Nursing Elites

1. Larry is a graduate student whose major area of interest is social psychology. What should you expect that Larry is most interested in?

• A. The ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behavior.
• B. The internal factors that lead people to act consistently across a variety of situations.
• C. How people relate to each other and influence each other.
• D. The ways in which behavior and mental processes change over a lifetime.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Social psychology focuses on how individuals relate to each other, influence each other, and interact within social groups. This field is more concerned with social interactions and behaviors rather than physical or genetic factors influencing behavior (choice A), internal factors leading to consistent behavior (choice B), or changes in behavior and mental processes over a lifetime (choice D). Therefore, the most appropriate area of interest for Larry, being a graduate student in social psychology, would be how people relate to and influence each other.

2. 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.

3. Professor Immel believes that behaviors that are predominant in certain species probably serve some adaptive function. Professor Immel's beliefs are most consistent with which perspective?

• A. Behavioral perspective.
• B. Cognitive perspective.
• C. Humanistic perspective.
• D. Evolutionary perspective.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Professor Immel's belief that behaviors in certain species serve an adaptive function aligns with the evolutionary perspective. The evolutionary perspective posits that behaviors have developed over time because they provide an advantage for survival and reproduction. This perspective emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping behaviors based on their adaptive value. Choices A, B, and C do not specifically address the idea that behaviors have evolved to serve specific functions for survival, making them inconsistent with Professor Immel's beliefs.

4. Which of the following statements about brain dysfunction and psychiatric disorders is correct?

• A. Identifiable brain damage is often the cause of psychiatric disorders.
• B. Brain damage may decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.
• C. Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.
• D. Brain development can be altered by experience, always leading to changes in the brain that decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement is C: 'Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.' This statement is accurate as research suggests that alterations in brain function are associated with various psychiatric disorders. Option A is incorrect because while brain damage can contribute to some psychiatric conditions, it is not always the primary cause. Option B is incorrect as brain damage typically increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Option D is incorrect because while brain development can be influenced by experiences, it does not always decrease the risk of psychiatric conditions.

5. Which approach contends that psychology must study internal mental events to fully understand behavior?

• A. Behaviorism.
• B. Cognitive psychology.
• C. Evolutionary psychology.
• D. Humanism.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology focuses on studying internal mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving to understand behavior. Behaviorism (choice A) emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental processes. Evolutionary psychology (choice C) examines how evolutionary principles influence behavior, not solely focusing on internal mental events. Humanism (choice D) emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization rather than internal mental events as the primary focus of study.

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