Question 1

You are a family therapist in a first interview with a couple.You note a style of communication that has been seen in couples who are basically unhappily married.This indicator is their

Accepted Answer

Couples who are unhappily married often have a communication style that involves blaming their conflicts on each other's personality. This indicates a lack of ability to take responsibility for their own contributions to the problems in their relationship and can create a cycle of defensiveness and blame that hinders progress in therapy.

Question 2

Researchers used beepers to signal adolescents and adults at various times to assess their emotional states.They found that,compared to adults,young people between the ages of 13 and 18 tend to experience

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that adolescents experience more intense moods than adults. This may be due to the fact that adolescent brains are still developing and have higher levels of emotional reactivity. Additionally, adolescents are experiencing many significant changes and transitions during this time, which can contribute to heightened emotional responses.

Question 3

What did research by Gorchaff,John,and Helson reveal about the relationship between having children and marital satisfaction?

Accepted Answer

The research by Gorchaff, John, and Helson revealed that marital satisfaction declines with the birth of children and rises when the children leave home. This suggests that the demands and stresses associated with raising children can negatively impact marital satisfaction, but once children leave the home, couples may experience an increase in satisfaction as they have more time and freedom to focus on their relationship.

Question 4

What question seems to summarize the conflict of adolescence as viewed by Erik Erikson?

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson viewed adolescence as a period of identity vs. role confusion where individuals struggle to answer the question "Who am I?" Therefore, option A best summarizes the conflict of adolescence as viewed by Erik Erikson.

Question 5

Social scientists often see family change in terms of the ________,or the developmental course of family relationships.

Accepted Answer

The family life cycle is a framework that describes the stages through which family relationships typically evolve. It serves as a way to understand the changes families go through over time, from forming a new family to adjusting to changes in family structure and roles as children grow up and leave home. Social scientists use this framework to study the developmental course of family relationships. The other answer choices are not relevant to this topic.

Question 6

An identity __________ is a young person who most likely comes from a rejecting and distant family.

Accepted Answer

An identity diffuser is typically characterized by a lack of direction and commitment in life, often stemming from a background of family rejection and emotional distance. This can lead to difficulties in forming a stable identity.

Question 7

What treatment approach do many clinicians suggest for those experiencing distress associated with transitions to adult life?

Accepted Answer

Clinicians typically suggest a supportive and nondirective approach for individuals experiencing distress associated with transitions to adult life. This can involve providing a safe and empathetic space for the individual to share their concerns and fears, as well as offering guidance and resources as needed. The focus is on empowering the individual to navigate the challenges of adulthood in their own way and at their own pace. A psychoanalytic approach may not be as effective in addressing concrete challenges while a challenging and confrontational approach could potentially exacerbate distress.

Question 8

Many consider the identity crisis to be a necessary and inevitable part of transitioning to adulthood.Nevertheless,we should remember that the way any person responds to parental authority is influenced by

Accepted Answer

Culture significantly influences the way individuals respond to parental authority. Cultural values, beliefs, and norms shape a person's understanding of familial relationships, obedience, and respect. Therefore, the way a person deals with identity crisis and transition to adulthood is often mediated by cultural factors. Gender, mental stability, and age may also play a role, but culture is essential.

Question 9

How would we describe a teen with identity diffusion?

Accepted Answer

Identity diffusion refers to a lack of direction or commitment to adult roles and values, often characterized by not actively seeking new adult roles.

Question 10

As a couples therapist,you know that ________ interactions predict future marital dissatisfaction.

Accepted Answer

Demand and withdrawal interactions, also known as pursuer-distancer interactions, involve one partner's attempts to engage in communication or conflict resolution (the demander) being met with the other partner's withdrawal or avoidance (the withdrawer). This dynamic creates frustration and resentment, which can lead to future marital dissatisfaction. The other options may also be contributing factors to marital dissatisfaction, but demand and withdrawal interactions have been specifically identified as a predictor.

Question 11

Rebecca is a college graduate who has made decisions about her long-term goals,although her goals are quite different from her parents' expectations for her.What does research tell us about where she may be in terms of Erikson's view of development?

Accepted Answer

Rebecca's ability to make decisions about her long-term goals, even when they differ from her parents' expectations, suggests she has achieved a clear sense of identity. According to Erikson, this stage is characterized by exploring various options and making commitments, leading to confidence in social interactions, which aligns with option A.

Question 12

Psychologists are not so much interested in the content of family struggles as the process.One of the most consistent findings concerns ________,or social exchange of cooperation and conflict.

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the question is reciprocity, which refers to the social exchange of cooperation and conflict. Therefore, the best choice is D) reciprocity.

Question 13

Family transitions are major changes in family life and family relationships that frequently involve

Accepted Answer

Family transitions involve the addition or loss of members, such as the birth of a child, death of a family member, divorce, or remarriage. These changes affect the dynamics and relationships within the family unit. A, C, and D may be factors that contribute to or result from family transitions, but they are not the primary defining feature of a family transition.

Question 14

Critics of Erik Erikson's views on adult psychosocial development believed that men form identities based on work and that women form identities based on________.In recent years,however,gender roles are changing for both sexes.

Accepted Answer

Critics of Erikson's views suggested that women form identities based on relationships, such as motherhood, rather than work. However, it is important to note that gender roles are changing for both sexes and these traditional expectations may not hold true for all individuals.

Question 15

In 2008,approximately _____ percent of African-American youth between the ages of 16 and 24 were neither in school nor employed.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20 percent of African-American youth between the ages of 16 and 24 were neither in school nor employed in 2008. This is a concerning statistic, as it suggests a high level of disconnection from education and the workforce among a significant portion of this demographic.

Question 16

At age 10,Joseph decided to become a priest.By age 20,he had the same goal,never having considered any other options and never having questioned his earlier decision.Which of the following terms describes Joseph's identity category?

Accepted Answer

Joseph's clear and unchanging decision to become a priest without ever exploring other possible options or questioning his initial choice suggests identity foreclosure, which involves premature commitment to a specific identity category without engaging in exploration or considering alternatives.

Question 17

Marital conflict and distress tend to be associated with an increased risk for __________,especially among women.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that marital conflict and distress are associated with an increased risk for depression, particularly among women. This may be due to the fact that women tend to place greater importance on the quality of their relationships and may be more likely to internalize problems.

Question 18

According to ego psychologist Karen Horney,why do adolescents experience conflict with their parents?

Accepted Answer

According to Karen Horney, adolescents experience conflict with their parents because they have competing needs - the need for independence and the need for security and support from their parents. This creates a tension and potential power struggle between the adolescent and their parents.

Question 19

Which of Marcia's proposed categories of identity conflicts is described as "young adults who never questioned themselves or their goals but instead proceed along the predetermined course of their childhood commitments"?

Accepted Answer

The described category is identity foreclosure, as individuals in this category have committed to a predetermined course or identity without exploring other options or considering alternative paths.

Question 20

A psychologist is trying to understand the level of cooperation and conflict evident in the social exchanges of a family.This psychologist is focusing on

Accepted Answer

Reciprocity refers to the mutual exchange of actions or behaviors, which directly relates to the level of cooperation and conflict in social exchanges.

Quiz 17: Adjustment Disorders and Life-Cycle Transitions