CLEP Introductory Psychology Book + Online

by Don J. Sharpsteen Ph.D.

Overview

Earn College Credit with REA’s Test Prep for CLEP Introductory Psychology

Everything you need to pass the exam and get the college credit you deserve.

REA leads the way in helping students pass their College Board CLEP exams and earn college credit while reducing their tuition costs.

With 25+ years of experience in test prep for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), REA is your trusted source for the most up-to-date test-aligned content. Whether you’re an adult returning to finish your degree, a traditional-age college student, a military service member, or a high school or home-schooled student looking to get a head start on college and shorten your path to graduation, CLEP is perfect for you.

REA’s expert authors know the CLEP tests inside out. And thanks to our partners at Proctortrack (proctortrack.com/clep), you can now take your exam at your convenience, from the comfort of home.
 
Prep for success on the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam with REA’s personalized three-step plan: (1) focus your study, (2) review with the book, and (3) measure your test-readiness.

Our Book + Online prep gives you all the tools you need to make the most of your study time:

• Diagnostic exam: Pinpoint what you already know and what you need to study.
• Targeted subject review: Learn what you’ll be tested on.
• Two full-length practice exams: Zero in on the topics that give you trouble now so you’ll be confident and prepared on test day.
• Glossary of key terms: Round out your prep with must-know vocabulary.

This study guide is fully aligned with the DSM-5 classification system on which the exam is based.

REA is America’s recognized leader in CLEP preparation. Our test prep helps you earn valuable college credit, save on tuition, and accelerate your path to a college degree.
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738610177
Publisher:	Research & Education Association
Publication date:	02/16/2012
Series:	CLEP Test Preparation
Edition description:	Second Edition, Revised
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Don J. Sharpsteen, Ph.D., is president and chief creative officer of BrazenThinking LLC, which markets video textbooks for college psychology courses. Hewas formerly Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Missouri–Rolla (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology). Dr. Sharpsteen is a recipient of the UMR College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award. His three decades of teaching spans a wide range of subjects, including social psychology, personality, motivation and emotion, developmental psychology, learning, psychoanalysis, evolutionary psychology, close relationships, research methods, and statistics. His research has focused on the cognitive representation of emotion knowledge and on the social psychological processes involved in gossip. 

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1PASSING THE CLEP INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY EXAMCongratulations! You’re joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.GETTING STARTED
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.
This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help. Let’s get started and see how this system works.Test Yourself & Get Feedback - Score reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint what you already know and where you need to spend more time studying.Review with the Book - Study the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to know.Improve Your Score - Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you’re weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly.THE REA STUDY CENTER
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve finished reviewing with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.If you’re studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAM
The CLEP Introductory Psychology exam consists of approximately 95 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes. The exam covers the material one would find in a college-level introductory psychology course. The exam stresses basic facts and principles, as well as general theoretical approaches used by psychologists.The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:8–9% History, Approaches, Methods8–9% Biological Bases of Behavior7–8% Sensation and Perception5–6% States of Consciousness10–11% The Sociological Perspective8–9% Cognition7–8% Motivation and Emotion7–8% Personality8–9% Psychological Disorders and Health7–8% Treatment of Psychological Disorders7–8% Social Psychology3–4% Statistics, Tests, and MeasurementALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org/clep.Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations.However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.collegeboard.org/clepOPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/testing.htm.CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Many test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
P.O. Box 6226
Princeton, NJ 08541-6226
Phone: [phone] (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
TTY: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

About the Author vii

About Research & Education Association vii

Acknowledgments vii

Chapter 1 Passing the CLEP Introductory Psychology 1

Getting Started 3

The REA Study Center 4

An Overview of the Exam 5

All About the CLEP Program 6

Options for Military Personnel and Veterans 7

SSD Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities 7

6-Week Study Plan 8

Test-Taking Tips 8

The Day of the Exam 10

Online Diagnostic Test: rea.com/studycenter

Chapter 2 History and Methods 11

Psychology's History 13

Modern Approaches to Understanding Human Behavior 14

Research Methods 15

Chapter 3 Biological Bases of Behavior 19

Neurons 21

Neurotransmitters 22

Sub-Systems of the Nervous System 23

Brain Organization 25

Chapter 4 Sensation and Perception 27

Sensation 29

Perception 30

Chapter 5 Consciousness 33

Patterns of Waking and Sleeping 35

Sleep Disorders 37

Dreams 37

Altered States of Consciousness 38

Chapter 6 Learning 39

Non-Associative Learning 41

Associative Learning 42

Chapter 7 Cognition 47

Thinking 49

Language 50

Memory 51

Intelligence 51

Chapter 8 Motivation and Emotion 53

Motivation 55

Emotions 57

Chapter 9 Development 59

Developmental Research Methods 61

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development 62

Erikson's Theory of Psycho-Social Development 64

Chapter 10 Personality 67

The Psychoanalytic Approach 69

The Humanistic Approach 72

The Social-Cognitive Approach 72

The Individual Difference (or Trait) Approach 73

Chapter 11 Psychological Disorders 75

Anxiety Disorders 77

Mood Disorders 78

Dissociative Disorders 78

Schizophrenia 78

Somatoform Disorders 79

Personality Disorders 80

Explanations for Abnormal Behavior 80

Chapter 12 Psychological Therapies 81

The Psychoanalytic Approach 83

The Humanistic Approach 84

The Cognitive Approach 85

The Learning (or Behavioral) Approach 85

The Biological (or Medical) Approach 86

Chapter 13 Social Psychology 89

Social Cognition 91

Social Influence 92

Social Relations - Aggression and Altruism 93

Chapter 14 Testing, Measurement, and Statistics 95

Reliability, Validity, and Standardization 97

Descriptive Statistics and Statistical Inference 98

Practice Test 1 (also available online at rea.com/studycenter) 101

Answer Key 127

Detailed Explanations of Answers 128

Practice Test 2 (also available online at rea.com/studycenter) 139

Answer Key 165

Detailed Explanations of Answers 166

Answer Sheets 179

Glossary 183

Index 197