how do neurotransmitters affect behavior and mental processes

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Exam 3 Test

1. 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.

2. What are protective factors? Give an example of one and explain how it can impact a person's later functioning.

A. Protective factors are influences that modify a person's response to environmental stressors, making adverse consequences less likely.
B. An example of a protective factor is having a warm and caring parent, which may lead to resilience.
C. Protective factors usually lead to resilience, the ability to adapt successfully to stressful circumstances.
D. Protective factors always prevent the development of psychopathology.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Protective factors are influences that modify a person's response to environmental stressors, reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes. An example of a protective factor is having a warm and caring parent, which can foster resilience in individuals. Resilience allows individuals to adapt successfully to stressful situations. Choice A is incorrect as protective factors do not always prevent adverse consequences but reduce their likelihood. Choice C is incorrect as resilience is the outcome of protective factors, not the other way around. Choice D is incorrect as while protective factors can reduce the risk of psychopathology, they do not always prevent its development.

3. How does stress impact brain function?

A. Stress has no effect on brain function.
B. Stress can lead to changes in brain structure and function.
C. Stress can improve brain function.
D. Stress has no long-term impact on brain function.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Stress can lead to changes in brain structure and function, affecting mental health and increasing the risk of disorders. Choice A is incorrect as stress does affect brain function. Choice C is incorrect as stress generally has negative impacts on brain function rather than improving it. Choice D is incorrect because stress can have long-term impacts on brain function through structural and functional changes.

4. A major factor associated with a child's rejection by peers is ________.

A. Overly aggressive behavior.
B. Being too intelligent.
C. Socioeconomic background.
D. A lack of empathy.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Overly aggressive behavior is often a major factor in a child's rejection by peers. Children who display overly aggressive behavior may intimidate or harm their peers, leading to social rejection. Being too intelligent or having a different socioeconomic background are not typically primary reasons for peer rejection. While empathy is important for healthy social interactions, a lack of empathy, on its own, is less likely to be a primary factor in peer rejection compared to overly aggressive behavior.

5. The child might see an orange and say 'apple' because both objects are round. This is known as ____?

A. Accommodation
B. Assimilation
C. A detailed description of a single culture or context
D. A study that tests a causal hypothesis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assimilation. Assimilation occurs when a child applies an existing schema (like 'apple' for round objects) to new objects. In this scenario, the child sees the round orange and calls it an 'apple' because they are both round. Choice A, Accommodation, involves modifying an existing schema to fit a new object or situation, which is not the case in the given scenario. Choices C and D are unrelated to the concept being tested in this question.