Question 1

When one examines the current state of knowledge regarding genetics and life experience effects on brain structure and function, the best overall conclusion is that most psychological disorders are

Accepted Answer

Current research suggests that most psychological disorders are the result of a complex interaction between biological factors such as genetics and faulty neurotransmitter circuits, as well as psychosocial factors such as stressful early life experiences and environmental factors. Understanding the role of both biological and psychosocial factors is important in developing effective treatment strategies. Option A alone is too simplistic, while option B alone ignores the role of genetic factors. Option D is overly pessimistic and ignores the progress that has been made in understanding the complexity of psychological disorders.

Question 2

In a recent study (Petrovic, Kalso, Peterson & Ingvar, 2002), subjects were exposed to a painful stimulus (heat to the hand) under three conditions: opiate medication, placebo (sugar pill) medication and no medication.Brain scans indicated that a subject's experience of reduced pain with the placebo is due to

Accepted Answer

The study found that the brain regions activated by the placebo were overlapping but not identical to those activated by the opiate medication, indicating that the experience of reduced pain with the placebo is not solely due to medication but also involves psychological factors.

Question 3

Learnt helplessness is demonstrated in laboratory animals by

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness occurs when an animal is exposed to aversive stimuli that it cannot control, leading to a lack of response even when it can escape or avoid the stimulus later.

Question 4

One conclusion that can be drawn from the studies regarding rat learning and brain structure (Greenough et al., 1990; Wallace et al., 1992) is that

Accepted Answer

The studies suggest that early psychological experience can affect the development of the nervous system, which in turn can influence vulnerability to psychological disorders later in life.

Question 5

Bullying studies in mice suggest that the functions of the mesolimbic system

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bullying studies in mice suggest that the...

Question 6

Cognitive-behaviour therapy facilitates changes in thinking patterns in the cortex, which in turn affects the emotional brain.This is called

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) involves changing thought patterns in the cortex, which then influences the emotional brain, representing a 'top down' change.

Question 7

Insel, Scanlan, Champoux and Soumi (1988) raised one group of rhesus monkeys with the ability to control things in their environment and another group of monkeys who had no control of their environment (e.g.when they would receive treats and toys).When injected with a drug that produces a feeling of severe anxiety, the monkeys

Accepted Answer

Monkeys raised with a sense of control showed anger and aggression when injected with the anxiety-inducing drug, while those without control appeared very anxious.

Question 8

Raeesa learnt to fear snakes after seeing one for the first time at the zoo.However, it took many exposures to the sound of tapping dancing shoes before she learnt to fear that sound.The concept that would explain the fact that we learn to fear some objects more easily than others is

Accepted Answer

Prepared learning refers to the idea that certain associations are learned more readily than others due to evolutionary factors, such as the fear of snakes.

Question 9

Drugs often seem to work in a manner by reaching higher areas of the cortex where thinking occurs last.This is called

Accepted Answer

The answer of Drugs often seem to work in a...

Question 10

Candace believes that no matter how hard she studies, she will never succeed in college.This behaviour can best be explained by

Accepted Answer

Candace's belief that her efforts will not lead to success is indicative of learned helplessness, a condition where a person feels powerless to change their situation due to past experiences of failure or lack of control.

Question 11

According to Seligman, if a person who is faced with considerable stress and difficulty in his/her life displays an optimistic, upbeat attitude, he/she is likely to function better psychologically and physically.He called this

Accepted Answer

Seligman coined the term "learned optimism" to describe the practice of fostering a positive attitude in the face of adversity, which can lead to better psychological and physical functioning.

Question 12

The most recent research evidence suggests that the relationship between the brain (structure, function, neurotransmitters) and psychosocial factors (socialisation, rearing, life events) is best described as

Accepted Answer

Recent research supports the view that there is a bidirectional interaction between the brain and psychosocial factors, where each can influence and modify the other.

Question 13

Studies regarding rat learning and brain structure by Greenough et al.(1990) and Wallace et al.(1992) suggest that

Accepted Answer

The studies suggest that early experiences such as learning cause physical changes in the brain, supporting choice A. There is no support for the other choices in the given studies.

Question 14

Rescorla (1988) demonstrated that simply pairing two events closely in time

Accepted Answer

Rescorla (1988) showed that the contingency or predictability of the pairing, rather than mere temporal contiguity, is crucial for classical conditioning.

Question 15

Regarding biological influences on the development of psychopathology, the most accurate statement is

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that both genetics and life events can contribute to the development of brain structure and function that affects vulnerability to psychopathology. While genetics can create a predisposition, life events can trigger or exacerbate symptoms. Both factors work together to influence the development of psychopathology.

Question 16

The significance of the study conducted by Insel, Scanlan, Champoux and Soumi (1988) in which rhesus monkeys were raised either with a sense of control or without one and later exposed to an anxiety-inducing drug is that chemicals such as neurotransmitters

Accepted Answer

The study demonstrated that the effects of neurotransmitters on behavior can vary depending on the individual's psychological history, highlighting the interaction between biological and psychological factors.

Question 17

When comparing the brains of rats raised in a rich environment requiring lots of learning and motor behaviour with the brains of rats raised as 'couch potatoes' (Greenough et al., 1990), the cerebellums of the more active rats

Accepted Answer

The cerebellums of rats raised in a rich environment showed more neuronal connections and dendrites due to increased stimulation and learning, which promotes neural growth and connectivity.

Question 18

Tshepo is 64 years old.Although continuously faced with considerable stress and difficulty in his life, he always displays an optimistic, upbeat attitude.According to research, Meno should

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals with positive attitudes, like optimism, tend to have better health outcomes and may live longer than those with negative attitudes.

Question 19

Recent research suggests that learning and experience

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that the brain can change and adapt at any age based on learning and experiences, which is known as neuroplasticity. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 20

It is important to understand the process of how learnt helplessness is created in laboratory animals because learnt helplessness in animals resembles the human disorder of

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness in animals is used as a model for understanding depression in humans, as it involves a perceived lack of control over outcomes, similar to depressive symptoms.

Quiz 2: An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology