Question 1

Exhibiting two or more distinct and alternating personalities is a symptom of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The symptom of exhibiting two or more distinct and alternating personalities is consistent with dissociative disorders, specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder. Eating disorders primarily involve disturbed eating behaviors, while personality disorders involve persistent patterns of behavior and thought that deviate from cultural expectations. Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a lack of empathy and disregard for others' rights, but does not involve the display of multiple personalities.

Question 2

Nora's husband insisted that she go to a mental health clinic when she was unable to explain or remember her frequent absences from home,phone calls from people that she claimed she had never heard of,and check stubs from checks that she couldn't remember writing.At the clinic,Nora admitted there were long stretches of her life that were completely blank to her.Suddenly,using a different voice,facial expression,and demeanor,Nora said to the psychologist,"Don't pay any attention to that old Nora.She's just a bore.My name is Patty,and I'm a lot more fun to talk to." The psychologist suspects that Nora's symptoms are characteristic of

Accepted Answer

Nora's symptoms are characteristic of dissociative identity disorder, which is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states, each with its own way of perceiving, relating to and thinking about the world. Nora's sudden shift to a different voice, facial expression, and demeanor support this diagnosis. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and narcissistic personality disorder do not involve dissociative symptoms.

Question 3

The experience of multiple personalities is most likely to be characterized by

Accepted Answer

Multiple personality disorder, also known as dissociative identity disorder, is characterized by a dissociation of self from ordinary consciousness, where a person may have several distinct and different identities or personalities. These identities can take control of the person's behavior and consciousness at different times. This experience is a massive dissociation of self.

Question 4

Disruptions in conscious awareness and sense of identity are most characteristic of

Accepted Answer

Disruptions in conscious awareness and a sense of identity are most characteristic of dissociative disorders, which involve dissociation or detachment from one's thoughts, feelings, or identity as a way of coping with trauma or distress. Borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder involve instability in mood or behavior, but do not necessarily involve dissociation. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging, which does not directly affect one's sense of identity or awareness.

Question 5

If identical twins share a single placenta rather than having separate placentas,their chances of being similarly affected by ________ are dramatically increased.

Accepted Answer

Identical twins who share a placenta have a higher risk of being affected by schizophrenia due to the potential sharing of blood vessels which can lead to an imbalance in nutrients and oxygen between the twins, affecting brain development and increasing the risk of developing the disorder.

Question 6

Connie exhibits multiple personalities.Evidence that information learned by her secondary personality influences the moods and behaviors of her primary personality would most clearly rule out the contribution of ________ to her symptoms.

Accepted Answer

If information learned by one personality influences the behavior of another personality, it suggests that the personalities are dissociated and not just the result of role playing or motivational conflict. Sexual trauma may contribute to dissociation, but it does not explain the specific symptom mentioned in the question.

Question 7

A biological perspective would be LEAST helpful for explaining

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder is a controversial diagnosis that is not well understood from a biological perspective. Rather, it is believed tostem from trauma and psychological factors.

Question 8

An adopted child's chances of developing schizophrenia ________ if the biological parents have schizophrenia.The child's chances ________ if the adopted parents have schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An adopted child's chances of developing schizophrenia...

Question 9

Victor,a New York City investment broker,quit his job in a fit of rage after being accused of embezzling thousands of dollars of his clients' money.Four months later,the police discovered Victor driving a cab in Los Angeles.Victor claimed that his name was actually George Saunders,that he had always been a cab driver in Los Angeles,and that he had no knowledge of Victor.Even after he was positively identified as Victor,"George Saunders" insisted that he was someone else.Assuming that he was not faking his condition to escape arrest,Victor was probably suffering from

Accepted Answer

Victor's sudden flight from his job and subsequent adoption of a new identity suggest that he may have experienced a dissociative episode, specifically a fugue state. In a fugue state, a person may lose their sense of identity and may relocate to a new place without any memory of their past life. The fact that Victor denied any knowledge of his previous identity even after being positively identified is further evidence of a dissociative disorder. Personality disorders and antisocial personality disorder do not typically involve sudden and complete changes in identity like what Victor experienced. Dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) typically involves the presence of multiple distinct identities, which is not the case with Victor.

Question 10

William,an airplane pilot,is unable to remember anything of a bombing raid in which his plane was severely damaged and two crew members were killed.Because he himself suffered no physical injuries,psychologists suspect that William probably suffers from

Accepted Answer

The fact that William is unable to remember a traumatic event despite not suffering any physical injuries suggests that he may be experiencing dissociation, which is a common symptom of dissociative disorders such as dissociative amnesia.

