ATI RN
Psychology 101 Exam 3 Test
1. In order to develop chicken pox, one must be exposed to the virus that causes chicken pox. Note, however, that not everyone who is exposed to the virus is affected. In other words, the virus is a ________
- A. risk factor.
- B. necessary cause.
- C. sufficient cause.
- D. contributory cause.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'necessary cause.' A necessary cause must be present for a disorder to occur. In the context of developing chicken pox, being exposed to the virus is a necessary condition for contracting the disease. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. A 'risk factor' increases the probability of developing a disease but is not essential for its occurrence. A 'sufficient cause' can produce the outcome on its own, which is not the case with exposure to the chicken pox virus. A 'contributory cause' adds to other causes to produce an effect, but in this scenario, exposure to the virus is crucial by itself.
2. Distinguish between assimilation and accommodation.
- A. Assimilation refers to adjusting our mental frameworks to incorporate new information.
- B. Assimilation is when new experiences are interpreted in terms of existing schemas.
- C. Assimilation is adapting our behaviors to match societal norms.
- D. Assimilation and accommodation are unrelated to cognitive development.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Assimilation is when new experiences are interpreted in terms of existing schemas, meaning individuals try to fit new information into their pre-existing understanding of the world. Accommodation, on the other hand, involves adjusting our schemas to fit new information, which means changing our existing mental frameworks when new information doesn't fit. Choice A is incorrect because it describes accommodation rather than assimilation. Choice C is incorrect as it confuses assimilation with social adaptation. Choice D is incorrect as assimilation and accommodation are fundamental processes in cognitive development, as described by Piaget.
3. An elementary school principal wants to know the best predictors of juvenile delinquency and dropping out of school in high school so she can provide preventive interventions. Your best advice is ________.
- A. Look for kids who are very popular because they are class clowns.
- B. Silent, depressed, loners tend to be dropouts because they are often depressed.
- C. There is no way to predict juvenile delinquency as early as elementary school.
- D. The best predictor is aggression toward peers, which leads to peer rejection.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The best advice is to look for aggression toward peers as the best predictor of juvenile delinquency and dropping out of school. Option A is incorrect because being popular or a class clown doesn't necessarily indicate delinquency. Option B is incorrect as not all silent, depressed loners end up as dropouts. Option C is incorrect as research shows that early signs of aggression can predict future delinquent behavior and school dropout rates, making it feasible to intervene early.
4. Understanding the causes of mental disorders is important because ________
- A. effective treatment is not possible without such an understanding.
- B. classification of disorders cannot be done without such information.
- C. such knowledge might make both the prevention and cure of mental disorders possible.
- D. disagreements about the causes of psychopathology have long limited the advancements made in the study of abnormal psychology.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Understanding the causes of mental disorders is crucial because it can potentially lead to both prevention and cure. By identifying the root causes, strategies can be developed to prevent the onset of disorders, and effective treatments can be tailored to address these causes directly. This approach can make treatments more efficient, as addressing the underlying factors contributing to the disorder can result in better outcomes for individuals. Choices A and B are incorrect because while understanding causes is important for effective treatment and classification, the primary focus is on prevention and cure. Choice D, while highlighting the impact of disagreements on advancements in abnormal psychology, does not directly address the importance of understanding causes for prevention and cure.
5. A psychologist who studied the relationship between sociocultural factors and mental disorders would be most likely to study ________.
- A. parenting style and self-schemas.
- B. poverty and racial discrimination.
- C. peer rejection and attributional style.
- D. assimilation and accommodation.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A psychologist who studies the relationship between sociocultural factors and mental disorders would focus on factors like poverty and racial discrimination. These factors have a significant impact on mental health outcomes within different populations. Choices A, C, and D are less directly related to sociocultural factors like poverty and racial discrimination and their influence on mental disorders, making them incorrect.
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