Question 1

What is a weakness of the theory that the interpretation of body symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, could lead to increasing anxiety and, ultimately, to panic? ​

Accepted Answer

The weakness of the theory is that it is contradicted by the fact that panic does not increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Question 2

Of the following, who is demonstrating a compulsion? Ellen, who worries about the contamination on other people's hands and on door knobs at her office

Accepted Answer

A compulsion is a repetitive behavior or mental act that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. Andrew's precise, daily coffee-making routine that cannot be disrupted is an example of a compulsion.

Question 3

What is taijin kyofusho? ​

Accepted Answer

Taijin kyofusho is a culture-bound syndrome found in Japan, characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others with one's own body, appearance, or actions.

Question 4

Which of the following exemplifies specific phobia? ​

Accepted Answer

Specific phobia refers to an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, such as flying or heights.

Question 5

Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, suffers from PTSD after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A certain acrid burning smell can trigger intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for her. This is an example of ____. ​

Accepted Answer

This is an example of classical conditioning, where a previously neutral stimulus (the acrid burning smell) becomes associated with a traumatic event (the attack on the twin towers) and triggers a conditioned response (feelings of jitteriness and distress).

Question 6

Brain imaging studies consistently show that PTSD is correlated with smaller _______ volume in the brain.

Accepted Answer

Multiple studies have found that individuals with PTSD have reduced volume in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and emotion regulation. This may contribute to the symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks and avoidance behavior. Smaller volume in other brain regions, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, has also been found, but the hippocampal volume reduction is the most consistent finding.

Question 7

People with panic disorder have larger quantities of orexins than people without the disorder, which may lead to panic attacks. Orexins play an important role in ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Orexins are neuropeptides that play an important role in regulating wakefulness, vigilance, and appetite. Therefore, having larger quantities of orexins can lead to increased arousal and vigilance, which may trigger panic attacks in people with panic disorder.

Question 8

Panic disorder is more common in children who have experienced parental loss or separation and in adults who have recently experienced significant, stressful life events. These are ____ explanations. ​

Accepted Answer

Social

Question 9

What of the following is not a characteristic of PTSD?

Accepted Answer

PTSD is characterized by avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, not an attraction to them.

Question 10

Which perspective suggests that phobias might be exaggerations of an otherwise useful sense of caution? ​

Accepted Answer

The evolutionary perspective suggests that phobias may be exaggerated responses that have evolved as a survival mechanism, enhancing caution and helping individuals avoid danger.

Question 11

What kind of obsessions are involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Accepted Answer

Obsessions in OCD are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress.

Question 12

Eileen works in a crowded downtown neighborhood. She constantly worries that her car will be stolen while she is at work, and repeatedly goes back and checks to see that it is locked before finally arriving at the office, frequently late. Her therapist explains that returning to her car so often is a way to reduce the anxiety created by her obsessive thoughts. This is a(n)____. ​

Accepted Answer

The therapist's explanation is based on operant conditioning, where Eileen's behavior of checking her car is reinforced by the reduction of anxiety, thus increasing the likelihood of repeating the behavior.

Question 13

What is one of the primary characteristics of panic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks and the fear of future attacks, which can lead to significant changes in behavior to avoid these attacks.

Question 14

Twin studies have found concordance rates of 63% to 87% between identical twins for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). What does this suggest?

Accepted Answer

The high concordance rates between identical twins suggest that there is a strong genetic vulnerability for OCD. This is because identical twins share all of their genetic material, so if one twin has OCD, the other is more likely to have it as well compared to non-identical twins who share only about 50% of their genes.

Question 15

What is an obsession? ​

Accepted Answer

An obsession is an intrusive, distressing thought that repeatedly enters a person's mind, often causing significant anxiety or discomfort.

Question 16

What is the definition of a specific phobia? ​

Accepted Answer

A specific phobia is characterized by an unrealistic or irrational fear of a specific object or situation, distinct from agoraphobia or social anxiety.

Question 17

Jake, a veteran of the Iraq war, witnessed his friends being severely injured or killed on two tours of duty. He came home physically healthy but suffering from PTSD. Jake was not much of a drinker before he went to Iraq, but now, he frequently drinks alone at night. To what might this be related? ​

Accepted Answer

Lower levels of naturally occurring benzodiazepine activity in the frontal cortex can be related to anxiety and PTSD, potentially leading to self-medication with alcohol.

Question 18

Body dysmorphic disorder shows a significant influence of ____. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Body dysmorphic disorder shows a significant influence...

