defense mechanisms

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Final Exam

1. Defense mechanisms ________.

A. make a person feel more anxious and have more problems, as they begin to act defensively.
B. are strategies the id uses to try to achieve its desires.
C. are conscious, intentional attempts to cope effectively with an anxiety-producing event.
D. help a person feel less anxious, but because they usually work by distorting reality, they are not always adaptive.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because defense mechanisms aim to reduce anxiety but can lead to distortion of reality, making them not always beneficial. Choice A is incorrect as defense mechanisms are meant to reduce anxiety, not increase it. Choice B is incorrect because defense mechanisms are not strategies of the id specifically. Choice C is incorrect as defense mechanisms are often unconscious and not always intentional.

2. What is the diathesis-stress model of psychopathology?

A. The idea that stress is the primary cause of psychopathology.
B. A model that focuses solely on genetic predispositions.
C. A theory that involves only environmental factors in the development of disorders.
D. A person must have both a vulnerability for a disorder and exposure to stressors to develop the disorder.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The diathesis-stress model of psychopathology posits that individuals must have a vulnerability or predisposition to a disorder (diathesis) and be exposed to stressful environmental factors for the disorder to manifest. This model emphasizes the interaction between genetic or biological vulnerabilities (diathesis) and environmental stressors. Choice A is incorrect because the model does not suggest that stress is the sole cause of psychopathology. Choice B is incorrect as the model considers both genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. Choice C is incorrect because the diathesis-stress model acknowledges the role of both genetic and environmental factors in the development of disorders.

3. While the term psychology has existed since at least the early 1700s, psychology did not come to be considered a science until?

A. The 1750s.
B. The early 1800s.
C. The late 1800s.
D. The 1940s.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Psychology became recognized as a science in the late 1800s, aligning with broader trends in scientific inquiry during that period. This marked the establishment of psychology as a distinct field of study based on empirical research and experimentation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because psychology's formal recognition as a science occurred later, specifically in the late 1800s.

4. A psychologist who is interested in the psychological effect of aging would most likely specialize in?

A. Developmental psychology.
B. Experimental psychology.
C. Cognitive psychology.
D. Psychometrics.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A psychologist interested in the psychological effect of aging would most likely specialize in developmental psychology. Developmental psychology focuses on studying the psychological changes that occur throughout a person's lifespan, including the effects of aging. Experimental psychology primarily deals with conducting experiments to study behavior and cognitive processes. Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving. Psychometrics involves the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits, but it does not specifically address the psychological effects of aging as in developmental psychology.

5. Which part of the superego develops from our experiences with rewards for proper behavior and tells us what we should do?

A. Conscience
B. Ego-ideal
C. Regressing back to the anal stage
D. Regressing back to the oral stage

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, the Ego-ideal. The Ego-ideal is a subsystem of the superego that develops from experiences with rewards for proper behavior. It guides individuals on what they should do, setting standards and ideals for behavior. Choice A, Conscience, represents the part of the superego that focuses on what one should not do, based on experiences with punishment for improper behavior. Choices C and D, regressing back to the anal and oral stages respectively, are irrelevant to the development of the superego's components and are not related to experiences with rewards for proper behavior.