Question 11

The distinctive features used to identify the three clusters of personality disorders are

Accepted Answer

The three clusters of personality disorders are identified by their distinctive features of anxiety (Cluster A), eccentricity (Cluster B), and impulsivity (Cluster C). Option A refers to symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and psychosis and is not specific to personality disorders. Option B includes factors that may influence the development of personality but are not specific to the three clusters. Option C includes traits but not specific features of personality disorders.

Question 12

Evidence that many DID patients have suffered abuse as children leads some psychologists to include dissociative disorders under the umbrella of

Accepted Answer

Dissociative disorders, including DID, are often linked to trauma and abuse experienced in childhood. This association is strong enough that many psychologists and psychiatrists consider dissociative disorders to be a sequelae of PTSD, or to have significant overlap with the symptoms and experiences of PTSD. Therefore, the best choice is posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 13

The experience of a fugue state is indicative of a(n)________ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Fugue states are a type of dissociative disorder where a person temporarily loses their sense of identity and may travel or take on a new identity without being aware of their actions. This is not related to eating disorders, personality disorders, or emotional intelligence.

Question 14

Noah's therapist suggests that Noah developed a dissociative identity disorder in order to misbehave without feeling a strong sense of personal shame.The therapist's suggestion most directly reflects a(n)________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The therapist's suggestion that Noah developed a dissociative identity disorder to misbehave without feeling a strong sense of personal shame reflects a psychodynamic perspective, which emphasizes the link between unconscious thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Dissociative identity disorder is often associated with traumatic experiences and unresolved subconscious conflicts, which can cause individuals to dissociate and compartmentalize their thoughts, emotions, and behavior in order to cope with overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame, or fear. The psychodynamic perspective suggests that Noah's symptoms may be related to his subconscious desire to escape or avoid feelings of shame or guilt associated with his behavior.

Question 15

A sense of being separated from your body and watching yourself with a sense of detachment is a symptom of

Accepted Answer

The symptom described is dissociation, which is characterized by a sense of detachment from one's thoughts, feelings, memories, or even one's own body. Dissociation can occur in various mental health disorders such as dissociative identity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. It is not a symptom specific to binge eating disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, or avoidant personality disorder.

Question 16

Evidence that symptoms of dissociative identity disorder are triggered by the suggestions and leading questions of therapists most clearly points out the importance of ________ in the onset of this disorder.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a controversial and divisive diagnosis. Some experts believe that the condition arises from a combination of psychological factors such as childhood trauma and a tendency to dissociate. However, there is also evidence that the symptoms of the disorder may be influenced by the suggestions and leading questions of therapists. This suggests that role playing, or the conscious or unconscious adoption of a suggested persona, may play a significant role in the onset of dissociative identity disorder.

Question 17

During prenatal development,nutritional deprivation may influence the expression of certain genes that are known to increase the risk of specific physical and psychological disorders.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The statement is referring to epigenetic factors, which are modifications to genes that can be influenced by environmental factors, such as nutritional deprivation during prenatal development. These modifications can lead to changes in gene expression and increase the risk of certain disorders. Therefore, the impact being illustrated in this statement is that of epigenetic factors. Choices A, C, and D are unrelated to the topic being discussed.

Question 18

Psychological disorders characterized by inflexible,enduring,and socially maladaptive behavior patterns are called ________ disorders.

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible, enduring, and socially maladaptive behavior patterns. Eating disorders refer to disturbances in eating behavior, dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, and fugue refers to sudden self-identity disruption and travel away from home.

Question 19

Researchers have suggested that the role playing of fantasy-prone patients in response to the leading questions of therapists has often contributed to

Accepted Answer

The role playing of fantasy-prone patients in response to leading questions of therapists has often contributed to dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. This is because these patients are highly suggestible and may unconsciously adopt the suggested identities or personas during therapy. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are eating disorders, while schizotypal personality disorder is a cluster A personality disorder characterized by odd or eccentric behavior and beliefs.

Question 20

College students were asked to pretend that they were accused murderers.Under hypnosis,they typically expressed a second personality when prompted to do so by the examining psychiatrist.This most strongly suggests that dissociative identity disorder may involve

Accepted Answer

The fact that college students were able to express a second personality under hypnosis when prompted to do so suggests that dissociative identity disorder may involve role playing, rather than being an innate psychological disorder.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders