Question 1

Women are about __________ as likely to be diagnosed with depression as men.

Accepted Answer

Women are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression as men, according to various studies and mental health statistics.

Question 2

The biopsychosocial view of depression claims that

Accepted Answer

The biopsychosocial view of depression acknowledges that biological predispositions may play a role in causing depression, but also recognizes the influence of psychological and social factors in the development and maintenance of the disorder. It does not place the blame on individuals, as suggested by choice C. Choice A is incorrect because the view includes more than just the biological factors. Choice D is incorrect because the biopsychosocial view is a recognized theory in the field of psychology.

Question 3

Whether people consider the causes of failure to be internal or external depends upon the type of __________ style they use.

Accepted Answer

Attributional style refers to how people explain the causes of events, including successes and failures. Internal causes are attributed to personal factors, while external causes are attributed to situational or environmental factors. Therefore, the type of attributional style used determines whether failure is seen as caused by internal or external factors.

Question 4

Learning theory suggests that depression can result from

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is a learning theory that suggests that when individuals feel they have no control over a situation, they may become passive and stop trying. This lack of control can lead to feelings of hopelessness and ultimately result in depression.

Question 5

Although biological factors are very important in explaining and treating mood disorders, these factors appear to __________ learning and cognitive attributions, which also play a role in the duration and strength of symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Biological factors and learning/cognitive attributions interact with each other in affecting the duration and strength of symptoms of mood disorders. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 6

Pessimism and self-criticism are __________ factors in depression.

Accepted Answer

Pessimism and self-criticism reflect negative and distorted patterns of thinking, which are key tenets of the cognitive model of depression. The cognitive model posits that depressed individuals have a tendency to interpret events in negative ways and to ruminate on these negative thoughts, leading to worsening mood and cognitive symptoms.

Question 7

"I never could stand up for myself in a fight. It's just the way I am." This is an example of a(n) _____ attribution.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that the person believes their inability to stand up for themselves in a fight is a stable trait, meaning it is a part of their personality that is unlikely to change. Therefore, the best choice is D, stable attribution.

Question 8

In any given year, approximately _____ percent of men and _____ percent of women are diagnosed with depression.

Accepted Answer

In any given year, approximately 7 percent of men and 12 percent of women are diagnosed with depression.

Question 9

Which of the following attributional statements is most likely to be made by a depressed person?

Accepted Answer

Depressed individuals often have a negative attributional style, where they attribute negative events to internal, stable, and global factors. Statement A reflects this style, as the individual is making a global, internal attribution for all of their actions. Statements B, C, and D reflect more positive and adaptive attributional styles.

Question 10

Which of the following is considered a possible risk factor for suicide?

Accepted Answer

Perfectionism is considered a possible risk factor for suicide as it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure, which may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Question 11

A(n) __________ attribution is one that involves self-blame.

Accepted Answer

An internal attribution is one in which an individual takes responsibility themselves for the outcome, which can involve self-blame. External attributions involve attributing outcomes to factors outside of oneself, such as other people or circumstances. Irrational and specific are not types of attributions.

Question 12

What are most suicides linked to?

Accepted Answer

Most suicides are linked to depression and hopelessness. Depression can make a person feel overwhelmed, hopeless and consumed with thoughts of death or suicide. A suicidal person may feel like they can't be helped -- that solutions are not available.

Question 13

"She was just in a bad mood. I'll ask her again when she is in a better mood." This is an example of a(n) _____ attribution.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that the person's mood is temporary and subject to change, indicating an unstable attribution.

Question 14

Factors that are thought to contribute to depression in women include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

While hormonal changes during adolescence, childbirth, and the menstrual cycle are all known to contribute to depression in women, marriage is not typically considered a factor in and of itself. However, relationship or marital problems can contribute to depression.

Question 15

Pearl constantly blames herself for problems in her marriage. She believes she has a personality flaw and no matter what she will always have problems in relationships. Pearl will likely exhibit

Accepted Answer

Pearl's belief that she has a personality flaw and is responsible for all problems in her marriage suggests feelings of guilt and low self-worth, which are common symptoms of depression.

Question 16

You recently interviewed for a new job but did not get it. When you attribute the rejection to the fact that you "messed up" in the interview, what type of attributional style are you using?

Accepted Answer

By attributing the rejection to a personal mistake (messed up in the interview), the individual is using an internal attributional style that assigns responsibility to themselves rather than external factors or circumstances outside their control. This suggests a tendency to take personal responsibility for success or failure, which can be positive or negative depending on the situation.

Question 17

A(n) __________ attribution is one in which the blame is placed on someone or something other than the self.

Accepted Answer

An external attribution is when the cause of an event is attributed to something or someone beyond one's control, such as situational factors or the actions of others. This is in contrast to an internal attribution, which involves attributing the cause to one's own personal characteristics or abilities. A global attribution pertains to attributing the cause of the event to factors that are relevant across different situations, while a stable attribution involves attributing the cause to factors that are unlikely to change over time.

Question 18

Depressed people often make global attributions to explain failures. For example, a global explanation for a relationship failure might be

Accepted Answer

Option A provides a global attribution that is negative and implies that there is a shortage of suitable partners, which is a characteristic of depressive thinking. Options B and C are more specific to the person and their actions, while option D acknowledges a specific issue that was previously discussed rather than making a sweeping generalization.

Question 19

Hormonal factors, a cognitive vulnerability, and __________ have all been cited as possible contributing factors to depression in women.

Accepted Answer

All of these factors have been cited as possible contributing factors to depression in women, including hormonal factors, a cognitive vulnerability, and the "double shift" demands of workforce and homemaking, poverty, and sexism. Research suggests that depression in women often arises from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Question 20

The observation that women are more likely to suffer depression is now explained by

Accepted Answer

The social stressors experienced by women are considered to be the main reason behind their higher vulnerability to depression compared to men. This includes factors such as discrimination, gender roles, societal pressure, and inequality. Hormonal changes during a woman's menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause can also have an impact on their mental health, but this is not considered as the primary reason for the gender disparity in depression. The historical belief that women's mental health issues were related to their uterus and the concept of hysteria have been discarded by modern psychiatry as inaccurate and sexist. The idea of female brain lateralization has some scientific support, but its relationship to depression is not yet well-established.

Quiz 12: Psychological Disorders