the ability to adapt successfully to even very difficult circumstances is called

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Exam 3 Test

1. The ability to adapt successfully to even very difficult circumstances is called ________.

A. resilience
B. hardiness
C. perseverance
D. a challenge orientation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Resilience is indeed the correct term for the ability to adapt successfully to difficult circumstances. Resilience involves bouncing back from setbacks, handling stress, and persevering in the face of adversity. Choice B, 'hardiness,' refers more to toughness or durability rather than adapting to difficult circumstances. Choice C, 'perseverance,' is about persistence and determination rather than adaptability. Choice D, 'a challenge orientation,' does not directly relate to the ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, making it an incorrect choice.

2. 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.

3. What is extinction, and how might it be used in treating a disorder?

A. Extinction strengthens the conditioned response by continuously pairing the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
B. Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.
C. Extinction is ineffective and is not used in treating disorders.
D. Extinction is the process of intensifying the conditioned response by pairing the conditioned stimulus with a stronger unconditioned stimulus.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. This process helps in reducing or eliminating undesired behaviors or responses. Choice A is incorrect because extinction weakens the conditioned response by breaking the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Choice C is incorrect as extinction is a widely used technique in behavioral therapies for treating disorders. Choice D is incorrect as extinction aims to reduce the conditioned response, not intensify it.

4. Which disorder is characterized by a pattern of behavior that involves culturally inappropriate, overly familiar behavior with relative strangers?

A. Schizoid personality disorder
B. Autism spectrum disorder
C. Reactive attachment disorder
D. Disinhibited social engagement disorder

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Disinhibited social engagement disorder is the correct answer because it is characterized by a pattern of behavior involving culturally inappropriate and overly familiar behavior with relative strangers. This disorder is marked by a lack of social boundaries and caution when interacting with unfamiliar individuals. Schizoid personality disorder (Choice A) is characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, Autism spectrum disorder (Choice B) involves challenges with social interactions and communication, and Reactive attachment disorder (Choice C) is typically associated with difficulty forming emotional bonds with caregivers, not with overly familiar behavior with strangers.

5. 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.