Study Guide
Overview and Test Objectives
Field 011: Psychology
Test Overview
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 2 hours 30 minutes* |
| Passing Score | 220 |
*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial
Test Objectives
| Subarea | Range of Objectives | Approximate Percentage of Questions on Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations, Skills, and Methods | 001–006 | 21% |
| 2 | Human Development | 007–011 | 18% |
| 3 | Behavior | 012–019 | 29% |
| 4 | Personality Theories and Psychological Disorders | 020–024 | 18% |
| 5 | Social Behavior | 025–028 | 14% |
Hover over each subarea for details of subtest content or see table above.
Sub area 1 21%, Sub area 2 18%, Sub area 3 29%, Sub area 4 18%, and Sub area 5 14%.
Subarea 1—FOUNDATIONS, SKILLS, AND METHODS
Objective 001—Understand the historical development of major ideas in psychology.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the roots of psychology
- recognizing major individuals, events, and trends
- defining major models of psychology, their limitations, and their interrelationships
- analyzing the significance of these topics in terms of contemporary psychology
Objective 002—Understand roles, issues, and goals in contemporary psychology.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the function of psychology in contemporary society
- examining the types and characteristics of mental health practitioners and services including benefits, criticisms, and limitations
- examining ethical guidelines and standards
- analyzing consumer issues related to selection of and access to mental health services
Objective 003—Apply social science study skills related to psychology.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the characteristics and uses of resource materials available in psychology
- analyzing sources of information
- deriving information from visual sources such as graphs, charts, and tables
- summarizing information from a written selection
- assessing the validity of generalizations and conclusions
Objective 004—Apply principles and techniques used in designing and conducting psychological research projects.
Includes:
- applying skills used in posing questions, developing theories, and stating hypotheses
- determining the order of steps in a research project
- recognizing the characteristics of a sound research project
- recognizing appropriate methods and techniques for collecting information (e.g., interviews, surveys, case studies) and choosing subjects
- demonstrating familiarity with ethical issues related to research in the field
- compiling, organizing, and interpreting data and information
- drawing conclusions
Objective 005—Understand psychological measurement instruments and techniques.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with major individuals, terms, and concepts associated with psychological testing
- examining characteristics, purposes, and limitations of various common psychological tests (e.g., personality, intelligence)
- analyzing issues, criticisms, and controversies related to the use of psychological tests and test results
Objective 006—Understand contemporary therapeutic and counseling techniques and theories.
Includes:
- recognizing conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies
- identifying different techniques and applications of contemporary counseling approaches (e.g., reality therapy, family therapy, grief therapy)
Subarea 2—HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Objective 007—Analyze the effects of heredity and environment on human development.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with theories related to the nature-nurture issue
- distinguishing between inherited and acquired traits (e.g., gender differences)
- examining techniques used to study the effect of heredity on human development and the relationship between human development and the environment
- analyzing the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the development of various human traits and behaviors
Objective 008—Apply knowledge of the prenatal and infancy stages of development.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the physical development of the fetus and the influence of environmental and genetic factors on fetal survival and development
- using knowledge of human development to examine physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional changes experienced during infancy
- analyzing biological and environmental factors that affect development during infancy
Objective 009—Apply knowledge of development during childhood.
Includes:
- using knowledge of human development to examine physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and moral changes experienced during early and middle childhood
- examining biological factors and environmental factors (e.g., family structures, parenting style, peer groups) that affect development at these stages
- analyzing influences specific to self-esteem
Objective 010—Apply knowledge of development during adolescence.
Includes:
- using knowledge of human development to examine physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and moral changes experienced during adolescence
- analyzing biological and environmental factors that affect development at this stage
Objective 011—Apply knowledge of development during adulthood.
Includes:
- using knowledge of human development to examine physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral changes experienced during early, middle, and late adulthood
- analyzing biological and environmental factors related to adult development and aging
- demonstrating familiarity with issues and tasks related to adulthood (e.g., relationships, work, child rearing, loss, adjustments)
Subarea 3—BEHAVIOR
Objective 012—Understand the biological bases of behavior.
Includes:
- identifying the major components, structures, and functions of the nervous system and the endocrine system
- analyzing biological influences underlying behavior and the reasons this information is useful in studying psychology
Objective 013—Apply knowledge of sensation and perception.
