Deck 2: Theories and Causes

Question 1

 Victor is fearful of approaching new situations and often appears inhibited. Victor's mother reports that she struggles with similar difficulties and he may have inherited it from her. This is an example of ____.

A) emotional influences
B) biological influences
C) cognitive influences
D) behavioral influences

Answer 1

biological influences

Question 2

 Which statement about neural development is true?

A) Major restructuring of the brain in relation to puberty occurs between 6 and 9 years of age.
B) The brain stops developing after 3 years of age.
C) Primitive areas of the brain mature last.
D) The prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum are not wired until a person is 5 to 7 years old.

Answer 2

The prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum are not wired until a person is 5 to 7 years old.

Question 3

 Which statement about our genetic makeup is false?

A) Genes determine behavior.
B) Genes are composed of DNA.
C) Genes produce proteins.
D) The expression of genes is influenced by the environment.

Answer 3

Genes determine behavior.

Question 4

 Children's problems must be considered in the context of their ____.

A) individual nature
B) family dynamics
C) community/culture
D) all of these

Question 5

 ____, The brain develops and grows over a lifetime, but from birth to 11 years, the most dramatic changes occur. Problems or disruptions that occur when a child is young can lead to

A) disorganized development.
B) organic disorders.
C) hierarchical development.
D) broken synapses.

Question 6

 A toddler learning to make sounds such as "mememe" and "bagabaga" before learning how to use intelligible language indicates a structure and process to development, otherwise known as the

A) organization of development.
B) hierarchy of development.
C) biological perspective.
D) integrative perspective.

Question 7

 The role that a child's primary caretaker has in terms of that child's brain development is crucial, since those early experiences form the part of the brain that is responsible for their__.

A) planning and complex processes
B) Problem-solving skills
C) emotion, personality, and behavior
D) Fine and gross motor skills

Question 8

 When developmental psychopathologists view adaptive and maladaptive behaviors as the result of previous interactions and experiences spread over several years, they refer to the process as

A) typical development.
B) environmental determinants.
C) developmental cascades.
D) developmental theoretics.

Question 9

 Etiology refers to the ____ of childhood disorders.

A) possible root causes
B) possible treatments
C) various correlations
D) various preventions

Question 10

 The two terms that are used to explain how a child's interaction with his/her environment can lead to the development of maladaptive behaviors are

A) organized and interactive
B) interactive and proactive
C) transaction and interdependent
D) transaction and transition

Question 11

 Brain maturity occurs in a(n) ____ fashion.

A) mostly random
B) strictly organized
C) strictly hierarchical
D) organized and hierarchical

Question 12

 Isabella is 3 years old, and frequently demands attention, overreacts, and refuses to go to bed. These behaviors are considered ____.

A) typical because of her age
B) diagnosable as a clinical disorder
C) signs of an overly sensitive child
D) early warning signs of future difficulties

Question 13

 Children's development occurs in a(n) ____ manner.

A) mostly random
B) strictly organized
C) strictly hierarchical
D) organized and hierarchical

Question 14

 An integrative approach to the psychopathology of a child means that

A) maladaptive behaviors are acceptable.
B) all development takes place on a continuum.
C) more than one therapist has to see the child.
D) many theories and concepts can be used to explain behavior.

Question 15

 Which statement about neural development is false?

A) Most developing axons reach their destination even before a baby is born.
B) Synapses both proliferate and disappear in early childhood.
C) Brain connections are relatively predetermined and cannot be changed by the environment.
D) Primitive areas of the brain develop first.

Question 16

 Brett is an aggressive preschooler, who often bites other children and throws toys at his teacher. When Brett finished 3rd grade, he was asked to find another school to attend since he had repeatedly hit his classmates and kicked the principal. Brett's behavioral patterns are an example of

A) abnormal behavior that follows a discontinuities pattern.
B) abnormal behavior that follows a continuity pattern.
C) normal age appropriate development.
D) sociopathic behavior that is rare in young children.

Question 17

 What is an underlying assumption with regard to abnormal child behavior?

A) Abnormal development is solely determined by the child's genetic makeup.
B) Abnormal development is solely determined by the child's environment.
C) Abnormal development involves continuities and discontinuities.
D) Abnormal development focuses on extreme or bizarre behavior.

Question 18

 The windows of time during which environmental influences on development are enhanced are called ____.

A) sensitive periods
B) critical periods
C) crucial periods
D) necessary periods

Question 19

 The developmental psychopathology approach to studying childhood disorders emphasizes the importance of developmental____.

A) disruptions
B) processes and tasks
C) regressions
D) obstacles

Question 20

 Most often, adaptational failure is due to a(n) ____.

A) single, definable cause
B) longstanding biological maladaptation
C) ongoing interaction between the individual and environment
D) sudden onset of an environmental challenge

Question 21

 What is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces overall arousal and levels of anger, hostility, and aggression?