Question 19

Lauren has been chosen to introduce the guest speaker to her economics class. She is worried about how she will look and sound to her classmates, her palms are sweaty, and she can feel her heart beating. She is terrified that she will be negatively judged or scrutinized by those in her class. This is best described as ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Lauren's symptoms and fear of being negatively judged or scrutinized in a social situation align with social anxiety disorder.

Question 20

Gabriel has become so fearful of going outside of his home alone, and of being in open spaces such as parking lots, that he has difficulty holding a job. This is best described as ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Gabriel's fear of going outside alone and being in open spaces is characteristic of agoraphobia, which involves anxiety about being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable.

Quiz 14: The Troubled Mind: Psychological Disorders

What is a weakness of the theory that the interpretation of body symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, could lead to increasing anxiety and, ultimately, to panic?

Of the following, who is demonstrating a compulsion? Ellen, who worries about the contamination on other people's hands and on door knobs at her office

What is taijin kyofusho?

Which of the following exemplifies specific phobia?

Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, suffers from PTSD after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A certain acrid burning smell can trigger intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for her. This is an example of ____.

Brain imaging studies consistently show that PTSD is correlated with smaller _______ volume in the brain.

People with panic disorder have larger quantities of orexins than people without the disorder, which may lead to panic attacks. Orexins play an important role in ____.

Panic disorder is more common in children who have experienced parental loss or separation and in adults who have recently experienced significant, stressful life events. These are ____ explanations.

What of the following is not a characteristic of PTSD?

Which perspective suggests that phobias might be exaggerations of an otherwise useful sense of caution?

What kind of obsessions are involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

What is one of the primary characteristics of panic disorder?

Twin studies have found concordance rates of 63% to 87% between identical twins for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . What does this suggest?

What is an obsession?

What is the definition of a specific phobia?

Jake, a veteran of the Iraq war, witnessed his friends being severely injured or killed on two tours of duty. He came home physically healthy but suffering from PTSD. Jake was not much of a drinker before he went to Iraq, but now, he frequently drinks alone at night. To what might this be related?

Body dysmorphic disorder shows a significant influence of ____.

Gabriel has become so fearful of going outside of his home alone, and of being in open spaces such as parking lots, that he has difficulty holding a job. This is best described as ____.

Quiz 14: The Troubled Mind: Psychological Disorders

What is a weakness of the theory that the interpretation of body symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, could lead to increasing anxiety and, ultimately, to panic? ​

Of the following, who is demonstrating a compulsion? Ellen, who worries about the contamination on other people's hands and on door knobs at her office

What is taijin kyofusho? ​

Which of the following exemplifies specific phobia? ​

Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, suffers from PTSD after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A certain acrid burning smell can trigger intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for her. This is an example of ____. ​

Brain imaging studies consistently show that PTSD is correlated with smaller _______ volume in the brain.

People with panic disorder have larger quantities of orexins than people without the disorder, which may lead to panic attacks. Orexins play an important role in ____. ​

Panic disorder is more common in children who have experienced parental loss or separation and in adults who have recently experienced significant, stressful life events. These are ____ explanations. ​

What of the following is not a characteristic of PTSD?

Which perspective suggests that phobias might be exaggerations of an otherwise useful sense of caution? ​

What kind of obsessions are involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

What is one of the primary characteristics of panic disorder?

Twin studies have found concordance rates of 63% to 87% between identical twins for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . What does this suggest?

What is an obsession? ​

What is the definition of a specific phobia? ​

Body dysmorphic disorder shows a significant influence of ____. ​

Gabriel has become so fearful of going outside of his home alone, and of being in open spaces such as parking lots, that he has difficulty holding a job. This is best described as ____. ​

What is a weakness of the theory that the interpretation of body symptoms, such as an increased heart rate, could lead to increasing anxiety and, ultimately, to panic?

What is taijin kyofusho?

Which of the following exemplifies specific phobia?

Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, suffers from PTSD after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A certain acrid burning smell can trigger intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for her. This is an example of ____.

People with panic disorder have larger quantities of orexins than people without the disorder, which may lead to panic attacks. Orexins play an important role in ____.

Panic disorder is more common in children who have experienced parental loss or separation and in adults who have recently experienced significant, stressful life events. These are ____ explanations.

Which perspective suggests that phobias might be exaggerations of an otherwise useful sense of caution?

What is an obsession?

What is the definition of a specific phobia?

Body dysmorphic disorder shows a significant influence of ____.

Gabriel has become so fearful of going outside of his home alone, and of being in open spaces such as parking lots, that he has difficulty holding a job. This is best described as ____.