Question 1

Rats that received unpredictable electric shocks in a laboratory experiment subsequently became apprehensive when returned to that same laboratory setting. This best illustrates that anxiety disorders may result from

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the scenario is a classic example of classical conditioning, where the rats associated the laboratory setting with the previously experienced electric shocks and developed anxiety. Stimulus generalization and observational learning may also contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, but they are not the primary process described in this scenario. Reinforcement refers to the consequences that follow behavior and does not directly relate to the development of anxiety disorders.

Question 2

Some psychologists believe that due partly to a broader definition of trauma, mental health professionals have been overdiagnosing

Accepted Answer

The question suggests that the broader definition of trauma may have led to overdiagnosis by mental health professionals, and PTSD is a specific disorder that is commonly associated with trauma. Panic disorder, OCD, and schizophrenia may also be associated with trauma, but there is no evidence to suggest that they are being overdiagnosed specifically due to a broader definition of trauma. Therefore, B is the best choice.

Question 3

Cecil is preoccupied with thoughts of jumping out the window of his tenth-floor apartment. To reduce his anxiety, he frequently counts his heartbeats aloud. Cecil would most likely be diagnosed as experiencing

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cecil is preoccupied with thoughts of jumping...

Question 4

Some people are more vulnerable to PTSD because they have a sensitive ________, which floods the body with stress hormones.

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for emotions and the stress response, including the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. People with a sensitive limbic system may be more prone to heightened stress responses, making them more vulnerable to developing PTSD.

Question 5

Kaylee is so afraid of spiders and insects that she avoids most outdoor activities and even refuses to go to the basement of her own house alone. Kaylee appears to suffer from

Accepted Answer

Kaylee's fear of spiders and insects is excessive and irrational, and it is causing her to avoid normal activities. This is a classic symptom of a specific phobia, which is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent and excessive fear of a specific object or situation.

Question 6

Repeatedly thinking about your own death is to ________ as repeatedly washing your hands is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Repeatedly thinking about one's own death is a type of obsession, which is an intrusive and unwanted thought that causes distress. Similarly, repeatedly washing one's hands is a type of compulsion, which is a repetitive behavior that is performed in an attempt to reduce anxiety or distress.

Question 7

Melissa is fearful of men and refuses to go out on dates. Her therapist suggests that she is fearful because she was sexually abused by her father when she was young. The therapist's suggestion most clearly highlights the impact of

Accepted Answer

The therapist's suggestion that Melissa's fear of men is due to her past sexual abuse by her father suggests that her fear has been conditioned through traumatic experiences.

Question 8

Most combat-stressed soldiers do not later exhibit PTSD. This best illustrates survivor

Accepted Answer

Resilience refers to the ability to cope with and adapt to stressful or traumatic situations. Most combat-stressed soldiers do not develop PTSD, which suggests that they possess a degree of resilience.

Question 9

The incidence of OCD is greatest among

Accepted Answer

OCD often develops in the late teens or early adulthood, although it can occur in children and older adults as well. However, the incidence is highest among teens and young adults.

Question 10

Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult is indicative of

Accepted Answer

Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult is a symptom of agoraphobia.

Question 11

The billionaire aviator Howard Hughes insisted that his assistants carry out elaborate hand-washing rituals and wear white gloves when handling any document he would later touch. His behavior best illustrated the symptoms of

Accepted Answer

The elaborate hand-washing rituals and insistence on the use of white gloves suggest a preoccupation with cleanliness and a fear of contamination, which are classic symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 12

Two years after being brutally beaten and raped, Brianna still experiences jumpy anxiety and has trouble sleeping and vivid flashbacks of her assault. Brianna is most clearly showing signs of

Accepted Answer

Brianna's symptoms of jumpy anxiety, trouble sleeping, and vivid flashbacks are typical symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as sexual assault. Panic disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks, which Brianna's symptoms do not align with. Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive worry and anxiety about a variety of everyday dangers or events, whereas Brianna's symptoms are specifically related to her traumatic experience. Social anxiety disorder is marked by extreme fear or anxiety in social situations and is not applicable to Brianna's situation.

Question 13

A learning theory would be most likely to emphasize the role of ________ in the onset of anxiety disorders.

Accepted Answer

Learning theories, specifically classical conditioning, suggest that anxiety disorders develop through associations between a neutral stimuli and a fear-inducing stimuli. For example, if someone has a traumatic experience in an elevator, they may develop a fear of elevators due to the association between the neutral stimulus (elevator) and the fear-inducing stimulus (traumatic experience).

Question 14

Obsessions are

Accepted Answer

Obsessions are offensive and unwanted thoughts that persistently preoccupy a person. This is a defining characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD experience intrusive, repetitive, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images (obsessions) that cause anxiety, distress, or discomfort.

Question 15

According to ________ theory, anxiety is sometimes produced by the submerged mental energy associated with repressed impulses.

Accepted Answer

The theory described is a central tenant of psychoanalytic theory, which posits that anxiety can result from suppressed or repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses that still hold mental energy and can cause unconscious conflict leading to anxiety.

Question 16

Mrs. Swift is alarmed by her own intrusive and irrational thoughts that her house is contaminated by germs. Her experience best illustrates the agitating effects of

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Swift's experience of intrusive and irrational thoughts about the contamination of her house is characteristic of an obsession, which is a persistent and distressing thought, image, or impulse that is difficult to control or dismiss. Obsessions are a key feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that is often characterized by anxiety and agitation. Mania, agoraphobia, and panic disorder may also involve symptoms of anxiety and agitation, but they are not directly related to intrusive thoughts or obsessions.

Question 17

An immediate and irrational anxiety response to the mere sight of blood is indicative of

Accepted Answer

A specific phobia is an irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, situation, or activity. Hemophobia, or a fear of blood, is a common specific phobia that can cause an immediate and intense anxiety response at the mere sight of blood.

Question 18

An incapacitating and highly distressing fear about being embarrassed in the presence of others is most characteristic of

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense and persistent fear of social situations in which the individual anticipates being scrutinized and evaluated by others. The fear is typically related to being embarrassed, humiliated or judged negatively. Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, while obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive and persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of empathy or remorse.

Question 19

Sadie is so fearful of being overwhelmed by anxiety that she rarely steps outside her apartment. The thought of going shopping and getting lost in a crowd terrifies her, so she has her groceries delivered. Because of her fear, she earns her living as a freelance writer, working at home. Sadie's behavior is most characteristic of

Accepted Answer

Sadie's fear of being in public places and preference for staying at home are classic symptoms of agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear and avoidance behavior of places or situations from which it would be difficult to escape or get help in case of a panic attack or other physical symptoms.

Question 20

Incapacitating efforts to avoid specific anxiety-producing situations is most indicative of certain

Accepted Answer

Phobias involve extreme fear and avoidance of specific objects or situations, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning. In this case, the avoidance of anxiety-producing situations is a key indicator of a phobia. Delusions involve false beliefs, hallucinations involve seeing or hearing things that are not there, and obsessions involve persistent and intrusive thoughts or impulses that cause significant distress. None of these are directly related to avoiding anxiety-producing situations.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders