Nursing Elites

1. Dr. Smythe believes that in order to fully understand complex processes, such as taste, it is necessary to understand the purpose that taste plays in survival, not the elementary components that combine to produce taste sensations. Dr. Smythe's views are most consistent with?

• A. The behaviorist approach to psychology.
• B. The functionalist approach to psychology.
• C. The structuralist approach to psychology.
• D. The psychoanalytic approach to psychology.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Dr. Smythe's belief that understanding the purpose of taste in survival is more critical than focusing on the elementary components aligns with the functionalist approach to psychology. Functionalism emphasizes understanding the purpose or function of mental processes and behavior, rather than just analyzing their individual components. This approach looks at how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment and survive. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not prioritize understanding the purpose of mental processes and behavior in the context of survival.

2. Distinguish between necessary, sufficient, and contributory causes of abnormal behavior.

• A. Necessary causes are required for a disorder to develop but do not guarantee it.
• B. Sufficient causes guarantee a disorder will develop, but they are not required.
• C. Contributory causes increase the likelihood of a disorder but are neither necessary nor sufficient.
• D. Contributory causes are conditions that guarantee the occurrence of a disorder.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In understanding abnormal behavior, it is crucial to differentiate between necessary, sufficient, and contributory causes. Necessary causes are those that are required for a disorder to develop, meaning that without them, the disorder would not occur. However, their presence does not guarantee the occurrence of the disorder. Sufficient causes, on the other hand, are those that alone can guarantee the development of a disorder, but they are not the only factors that can lead to it. Contributory causes are factors that increase the likelihood of a disorder but are not essential on their own nor do they guarantee the disorder. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer as it accurately describes the role of necessary causes in the development of abnormal behavior. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they misrepresent the definitions and roles of sufficient and contributory causes in causing abnormal behavior.

3. Nearly all adults who were children living in Saigon when the U.S. armed forces left Vietnam in 1975 report that their lives were changed by those events. This exemplifies which of the following?

• A. Normative age-graded influence
• B. Social clock
• C. Critical period
• D. Sensitive period

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. This scenario exemplifies a critical period in development. Critical periods are specific times in an individual's life when certain events have a profound impact on their development. In this case, the events surrounding the departure of the U.S. armed forces from Saigon in 1975 had a lasting influence on the children living there at that time. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Normative age-graded influence refers to events that are common to people of a particular age group, the social clock relates to the culturally preferred timing of social events, and a sensitive period is a time when an individual is more susceptible to environmental influences but does not result in lifelong consequences as with critical periods.

4. Neural plasticity is ________.

• A. the process by which neurotransmitters are broken down in the brain.
• B. the flexibility of the brain—existing neural circuits can change or new ones can be made.
• C. strong evidence of brain damage, leading to the development of a mental disorder.
• D. the best indicator of temperament and its effect on the personality development of a child.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Neural plasticity refers to the brain's flexibility to change existing neural circuits or create new ones. Choice A is incorrect as it describes neurotransmitter breakdown, not neural plasticity. Choice C is incorrect because neural plasticity does not necessarily indicate brain damage leading to mental disorders. Choice D is incorrect because neural plasticity is not specifically related to temperament or personality development in children.

5. Which of the following psychodynamic elements of the personality can be described as impulsive and selfish?

• A. Ego
• B. Id
• C. Superego
• D. Ideal self

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Id. In psychodynamic theory, the Id is the component driven by basic, primal instincts, seeking instant gratification without consideration for consequences. It operates on the pleasure principle, aiming to fulfill desires immediately. The Superego, on the other hand, represents the internalized moral standards and ideals, while the Ego mediates between the Id and Superego, balancing impulses with societal norms. The 'Ideal self' is a concept from humanistic psychology related to one's aspirations and goals, not a component in psychodynamic theory. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect.

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