MMR and autism?
4
In the oxytocin trust game, what specific effect did oxytocin have compared to placebo?
5
What pattern emerged regarding criminal behavior in the Danish adoption study when both biological and adoptive parents were criminals?
6
After finger amputation in monkeys, how did the somatosensory cortex respond to the loss of input?
7
What structural brain difference was found in London taxi drivers compared to controls?
8
In Loftus & Palmer's experiment, which verb led participants to report the highest speed estimates for car collisions?
9
What did the flashbulb memory study find about the accuracy of vivid, emotional memories over time?
10
In the false childhood memory experiment, what proportion of participants formed a false memory of the hot‑air‑balloon event?
11
What did Asch's conformity experiment reveal about the proportion of participants who never conformed to the majority's wrong answer?
12
During Milgram's obedience study, what percentage of participants administered the maximum 450 V shock?
13
In Tajfel's minimal group paradigm, how did participants behave when allocating points to in‑group versus out‑group members?
14
What effect did the introduction of superordinate goals have on intergroup hostility in Sherif's Robbers Cave study?
15
According to Bandura's Bobo doll experiment, which factor most strongly predicted children's imitation of aggression?
16
In the theory‑of‑mind study with autistic children, what specific task revealed their deficit compared to typically developing peers?
17
What methodological advantage did the MMR vaccine study claim by using a total population cohort with systematic screening?
18
In the Harlow monkey experiment, how did infants behave when frightened by a loud noise?
19
What was the primary conclusion drawn from the neuroplasticity study regarding adult brain adaptability?
20
Which experimental design best characterizes the study on the genetic versus environmental influences on criminal behavior?
Understanding Attachment: Harlow’s 1959 Monkey Study
Harry Harlow’s classic experiment with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated that physical comfort and emotional warmth are crucial for attachment formation. The study used two surrogate mothers: one made of wire that provided milk, and another covered in soft cloth that offered no food. Monkeys overwhelmingly preferred the cloth mother, seeking it for security even when hungry.
- Key takeaway: Attachment is driven more by tactile comfort than by feeding frequency.
- Implications for human development include the importance of nurturing touch in early caregiving.
Hypothalamic Lesions and Feeding Behavior
Research on rats with targeted hypothalamic lesions revealed that damage to the lateral hypothalamus produces aphagia—an inability or refusal to eat. This region functions as a feeding center, and its disruption leads to severe appetite suppression.
- Lesions of other hypothalamic areas, such as the ventromedial or anterior hypothalamus, do not produce the same aphagic effect.
- Understanding these neural circuits helps explain disorders like anorexia and provides targets for therapeutic interventions.
MMR Vaccine Withdrawal Study: Refuting the Autism Myth
Large‑scale epidemiological data examined the impact of withdrawing the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine on autism rates. The most compelling finding was that autism rates continued to rise even after the vaccine was completely stopped. This trend directly contradicts the hypothesis that the MMR vaccine causes autism.
- Consistent increases suggest other environmental or genetic factors are at play.
- Public health messaging must emphasize evidence‑based conclusions to combat misinformation.
Oxytocin and Trust: Insights from the Trust Game
In a controlled trust game, participants receiving intranasal oxytocin sent significantly larger amounts of money compared to those given a placebo. This effect highlights oxytocin’s role in enhancing social trust and cooperative behavior.
- Oxytocin did not alter risk‑taking in non‑social tasks, indicating a specific social modulation.
- These findings have implications for treating social deficits in conditions such as autism spectrum disorder.
Criminal Behavior in the Danish Adoption Study
The Danish adoption study examined offspring whose biological and adoptive parents both had criminal histories. The data showed that the highest rates of offending were observed in this group, underscoring the combined influence of genetic predisposition and adverse environments.
- Neither environmental nor genetic factors alone fully explained the elevated risk.
- Intervention strategies must address both familial background and current social context.
Neuroplasticity After Finger Amputation in Monkeys
When a monkey’s finger is amputated, the somatosensory cortex does not remain silent. Instead, adjacent finger representations expand into the deprived cortical area. This cortical reorganization exemplifies the brain’s capacity for experience‑dependent plasticity.
- New neurons do not replace the lost representation; rather, existing networks adapt.
- Such plastic changes are foundational for rehabilitation after limb loss in humans.
Structural Brain Changes in London Taxi Drivers
Neuroimaging studies comparing London taxi drivers with control participants revealed a distinctive pattern: larger posterior hippocampus and smaller anterior hippocampus. The posterior region is associated with spatial memory, reflecting the extensive navigation experience required for the “Knowledge” test.
- This structural adaptation demonstrates use‑dependent brain plasticity.
- It provides a real‑world example of how intensive learning can reshape brain anatomy.
Memory Distortion in Loftus & Palmer’s Car Crash Study
Elizabeth Loftus and John Palmer investigated how verb choice influences eyewitness memory. Participants who read the verb "smashed" reported higher speed estimates for the car collision than those who read milder verbs like "hit" or "bumped".
- This demonstrates the malleability of memory and the power of language in shaping perception.
- Legal professionals must be cautious about phrasing questions to avoid contaminating witness testimony.
Integrating the Findings: A Holistic View of Biological and Social Psychology
The studies outlined above collectively illustrate how biological mechanisms (e.g., hypothalamic lesions, oxytocin pathways, cortical reorganization) intersect with social and environmental factors (e.g., attachment, cultural learning, criminal upbringing). Understanding these interactions is essential for developing comprehensive psychological theories and effective interventions.
- Neuroscience provides the substrate for behavior, while social contexts shape the expression of that behavior.
- Future research should continue to bridge laboratory findings with real‑world applications.