A) Serotonin
B) Benzodiazepine-GABA
C) Norepinephrine
D) Dopamine

Question 22

 Which part of the brain is most responsible for regulating our emotional experiences, expressions, and impulses?

A) Hypothalamus
B) Hindbrain
C) Basal ganglia
D) Limbic system

Question 23

 Epinephrine is also known as ____.

A) dopamine
B) serotonin
C) cortisol
D) adrenaline

Question 24

 The ____ gives us the distinct qualities that make us human and allows us to think about the future, to be playful, and to be creative.

A) cerebral cortex
B) limbic system
C) brainstem
D) hippocampus

Question 25

 Kim had been physically abused when she was 5, and is now a 10-year-old showing signs of "numbing," which is an emotional dysregulation. In Kim's situation, is her behavior

A) completely maladaptive and in need of change?
B) adaptive and protective?
C) maladaptive and will lead to a personality disorder?
D) adaptive and should not be changed?

Question 26

 James often appears to be in a bad mood and he is easily frustrated when given challenging tasks. His temperament would be described as ____.

A) angry and intense
B) negative affect or irritability
C) fearful or inhibited
D) positive affect and approach

Question 27

 Which part of the brain is implicated in disorders affecting motor behavior?

A) Hypothalamus
B) Hindbrain
C) Basal ganglia
D) Limbic system

Question 28

 Mike is having a very difficult time in school. Which gland would produce epinephrine in response to the stress he is experiencing?

A) Hypothalamus
B) Cortisol
C) Adrenal
D) Tegmentum

Question 29

 ____ acts like a "switch" in the brain, turning on various circuits associated with certain types of behavior.

A) Serotonin
B) Benzodiazepine-GABA
C) Norepinephrine
D) Dopamine

Question 30

 The neurotransmitter implicated in regulatory problems, such as eating and sleep disorders, is ____.

A) norepinephrine
B) serotonin
C) benzodiazepine-GABA
D) dopamine

Question 31

 The ____ gland oversees the body's regulatory functions by producing several hormones, including estrogen and testosterone.

A) pineal
B) pituitary
C) thyroid
D) adrenal

Question 32

 Molecular geneticists focus on finding a specific gene for childhood disorder, while behavioral geneticists ____.

A) study the possible connection between genetic predisposition and behavior
B) study the possible connection between genes and education
C) focus on brain development between 3 and 5 years
D) focus on neural synapsis developing until age 11

Question 33

 Cindy has recently been diagnosed with anorexia. From a biological perspective, which neurotransmitter plays a role in eating disorders?

A) GABA
B) Serotonin
C) Dopamine
D) Pituitary

Question 34

 ____ has been implicated in several psychological disorders, especially those connected to a person's response to stress and ability to regulate emotions.

A) The HPA axis
B) BZ-GABA
C) Norepinephrine
D) Dopamine

Question 35

 The ____ gland produces epinephrine in response to stress.

A) hypothalamus
B) thyroid
C) adrenal
D) pituitary

Question 36

 The child-caregiver role helps children explore their own emotions. Which style of parenting allows for the healthiest development of the child?

A) Restrictive
B) Demanding
C) Emotional
D) Authoritative

Question 37

 A child who cannot control his temper has problems in emotion ____.

A) sensitivity
B) reactivity
C) regulation
D) deregulation

Question 38

 The problem with family aggregation studies is that they ____.

A) are difficult to carry out
B) do not control for environmental variables
C) only tell us about the influence of the environment
D) only tell us about chromosomal abnormalities

Question 39

 The _________ lobes contain the functions underlying much of our thinking and reasoning abilities.

A) temporal
B) frontal
C) parietal
D) occipital

Question 40

 ACTH causes the adrenal glands to release ____.

A) benzodiazepine-GABA
B) cortisol
C) serotonin
D) dopamine

Question 41

 ____ problems refer to weak or absent control structures, whereas ____ problems indicate that existing control structures operative in a maladaptive way.

A) Regulation; dysregulation
B) Dysregulation; regulation
C) Reactivity; regulation
D) Regulation; reactivity

Question 42

 John Bowlby's research on attachment showed that a child who has a secure attachment with a caregiver generally leads to

A) atypical development.
B) extra neurotransmitters being released.
C) the development of a child's positive internal working model.
D) an unknown outcome, since that attachment is broken after 12 months of age.

Question 43

 ____ explain the acquisition of problem behavior on the basis of paired associations between previously neutral stimuli (e.g., homework), and unconditioned stimuli (e.g., parental anger).

A) Operant models
B) Classical conditioning models
C) Social learning models
D) Social cognition models

Question 44

 _____ theorists argue that a child's behavior can only be understood in terms of relationships with others.

A) Cognitive
B) Behavioral
C) Family systems
D) Genetic

Question 45

 _______ relates to how children think about themselves and others, resulting in mental representations of themselves, relationships, and their social world.

