Question 1

In his list of "three entrance gates to mental life," Adler included birth order,dreams,and

Accepted Answer

Adler believed that early memories provide insight into an individual's core beliefs and attitudes. He saw them as a key to understanding the way the individual experienced the world around them, and therefore considered them an important entrance into mental life.
(Note: Birth order and dreams are also important factors in Adler's theory, but they are not the most relevant choice given the options presented in the question.)

Question 2

Sullivan's stages of development resemble Freud's stages because they ________.Sullivan's stages differ from Freud's because they ________.

Accepted Answer

Sullivan's stages of development resemble Freud's because they both emphasize areas of the body (e.g., oral, anal stages in Freud's theory). However, Sullivan's stages differ from Freud's in that they are socially determined, focusing on the relationships and experiences with others rather than biological or instinctual drives.

Question 3

Which of the following illustrates overcompensation?

Accepted Answer

Overcompensation refers to an excessive effort to make up for perceived shortcomings or weaknesses. Choice D illustrates overcompensation because the college student is pretending not to know his limited ability and is registering for the most challenging courses he can find, which is an excessive effort to compensate for his low intelligence.

Question 4

Deidre often uses the security operation of selective inattention.Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates this?

Accepted Answer

Selective inattention involves ignoring or pretending not to notice something that causes discomfort or anxiety, such as Deidre ignoring her boyfriend's sarcastic putdown.

Question 5

The dynamism of lust appears during which of Sullivan's stages of development?

Accepted Answer

The dynamism of lust appears during early adolescence in Sullivan's stages of development, as this is when individuals begin to experience and explore sexual feelings and desires.

Question 6

According to Adler,safeguarding tendencies are used most by

Accepted Answer

According to Adler, safeguarding tendencies are defensive mechanisms used by neurotic people to protect themselves from their feelings of inferiority and anxiety.

Question 7

In Sullivan's theory,the pattern of energy transformation that characterizes interpersonal relationships is called a

Accepted Answer

In Sullivan's theory, interpersonal relationships are characterized by a pattern of energy transformation, which he calls dynamism. This refers to the way that people interact and exchange energy with each other, as they try to meet their basic needs and achieve a sense of security and fulfillment. The concept of dynamism is central to Sullivan's theory, as it helps to explain how people develop and maintain relationships over time.

Question 8

Which of the following demonstrates a parataxic experience?

Accepted Answer

A parataxic experience is when two events occur together and are related in someone's mind, even though there may be no actual causal relationship between them. In this case, Julian believes that the blue jacket has magical powers because he made money while wearing it, even though there is no logical connection between the two events.

Question 9

The not-me self entails

Accepted Answer

The not-me self refers to parts of the self that are repressed due to being associated with anxiety or dread, making option A the correct choice.

Question 10

Carlos is angry at his best friend,but instead of lashing out physically,he releases his anger by writing in his journal.Sullivan would argue that this behavior represents the security operation of

Accepted Answer

Sublimation is a defense mechanism where a person channels their negative impulses or emotions into a socially acceptable or even productive activity. In this case, Carlos is channeling his anger into writing in his journal, rather than lashing out physically at his friend.

Question 11

How does Sullivan define personality?

Accepted Answer

Sullivan defines personality as the manner in which an individual relates to others, emphasizing interpersonal relationships and social interactions.

Question 12

Freud is to defense mechanisms as Sullivan is to

Accepted Answer

Freud is known for his theory of defense mechanisms, while Sullivan is known for his concept of security operations, which are strategies used to reduce anxiety and maintain self-esteem.

Question 13

In the concept of the creative self,Adler reestablished

Accepted Answer

According to Adler, the creative self is the center of personality and its main component is consciousness. Therefore, Adler reestablished consciousness as the center of personality, making A the correct choice. Although Adler recognized the influence of unconscious forces, he did not emphasize their potency as much as other theorists such as Freud. Adler also believed in the importance of free will and the individual's ability to overcome determinism. While Adler acknowledged the conflict in human nature, his focus was on the individual's ability to use their creative power to strive towards their goals.

Question 14

This is Jason's first time performing in a comedy club.He is ignoring his extreme nervousness and acting cocky and arrogant instead.After a short while,he actually starts to feel confident.According to Sullivan's theories,Jason is experiencing the positive effects of

Accepted Answer

Sullivan's theory of acting "as if" suggests that if someone alters their behavior, emotions and thoughts by acting as if they are confident, eventually they will start to feel confident. In this scenario, Jason is initially nervous but by acting cocky and arrogant, he is able to convince himself that he is indeed confident, and this positive feeling is reinforced as he performs without complications.

Question 15

In preadolescence,interpersonal energies are focused on

Accepted Answer

Preadolescence is typically between the ages of 9-12 years old, and during this stage, children tend to form close friendships, or chum relationships, which become a significant focus of their interpersonal energies. This is often a time when children are developing their social skills and learning how to navigate relationships outside of their family. While developing a healthy relationship with one's parents is important, it is not the primary focus during preadolescence, and relating to same-sex playmates is just one aspect of the social development taking place. The emergence of the lust dynamism typically occurs during adolescence, not preadolescence.

Question 16

Erica knows that she has a phobia about being in the midst of a huge crowd of people.This knowledge constitutes a part of which aspect of Erica's personality?

Accepted Answer

The "bad-me" self refers to aspects of the self that are recognized as undesirable or anxiety-provoking, such as Erica's awareness of her phobia.

Question 17

The prototaxic experience is the characteristic cognitive mode in which of Sullivan's stages of development?

Accepted Answer

The prototaxic experience is the early stage of cognitive development, occurring during infancy, in which sense impressions are experienced in a diffuse and uncoordinated manner. Sullivan believed that this stage is characterized by an undifferentiated, diffuse awareness of bodily sensations and a lack of clear differentiation between the self and the environment. The prototaxic mode of experience is gradually replaced by the parataxic mode, in which the infant begins to recognize patterns in the world and to form simple relationships between cause and effect.

Question 18

Which concept of Sullivan's attempts to explain how a person may be capable of acting in an evil manner while remaining fundamentally good?

Accepted Answer

Malevolent transformation of personality is a concept introduced by Harry Stack Sullivan that attempts to explain how individuals can engage in harmful or "evil" behaviors while still maintaining their core goodness. This transformation occurs when a person adopts a negative or malevolent attitude towards others as a defense mechanism, often in response to being treated poorly or experiencing a lack of empathy from others. This concept helps in understanding the complexity of human behavior, especially how good people can sometimes act in harmful ways due to their circumstances or experiences.

Question 19

Sullivan conceived of anxiety as any painful feeling or emotion that may arise from organic needs or

Accepted Answer

Sullivan's theory of interpersonal relations emphasizes the role of interpersonal relationships and social experiences in shaping personality. He specifically identified anxiety as a painful feeling or emotion that arises from social insecurity, rather than from internal conflicts or cognitive processes.

Question 20

Dr.Goldfarb is a psychotherapist who frequently uses terms such as inferiority complex and superiority complex.It is most likely that Dr.Goldfarb has a(n) ___________ orientation.

Accepted Answer

The terms "inferiority complex" and "superiority complex" were coined by Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in the Adlerian school of thought. Adlerian therapy emphasizes the importance of understanding an individual's subjective experience and their unique perspective on their life. In addition to exploring early childhood experiences, Adlerian therapists also focus on an individual's current lifestyle and the ways in which their behavior helps them to fulfill their goals (or hinders them from doing so). Therefore, Dr. Goldfarb's frequent use of these terms suggests an Adlerian orientation.

Quiz 4: Inter-psychic Theories Alfred Adler, Harry Stack Sullivan