Includes:
- using knowledge of the major sense organs and neuropathways to the brain to explain how humans filter and respond to various stimuli
- demonstrating familiarity with how humans organize, interpret, and analyze information received through the sense organs
- distinguishing between the process of sensation and the process of perception
- analyzing factors that affect sensation and perception
Objective 014—Apply knowledge of states of consciousness.
Includes:
- defining consciousness
- distinguishing between different states of consciousness
- analyzing the stages and characteristics of sleep and dreams
- understanding uses of hypnosis and meditation
- examining the effects of illicit and licit drug use on an individual's state of consciousness
Objective 015—Apply basic principles of learning.
Includes:
- using principles of learning and conditioning to examine the relationship between stimuli and responses
- distinguishing between classical and operant conditioning and between conditioning and cognitive approaches to learning
- analyzing methods for bringing about behavioral change
Objective 016—Apply knowledge of memory.
Includes:
- using knowledge of memory to examine how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved
- analyzing processes used to recall information
- recognizing theories regarding memory loss
- identifying techniques and methods used to improve memory
Objective 017—Apply knowledge of cognition and language.
Includes:
- using knowledge of cognition to examine the processes of thinking, reasoning, and making decisions
- analyzing concept formation, approaches to problem solving, and factors that affect cognitive abilities and promote creativity
- demonstrating familiarity with the structure of language and theories of language acquisition
- analyzing relationships between language and thought
Objective 018—Apply knowledge of theories of motivation.
Includes:
- using theories of motivation to examine the processes that underlie and activate behavior
- demonstrating familiarity with human needs
- analyzing behavior motivated by a combination of biological and learned factors
Objective 019—Understand types and characteristics of human emotion.
Includes:
- using theories of emotion to examine the causes and effects of various emotions
- demonstrating familiarity with physiological and behavioral changes that accompany various emotional states
Subarea 4—PERSONALITY THEORIES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Objective 020—Apply knowledge of psychoanalytic theories of personality.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with psychoanalytic theories of personality and theorists associated with them
- using concepts and terms associated with psychoanalytic theories to examine differences in personality
- distinguishing between Freudian and neo-Freudian theories of personality and analyzing their strengths and limitations
Objective 021—Apply knowledge of trait, learning, and humanistic theories of personality.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with trait, learning, and humanistic theories of personality, theorists associated with them, and how they are distinct from psychoanalytic theories
- using concepts and approaches associated with trait, learning, and humanistic theories to analyze differences in personality
- examining the strengths and limitations of various theories
Objective 022—Apply knowledge of frustration, conflict, and other forms of stress.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with types, causes, and stages of stress
- recognizing how individuals use defense and coping mechanisms
- analyzing the varying effects of the same type of stress on different personalities
- examining the relationships between psychological and physical health
Objective 023—Apply knowledge of abnormal behavior.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the types, causes, and characteristics of mild and severe behavioral/emotional disorders and personality disorders
- recognizing models used to explain and diagnose them
- evaluating criticisms and controversies associated with the categorization of individuals
Objective 024—Understand approaches to the treatment of psychological disorders.
Includes:
- identifying characteristics and goals of psychotherapy and biologically based therapy
- recognizing basic types of psychotherapy and the psychological models associated with them
- understanding uses of biological treatment
Subarea 5—SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Objective 025—Understand the nature of groups, group behavior, and self-concept.
Includes:
- analyzing types, structures, and functions of groups
- examining social and cultural factors that influence the formation of self-concept
- recognizing the effects of group membership on individuals
- understanding the interaction between an individual's self-concept and social relationships
Objective 026—Apply knowledge of processes and factors related to attitude formation and attribution.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the components of attitude
- processes through which attitudes are formed, maintained, and changed
- recognizing concepts and processes related to attribution
- analyzing how stereotypes, propaganda, various forms of bias (e.g., culture and gender), and related social factors influence attitude formation and the impressions and judgments one individual forms about another
- defining the relationships between an individual's personality traits and attitude and attribution
Objective 027—Apply knowledge of factors and processes related to norms, persuasion, and conformity.
Includes:
- demonstrating familiarity with the influences of group membership, social and cultural norms, and group dynamics on individual behavior
- analyzing methods used to bring about conformity and compliance
- evaluating techniques individuals use to remain independent of group pressures
- defining the relationship between cognitive dissonance and individual behavior
- examining issues and controversies related to gender roles and social norms
Objective 028—Apply knowledge of major forms of social interaction.
Includes:
- recognizing altruism, aggression, accommodation, cooperation, and competition and the factors that influence these behaviors
- demonstrating familiarity with forms of social communication and with types and levels of attraction