ATI RN
Psychological Exam
1. 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.
2. How do neurotransmitters affect behavior and mental processes?
- A. Neurotransmitters have little effect on behavior.
- B. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that influence mood, thought, and behavior.
- C. Neurotransmitters have a minor role in mental health.
- D. Neurotransmitters determine intelligence levels.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Neurotransmitters are chemicals that influence mood, thought, and behavior, playing a significant role in mental health. Choice A is incorrect as neurotransmitters do have a notable effect on behavior. Choice C is incorrect as neurotransmitters have a major role in mental health. Choice D is incorrect as neurotransmitters do not solely determine intelligence levels.
3. Dr. Rice believes that it is not possible to fully understand emotions unless we understand the purpose that the conscious experiences associated with emotions play in survival and adaptation. Dr. Rice's views are most consistent with those of?
- A. Edward Titchener.
- B. Ivan Pavlov.
- C. Carl Rogers.
- D. William James.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Dr. Rice's views align with William James, a functionalist, who emphasized understanding the role emotions play in survival and adaptation. William James and other functionalists believed that emotions have a purpose in helping individuals adapt to their environment. Edward Titchener, known for structuralism, focused on the structure of the mind rather than the purpose of emotions. Ivan Pavlov was a behaviorist known for his work on classical conditioning, which is not directly related to the purpose of emotions. Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who emphasized self-actualization and personal growth, not specifically the purpose of emotions in survival and adaptation.
4. Rita shows better control over her eating habits at 2.5 years than her brother Richard did at the same age. Why?
- A. Girls are naturally smarter than boys.
- B. Second-born children learn faster.
- C. Girls have better fine motor skills.
- D. Boys have better gross motor skills.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because boys typically develop gross motor skills, like running and jumping, more quickly than girls. This can explain why Richard may have had less control over his eating habits compared to Rita at the same age. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not address the specific developmental aspect related to eating habits control mentioned in the question.
5. Elliot became widowed after nearly 40 years of marriage. He has convinced himself that no one will ever love him again. His irrational thinking has caused him to suffer from depression, and he rarely leaves his house. What perspective might best explain his behavior?
- A. Psychodynamic
- B. Behavioral
- C. Biological
- D. Cognitive
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The cognitive perspective might best explain Elliot's irrational thinking and resulting depression. In this case, Elliot's belief that he will never be loved again is a cognitive distortion, leading to depressive symptoms and social withdrawal. The psychodynamic perspective primarily focuses on unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts from the past, which do not directly address Elliot's current cognitive distortions. The behavioral perspective would focus on observable behaviors and how they are reinforced, which is not the central issue in this scenario. The biological perspective would examine the role of genetics, brain chemistry, and other physiological factors, which are not the primary cause of Elliot's behavior in this context.
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