ATI RN
Psychological Exam
1. You are taking part in a survey that asks about your attitudes toward physical punishment of children. Even though you believe that spanking is sometimes necessary, you answer that you are opposed to any sort of physical punishment. Which of the following terms best describes why you answered the way you did?
- A. Random responding
- B. Faking bad
- C. Placebo effect
- D. Social desirability
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, social desirability. Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a way they think will be viewed favorably by others, rather than according to their true beliefs. In this scenario, the respondent may feel pressured to provide an answer that aligns with societal norms or expectations, even if it contradicts their personal beliefs. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Random responding refers to answering survey questions haphazardly, without consideration. Faking bad is intentionally providing extreme or negative responses. The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a person's belief in a treatment's effectiveness produces a positive outcome, unrelated to the treatment's actual effects.
2. Understanding the causes of mental disorders is important because ________
- A. effective treatment is not possible without such an understanding.
- B. classification of disorders cannot be done without such information.
- C. such knowledge might make both the prevention and cure of mental disorders possible.
- D. disagreements about the causes of psychopathology have long limited the advancements made in the study of abnormal psychology.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Understanding the causes of mental disorders is crucial because it can potentially lead to both prevention and cure. By identifying the root causes, strategies can be developed to prevent the onset of disorders, and effective treatments can be tailored to address these causes directly. This approach can make treatments more efficient, as addressing the underlying factors contributing to the disorder can result in better outcomes for individuals. Choices A and B are incorrect because while understanding causes is important for effective treatment and classification, the primary focus is on prevention and cure. Choice D, while highlighting the impact of disagreements on advancements in abnormal psychology, does not directly address the importance of understanding causes for prevention and cure.
3. What neurotransmitter was first believed to be the cause of schizophrenia?
- A. GABA
- B. Serotonin
- C. Epinephrine
- D. Dopamine
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is Dopamine. Dopamine was initially thought to be the primary cause of schizophrenia. This neurotransmitter hypothesis was based on the observation that drugs that increase dopamine activity can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia, while drugs that decrease dopamine activity can improve symptoms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because GABA, serotonin, and epinephrine were not the neurotransmitters initially believed to be the cause of schizophrenia.
4. What is the sequence in which growth starts at the center of the body and moves toward the extremities?
- A. Cephalocaudal pattern
- B. Proximodistal pattern
- C. Cephamodistal pattern
- D. Gene-environment correlation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Proximodistal pattern. This pattern describes growth starting at the center of the body and moving towards the extremities. Choice A, Cephalocaudal pattern, refers to growth starting from the head and moving downwards, which is not the sequence described in the question. Choice D, Gene-environment correlation, does not relate to the sequential pattern of growth described in the question, making it incorrect.
5. Which term refers to events that typically happen to everyone at certain times of life?
- A. Normative age-graded influence
- B. Social clock
- C. Sensitive period
- D. Normative history-graded influences
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Normative age-graded influence. Normative age-graded influences are events that typically happen to everyone at certain life stages, such as marriage, parenthood, puberty, and menopause. Choice B, 'Social clock,' refers to the culturally preferred timing of social events. Choice C, 'Sensitive period,' represents a time when a particular development occurs most easily. Choice D, 'Normative history-graded influences,' are common to people of a particular generation due to historical circumstances.
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