A male college student begins feeling sad and lonely. Although still able to go to classes and work at his job, he finds himself feeling down much of the time and worrying about what is happening to him. Which part of the definition of abnormality applies to his situation?
- A. Personal distress
- B. Cultural factors
- C. Impaired functioning
- D. Violation of societal norms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Personal distress. In this scenario, the student is experiencing personal distress as he feels sad and lonely, despite being able to function in his daily life. Personal distress is a key criterion for determining abnormality as it signifies significant emotional discomfort. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as cultural factors, impaired functioning, and violation of societal norms are not the primary factors highlighted in the student's situation.
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Which of the following views is most consistent with the notion that unconscious motivations can influence our overt behavior?
- A. Carl Rogers.
- B. Wilhelm Wundt.
- C. B.F. Skinner.
- D. Sigmund Freud.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Sigmund Freud. Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasized the impact of unconscious motivations on behavior. Carl Rogers (choice A) is known for person-centered therapy emphasizing self-actualization, Wilhelm Wundt (choice B) is a structuralist in psychology focusing on consciousness, and B.F. Skinner (choice C) is associated with behaviorism and operant conditioning, which do not primarily focus on unconscious motivations.
Michael, age 16, has recently gained a considerable amount of weight but has not grown any taller. His father experienced a similar pattern of growth when he was a teenager. Theorists who suggest that Michael's growth pattern was inherited from his father emphasize the ________ side of the nature-nurture debate?
- A. Nature
- B. Nurture
- C. Environmental
- D. Experiential
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'A: Nature.' In this scenario, the emphasis is on the genetic inheritance of the growth pattern from father to son, highlighting the role of nature in determining physical characteristics. Choice B, 'Nurture,' focuses on environmental influences, which are not the primary factor in this case. Choice C, 'Environmental,' is similar to 'Nurture' and does not address the genetic aspect mentioned. Choice D, 'Experiential,' pertains more to the learning and experiential aspects rather than genetic inheritance, making it an incorrect choice.
You are taking part in a survey that asks about your attitudes toward physical punishment of children. Even though you believe that spanking is sometimes necessary, you answer that you are opposed to any sort of physical punishment. Which of the following terms best describes why you answered the way you did?
- A. Random responding
- B. Faking bad
- C. Placebo effect
- D. Social desirability
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, social desirability. Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a way they think will be viewed favorably by others, rather than according to their true beliefs. In this scenario, the respondent may feel pressured to provide an answer that aligns with societal norms or expectations, even if it contradicts their personal beliefs. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Random responding refers to answering survey questions haphazardly, without consideration. Faking bad is intentionally providing extreme or negative responses. The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a person's belief in a treatment's effectiveness produces a positive outcome, unrelated to the treatment's actual effects.
What major departure did Freud's position have from prevailing viewpoints around the early 1900s?
- A. Viewed abnormal behavior as resulting from biological causes.
- B. Viewed people as not fully aware of the forces that control their behavior.
- C. Proposed the existence of free will.
- D. Emphasized environmental forces on behavior.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Freud's major departure from prevailing viewpoints around the early 1900s was that he viewed people as not fully aware of the forces that control their behavior. This is reflected in his emphasis on unconscious forces influencing behavior. Choice A is incorrect as Freud focused on psychological rather than solely biological causes. Choice C is incorrect as Freud's theory did not emphasize free will but rather unconscious drives. Choice D is incorrect as Freud emphasized internal psychological forces over external environmental factors.
When the parent returned in the strange situation experiment, babies with ____ attachment tend to remain upset for long periods of time, kicking, screaming, refusing to be distracted with toys, and sometimes arching back and away from contact?
- A. Secure
- B. Avoidant
- C. Ambivalent
- D. Disorganized
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the strange situation experiment, babies with ambivalent attachment display distress and have difficulty calming down when a parent returns. They may kick, scream, refuse toys, and show signs of physical discomfort or resistance. This behavior is characteristic of ambivalent attachment, where the infant shows mixed emotions and finds it hard to be soothed by the returning parent. Secure attachment (Choice A) refers to babies who seek comfort from the parent but can be soothed upon return. Avoidant attachment (Choice B) involves babies showing little emotion upon reunion with the parent. Disorganized attachment (Choice D) displays inconsistent or confused behaviors in the strange situation experiment.