A) Social cognition
B) Observational learning
C) Cognitive mediation
D) Cognitive development

Question 46

 Sharon is a psychologist who is using the ABA method with her client Katie, a difficult 6-year-old. As an ABA therapist, Sharon would focus on

A) behavior only.
B) antecedents and consequences only.
C) behavior and consequences only.
D) behavior, antecedents, and consequences.

Question 47

 According to Bronfenberger's ecological model of environmental influences, which influence plays a role in the child's life?

A) Church or synagogue
B) Neighborhood play areas
C) Mass media
D) All of the above

Question 48

 Luca has been showing aggressive behavior with his peers and has difficulty conducting himself in a normal fashion, and is constantly getting in trouble at school. According to attachment theories, which type of attachment pattern did Luca most likely exhibit as a child?

A) Secure
B) Anxious-avoidant
C) Anxious-resistant
D) Disorganized

Question 49

 Infants that explore the environment with little affective interaction with the caregiver are likely to have a(n) ____ attachment pattern.

A) secure
B) anxious-avoidant
C) anxious-resistant
D) disorganized

Question 50

 Attachment theory considers crying (in an infant) to be a behavior that ____.

A) serves to keep predators away
B) stimulates the immune system
C) irritates others
D) enhances relationships with the caregiver

Question 51

 Temperament ____.

A) refers to a child's unpredictable behavior
B) shapes a child's approach to the environment and vice versa
C) is not related to personality
D) forms very late in development

Question 52

 Brendan is considered by his caregivers as a "slow-to-warm-up child," who is cautious in approaching novel or challenging situations. Which of the following would describe Brendan's temperament?

A) Positive affect and approach
B) Fearful or inhibited
C) Negative affect or irritability
D) Adaptive with negative mood

Question 53

 ____ models portray the child's environment as a series of nested and interconnected structures.

A) Environmental
B) Ecological
C) Societal
D) Macroparadigm

Question 54

 ____ theorists emphasize attributional biases, modeling, and cognitions in their explanation of abnormal behavior.

A) Behavior
B) Psychodynamic
C) Social learning
D) Biological

Question 55

 Which attachment pattern has been linked to phobias and anxiety problems?

A) Secure
B) Anxious-avoidant
C) Anxious-resistant
D) Disorganized

Question 56

 Which term describes a child's model of relationships in terms of what the child expects from others and how the child relates to others?

A) Internal working model
B) External working model
C) Internal attachment model
D) External attachment model

Question 57

 Individual differences in emotion ____ account for differing responses to a stressful environment.

A) affectivity
B) sensitivity
C) reactivity
D) regulation

Question 58

 The process of attachment typically begins between ____ of age.

A) 0 to 2 months
B) 6 to 12 months
C) 12 to 18 months
D) 18 to 24 months

Question 59

 The _____ view of child development recognizes the importance of balancing the abilities of individuals with the challenges and risks of their environments.

A) health promotion
B) family systems
C) attachment
D) psychopathological

Question 60

 Jace is a baby that often seems nervous in new situations and around new people and is not easily comforted by his mother in these situations. Jace most likely has which attachment pattern?

A) Secure
B) Anxious-avoidant
C) Anxious-resistant
D) Disorganized

Question 61

 Provide everyday examples of positive and negative reinforcement, extinction, and punishment.

Question 62

 Distinguish between emotion reactivity and emotion regulation.

Question 63

 How can a baby with a difficult temperament influence and be influenced by the environment?

Question 64

 What is meant by using an integrative approach to understanding factors that influence a child's behavior?

Question 65

 Briefly describe the three primary dimensions of temperament.

Question 66

 Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous patterns of behavior development. Which category would an eating disorder fall? Which category would persistent conduct disorders fall?

Question 67

 Discuss the main principles of a developmental psychopathology perspective.

Question 68

 Why do family systems theorists stress the importance of looking at the whole family as opposed to one individual's difficulties?

Question 69

 Discuss the major functions of four major neurotransmitters in the brain and their implicated role in psychopathology.

Question 70

 Explain why an integrative approach is important in abnormal psychology.

Question 71

 Caspi (2003) conducted a study that connected early temperament style in children, and their personality traits as adults. Is this study practically helpful in terms of what we can do, if anything, to prevent a difficult child with self-control issues from being a difficult adult with self-control issues?

Question 72

 Discuss how children learn from their emotions and the emotional expression of others.

Question 73

 How permanent are early neuronal connections?

Question 74

 Discuss the three major underlying assumptions regarding abnormal child behavior.

Question 75

 Most children follow a predictable pattern of development in terms of walking, talking, learning, and so on. Additionally most clinical disorders commonly appear at predictable points in development. For the following ages, list two common clinical disorders: 0-2, 2-5, and 6-11.