Question 1

An irresistible urge to repeat an act that is so persistent that it interferes with daily life is called ______.

Accepted Answer

The term describes a type of behavior aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by an obsession. The person feels compelled to perform a specific action or ritual repeatedly, even though it provides only temporary relief.

Question 2

Compared for PTSD, acute stress disorder develops ______ and usually _______.

Accepted Answer

Acute stress disorder typically develops soon after a traumatic event (within four weeks) and does not last as long as PTSD, which can develop months or even years after the event and can last for years if left untreated.

Question 3

For the most part, psychological disorders are ______ problems whose origins ______.

Accepted Answer

Psychological disorders are complex problems that involve multiple factors including biological, psychological, and environmental influences. Although there has been significant progress in understanding the mechanisms involved in certain disorders, such as depression or anxiety, much remains unknown or not fully understood. Therefore, the origins of most psychological disorders remain elusive.

Question 4

Of those people who experience a traumatic event, about ______ percent eventually develop PTSD.

Accepted Answer

About 8% of those who experience a traumatic event eventually develop PTSD, indicating that while exposure to trauma is relatively common, the development of PTSD is less so.

Question 5

A famous psychologist argues that catastrophic, anxiety-ridden thinking plays a key role in the development and persistence of phobias and other anxiety disorders. This psychologist's views are most similar to those of ______ theorists.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive theorists emphasize the role of an individual's thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes in the development and maintenance of mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders. The idea that catastrophic thinking contributes to phobias and anxiety disorders is consistent with the cognitive perspective. Psychodynamic theorists focus on unresolved conflicts from early childhood as the cause of psychological distress. Learning theorists emphasize the role of conditioning and reinforcement in the development of phobias and anxiety disorders. Humanistic theorists focus on the individual's ability to reach their full potential through self-actualization.

Question 6

A disorder in which in which stress-related symptoms appear within a month of a traumatic event and last from two days to four weeks is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Acute stress disorder fits the description provided - stress-related symptoms that appear within a month of a traumatic event and last from two days to four weeks.

Question 7

To ensure that she has no germs on her hand, Shelly feels the overwhelming need to ritualistically wash her hands, as many as 200 to 250 times a day. Her behavior is best described as ______.

Accepted Answer

Shelly's behavior is best described as a compulsion, as it is an irresistible urge to perform repetitive actions in response to obsessive thoughts or fears.

Question 8

According to the psychodynamic perspective, phobias ______.

Accepted Answer

According to the psychodynamic perspective, phobias symbolize conflicts originating in childhood, particularly those related to repressed emotions and unresolved unconscious conflicts.

Question 9

According to psychodynamic theorists, excessive neatness of the sort associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder results from fixation in the ______ stage.

Accepted Answer

According to psychodynamic theorists, the excessive neatness and focus on orderliness often seen in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder can be attributed to fixation in the anal stage of development. In this stage, children are learning to control their bodily functions and their parents' responses to their toilet training can shape their attitudes towards cleanliness and orderliness. Individuals fixated in this stage may carry an excessive need for control and order into adulthood, leading to the behavior seen in OCD.

Question 10

Of the following, ______ is most likely to be associated with later development of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the following, ______ is most likely...

Question 11

A disorder in which stress-related symptoms appear months or years after a traumatic event and persist for months or even years is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder in which stress-related symptoms (such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, negative mood and cognition, and hyperarousal) appear months or years after a traumatic event and persist for months or even years. Acute stress disorder is a similar disorder, but symptoms appear within a month of the traumatic event and last for less than a month. A reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person expresses the opposite of what they actually feel (e.g., being overly nice to someone they dislike). Conversion disorder is a disorder that involves physical symptoms without a medical explanation (e.g., blindness or paralysis with no apparent physical cause).

Question 12

According to cognitive theorists, anxiety ______.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive theorists argue that anxiety is maintained by the way individuals perceive and think about potential threats, often exaggerating the consequences of such events.

Question 13

A national study found that one woman in ______ who had been victimized by crime experienced posttraumatic stress disorder.

Accepted Answer

According to the question, one woman who had been victimized by crime experienced posttraumatic stress disorder out of every 4 women. Therefore, the best choice is B, which represents four.

Question 14

A prolonged maladaptive reaction to a traumatic event that is characterized by intense fear, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, and reliving the event is ______.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described in the question are classic symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a mental disorder that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. People with PTSD often experience intense flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts related to the event, and they may actively avoid reminders of the trauma. A diagnosis of PTSD requires that these symptoms persist for at least a month and cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning.

Question 15

According to behaviorists, phobias are ______.

Accepted Answer

According to behaviorists, phobias are learned in childhood through conditioning and sometimes observational learning. Classic conditioning and observational learning processes can lead to the development of phobias.

Question 16

About ______ percent of adult Americans develop obsessive-compulsive disorder at some point in their lives.

Accepted Answer

Approximately 2 to 3 percent of adult Americans develop obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at some point in their lives.

Question 17

Sarah ritualistically washes all her dishes several times a day in an attempt to alleviate her persistent fears of disease-carrying germs and bacteria being on the cups and plates. She is most likely suffering from ______ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Sarah's repetitive and ritualistic behavior of washing dishes multiple times a day is a classic symptom of OCD, which is characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing harm.

Question 18

The traumatic event most commonly linked to posttraumatic stress disorder is ______.

Accepted Answer

Motor vehicle accidents are the most commonly reported traumatic event linked to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is due to their high frequency and the direct personal threat they pose, making them a significant source of trauma for many individuals.

Question 19

Joe is a Vietnam veteran. Ever since he came back from the war he has been plagued by recurring nightmares in which he relives some of his most horrifying war experiences. He often can't sleep at all, startles very easily, and occasionally has sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of anger. His symptoms sound most like ______.

Accepted Answer

Joe's symptoms, including nightmares, difficulty sleeping, exaggerated startle response, and sudden outbursts of anger, are typical of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is often experienced by veterans who have been exposed to traumatic events during war. Panic disorder involves recurrent panic attacks with a fear of future attacks. Conversion disorder involves physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition. Depersonalization disorder involves a feeling of detachment from one's own body or emotions.

Question 20

Each of the following is a risk factor for someone to develop PTSD after exposure to a traumatic event EXCEPT ______.

Accepted Answer

Being with other people during a traumatic event can actually act as a protective factor against developing PTSD as it provides social support and a sense of shared experience. The other three factors listed - childhood history of sexual abuse, lack of social support, and feelings of shame - have all been identified as risk factors for developing PTSD.

Quiz 8: Adolescent and Adult Development: Going Through Changes