Here are 20 sample Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) questions, each with an answer and explanation. These cover various domains, including assessment, diagnosis, ethics, biological bases of behavior, and intervention strategies.
1. Ethics & Professional Issues
Question: A psychologist receives a subpoena for a client’s records but does not have the client’s consent to release them. The psychologist should:
A) Comply immediately and send the records
B) Ignore the subpoena unless a court order follows
C) Assert privilege and seek the client’s consent before disclosing records
D) Contact the opposing attorney to negotiate
Answer: C) Assert privilege and seek the client’s consent before disclosing records
Explanation: Subpoenas do not automatically override client confidentiality. The psychologist should assert privilege and seek the client’s consent. If the client does not consent, the psychologist should wait for a court order before releasing records.
2. Diagnosis & Psychopathology
Question: Which disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent concern about having another attack?
A) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
B) Panic Disorder
C) Agoraphobia
D) Social Anxiety Disorder
Answer: B) Panic Disorder
Explanation: Panic Disorder involves recurrent panic attacks with persistent worry about future attacks or behavioral changes to avoid them. Agoraphobia can be a specifier but is a separate diagnosis.
3. Biological Bases of Behavior
Question: Damage to the Broca’s area is most likely to cause:
A) Fluent but meaningless speech
B) Impaired comprehension
C) Difficulty producing speech
D) Memory deficits
Answer: C) Difficulty producing speech
Explanation: Broca’s area is responsible for speech production. Damage results in expressive aphasia, where comprehension remains intact, but speech is non-fluent and effortful.
4. Research Methods & Statistics
Question: In an experiment, the independent variable is:
A) The variable that is measured
B) The variable that is manipulated
C) The variable that is controlled
D) The variable that shows no variation
Answer: B) The variable that is manipulated
Explanation: The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
5. Social Psychology
Question: The bystander effect refers to:
A) People helping more in a crowd
B) People becoming aggressive in groups
C) The likelihood of helping decreases as group size increases
D) Individuals taking responsibility in ambiguous situations
Answer: C) The likelihood of helping decreases as group size increases
Explanation: Diffusion of responsibility makes individuals less likely to help in larger groups.
6. Learning & Behavior
Question: In classical conditioning, the process of extinction occurs when:
A) A conditioned response strengthens
B) A conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus
C) A new behavior replaces the conditioned response
D) Reinforcement strengthens the conditioned stimulus
Answer: B) A conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus
Explanation: Extinction happens when a previously conditioned response weakens due to the absence of reinforcement.
7. Cognitive Psychology
Question: Which type of memory is most affected in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease?
A) Procedural memory
B) Semantic memory
C) Short-term memory
D) Implicit memory
Answer: C) Short-term memory
Explanation: Alzheimer’s primarily affects short-term (working) memory first, while procedural and implicit memories remain intact longer.
8. Ethics & Confidentiality
Question: A psychologist must break confidentiality when:
A) A client expresses suicidal thoughts but has no plan
B) A client reports past illegal activity
C) A client threatens to harm another person
D) A client’s spouse requests information
Answer: C) A client threatens to harm another person
Explanation: Under Tarasoff duty to warn, psychologists must take steps to prevent harm if a client poses a danger to others.
9. Clinical Psychology & Treatment
Question: Which therapy is most effective for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention
C) Client-Centered Therapy
D) Existential Therapy
Answer: B) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention
Explanation: CBT, specifically Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
10. Developmental Psychology
Question: Piaget’s preoperational stage is characterized by:
A) Conservation
B) Abstract thinking
C) Egocentrism
D) Logical reasoning
Answer: C) Egocentrism
Explanation: Preoperational children struggle with perspective-taking and believe others see the world as they do.
11. Neuropsychology
Question: The amygdala is primarily involved in:
A) Memory consolidation
B) Motor coordination
C) Emotional processing
D) Language comprehension
Answer: C) Emotional processing
Explanation: The amygdala plays a crucial role in fear and emotional regulation.
12. Psychopharmacology
Question: Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by SSRIs?
A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) GABA
Answer: C) Serotonin
Explanation: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) increase serotonin availability to treat depression and anxiety.
13. Crisis Intervention
Question: In suicide risk assessment, which factor is most predictive of a future suicide attempt?
A) Hopelessness
B) A history of past attempts
C) Social support
D) Current stressors
Answer: B) A history of past attempts
Explanation: Previous suicide attempts are the strongest predictor of future risk.
14. Multicultural Competence
Question: A culturally competent therapist should:
A) Apply the same interventions to all clients
B) Be aware of their own biases
C) Avoid discussing culture with clients
D) Assume all members of a culture have the same beliefs
Answer: B) Be aware of their own biases
Explanation: Self-awareness is key to culturally competent practice.
15. Child Psychology
Question: What is the main feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A) Hallucinations
B) Severe mood swings
C) Impairment in social communication and restricted interests
D) Psychotic episodes
Answer: C) Impairment in social communication and restricted interests
Explanation: ASD is defined by difficulties in social interaction and repetitive behaviors.
More in depth explation for question 6:
In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (US).
For example:
- Before conditioning: A dog salivates (unconditioned response, UR) when it sees food (unconditioned stimulus, US).
- During conditioning: A bell (neutral stimulus) is paired with food (US), leading to salivation.
- After conditioning: The bell alone (now the conditioned stimulus, CS) causes salivation (conditioned response, CR).
Extinction: If the bell (CS) is repeatedly presented without food (US), the salivation response weakens and eventually disappears.
So, extinction occurs because the conditioned stimulus (CS) is no longer followed by the unconditioned stimulus (US), leading to the conditioned response (CR) fading over time.
Simon Downes, MD, PhD 