Question 1

Your psychotherapist asks you to "free associate." What are you being asked to do?

Accepted Answer

Free association is a technique in which the patient is asked to say whatever comes to mind spontaneously without censoring or filtering their thoughts. The stream of consciousness is thought to reveal repressed or unconscious thoughts and emotions that the patient may not be aware of. The therapist can then help the patient explore and understand these underlying issues.

Question 2

Sean, a psychologist, told his colleague "My client must confront the conflicts he faced in his childhood and gain release from this burdening anxiety." According to this statement, it can be concluded that Sean follows a _____ approach.

Accepted Answer

The language of "confronting conflicts" and the mention of childhood and anxiety are all characteristic of the psychodynamic approach, which places emphasis on unconscious conflicts and early life experiences in shaping adult behavior and emotions. Cognitive approaches, on the other hand, focus on how thoughts and beliefs influence behavior and emotions, while behavioral approaches emphasize the role of conditioning and reinforcement. Humanistic approaches typically prioritize personal growth, empowerment, and self-actualization.

Question 3

The main goal of psychoanalysis is to

Accepted Answer

The main goal of psychoanalysis is to help individuals gain insight into the unconscious conflicts that are the source of their problems. This requires exploration of childhood experiences, unconscious motivations, and the interpretation of dreams and other manifestations of the unconscious. The therapist facilitates this process through techniques such as free association and interpretation.

Question 4

Dr.Billings is a therapist who specializes in psychoanalysis.The types of techniques that she is likely to use would include

Accepted Answer

Dr. Billings specializes in psychoanalysis, which is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes exploring unconscious thoughts and emotions. The techniques commonly used in psychoanalysis include free association, dream interpretation, transference, and interpreting the client's resistance to discussing painful memories. Therefore, choice A is the most appropriate answer.

Question 5

The release of emotional tension a person experiences when reliving an emotionally charged and conflicting experience is known as

Accepted Answer

Catharsis refers to the release of emotional tension that a person experiences when reliving an emotionally charged and conflicting experience. It is often associated with therapy as a way to help clients process and move past difficult emotions. Tardive dyskinesia, resistance, and transference are all unrelated concepts in psychology.

Question 6

According to Freud's therapeutic technique, getting people to talk freely

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's therapeutic technique, free association allows patients to talk freely about anything that comes to their mind, allowing their deepest thoughts and repressed material to emerge. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Option A and B are incorrect as they do not reflect Freud's beliefs about how talking freely can be therapeutic. Option D is incorrect as Freud believed that such unconscious conflicts can be revealed through free association.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true regarding the psychoanalytic technique of dream analysis?

Accepted Answer

According to psychoanalytic theory, every dream has a hidden, symbolic meaning that represents an unconscious wish, desire, or conflict. These hidden meanings can only be uncovered through the process of dream analysis.

Question 8

According to the psychoanalytic approach to psychotherapy, interpretation

Accepted Answer

According to the psychoanalytic approach to psychotherapy, interpretation is a psychoanalyst's search for symbolic, hidden meanings in what the client says and does during therapy. The analyst helps the client become aware of unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by interpreting what is revealed during therapy sessions, such as dreams, free associations, and resistance.

Question 9

According to Freud's psychodynamic perspective, what is the best way to gain insight into a person's core problems?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychodynamic perspective, the best way to gain insight into a person's core problems is by bringing unconscious conflicts into conscious awareness. This involves exploring the client's past experiences, childhood, dreams, and emotions to uncover underlying conflicts and repressed thoughts or feelings that may be causing current psychological issues. This process of bringing unconscious material to conscious awareness is known as psychoanalysis and is a central component of Freud's approach to therapy.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of psychoanalytic techniques?

Accepted Answer

Freud believed in the theory of psychoanalysis, which suggests that a person's current problems can often be traced back to childhood experiences and unconscious conflicts. The other options are incorrect. Transference refers to the patient's redirection of feelings towards the therapist, resistance refers to the client's unconscious defense mechanisms, and Freud believed that transference was an unavoidable aspect of the analyst-patient relationship.

Question 11

Research shows that _____ is the most important determinant of therapy outcome.

Accepted Answer

The quality of the client's participation has been consistently found to be the most important determinant of therapy outcome. This includes factors such as the client's motivation, willingness to engage in therapy, and openness to change. While the therapist's credentials and cost can certainly impact the effectiveness of therapy, they are secondary to the client's level of engagement. The client's age may also be a relevant factor in some cases, but it is not as consistently predictive as the quality of the client's participation.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about biological therapies is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Psychologists are not legally allowed to prescribe drugs in most states. Only medical doctors, specifically psychiatrists, are legally permitted to prescribe drugs for psychological disorders.

Question 13

Clients of therapists who do not monitor the quality of the therapeutic alliance are

Accepted Answer

Clients of therapists who do not monitor the quality of the therapeutic alliance are more likely to drop out of therapy due to a lack of trust and rapport with the therapist. Research has shown that a strong therapeutic alliance is a key factor in successful therapy outcomes, and without monitoring and addressing potential issues, the alliance may falter, leading to negative outcomes such as dropout.

Question 14

Which of the following therapies stress the importance of the unconscious mind, extensive interpretation by the therapist, and the role of early childhood experiences in the development of an individual's problems?

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic therapies, such as psychoanalysis, place a strong emphasis on the unconscious mind, the interpretation of the therapist, and the impact of early childhood experiences on an individual's current problems.

Question 15

Charlotte is a psychologist who believes in the following statement, "Abnormal behavior is the result of unresolved unconscious conflicts." Since she believes in this statement, it can be inferred that Charlotte practices _____ therapy.

Accepted Answer

Charlotte's belief in unresolved unconscious conflicts aligns with the principles of psychodynamic therapy, which emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in shaping behavior and emotional experiences. This therapy looks at the root causes of psychological problems, which can be traced back to unresolved conflicts and repressed feelings from childhood.

Question 16

The therapeutic alliance is the relationship between the therapist and

Accepted Answer

The therapeutic alliance specifically refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. It is an important factor in successful therapy outcomes, as it involves trust, a shared understanding of goals, and a sense of collaboration between the therapist and client. The other options listed are not relevant to the therapeutic alliance.

Question 17

Research on the effectiveness of psychotherapy

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that psychotherapy is effective in treating a variety of psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, among others. The effectiveness of the specific type of psychotherapy depends on the individual and their specific needs. However, overall, psychotherapy has been shown to be an effective form of treatment.

Question 18

According to Freudian dream analysis, the unconscious, hidden aspects that are symbolized by the manifest content of dreams refers to the _____ content.

Accepted Answer

According to Freudian dream analysis, the hidden aspects of dreams that are symbolized by the manifest content refer to the latent content, which includes repressed desires, fears, and conflicts that are not consciously acknowledged. The manifest content, on the other hand, is the literal or surface-level content of the dream that is remembered upon waking up.

Question 19

Which of the following treatments reduce or eliminate the symptoms of psychological disorders by altering aspects of body functioning?

Accepted Answer

Biological therapies alter aspects of body functioning to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of psychological disorders. Examples of biological therapies include medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Psychotherapies, humanistic therapies, and cognitive-behavioral therapies focus on changing patterns of thought and behavior rather than bodily functions.

Question 20

Which of the following is the most important determinant of the effectiveness of psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

The therapeutic alliance, which refers to the relationship and level of trust between the therapist and client, has been consistently found to be the most important determinant of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The duration, cost, and number of therapy sessions can all be important factors as well, but they are not as consistently and significantly related to treatment outcomes as the therapeutic alliance.

Quiz 13: Therapies