PSY 341 EXAM 1 SHORT ANSWER

Jay develops a Specific Phobia of dogs as an adolescent. Name, describe, and provide an example of the three core behavioral (learning) processes that might be responsible for causing Jay's struggle.

Classical conditioning, modeling, or stimulus generalization could be held responsible for Jay's struggle with dogs. In classical conditioning, two events that occur around the same time become closely associated in one's mind, causing the person to react similarly to both of them. If Jay had been playing the position of quarterback in a football game and he had thrown multiple interceptions, while hearing a growling dog in the background, Jay could associate those and fear dogs as a result of his failure. Modeling is another way Jay could have acquired this phobia; observation and imitation could have produced his phobia. As a child, Jay could have observed a sibling of his getting bit by a large pitbull and the sibling crying in pain. After seeing his sibling being afraid of the dog, Jay could also begin to be afraid of dogs. Lastly, stimulus generalization could have affected Jay's phobia; responses to one stimuli are also elicited by other stimuli. Jay may have had an initial fear of cats and since cats can often be associated with dogs, the fear of dogs came about. Jay could then build up a large number of fears from the elicited stimuli and develop generalized anxiety disorder.

Lucia's adult daughter has been struggling for 6 months after she saw a bookcase fall on her friend during an earthquake. Lucia is concerned her daughter might be experiencing PTSD. She knows you are taking an abnormal psychology course, and so she asks you what treatment for PTSD is best. Explain to Lucia why comparing the effectiveness of treatments is often very difficult.

Comparing the effectiveness of treatments is often very difficult as people differ in various ways. We do not know the complexity and severity of Lucia's daughter's PTSD. People differ in their problems while therapists can differ in skill, experience, and personality. We will not be able to take the practices implemented in therapy for a returning solider suffering from PTSD and apply it to someone who witnessed a falling bookcase, as the severity of these problems differ. Therapies themselves also differ in format, setting and practice. Because an individual's progress in therapy is influenced by all of these factors, the findings of a particular study may not always apply to other clients or therapies.

Maria has been seeing a therapist for 6 months; she was recently diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. What is the Iatrogenic Explanation for the cause of Dissociative Identity Disorder? Based on the common sources of evidence reviewed during Lecture, name and describe 3 potential reasons that might support an Iatrogenic Explanation for Maria's diagnosis.

Iatrogenic explanation refers to cases that are unintentionally produced by practitioners. Maria's diagnosis could be a result of the therapist suggesting the existence of subpersonalities within the client, which may cause the client to believe they may actually have subpersonalities. The therapist can create subpersonalities in a client by asking them to produce different personalities while under hypnosis. Lastly, a therapist who is looking for multiple personalities may reinforce these patterns by displaying greater interest when a client displays symptoms of dissociation.

Kevin develops Hoarding Disorder in his mid 30s; he collects old, often broken, bicycles. Explain how you could use the OARS of Motivational Interviewing to treat Kevin.

OARS refers to open-ended questions, affirmations of strength, reflections of empathy, and summaries of understanding. In order to treat Kevin, we can begin by asking open-ended questions relating to why he collects broken bicycles and what he plans to do with them. We then have to affirm Kevin that he is an intelligent person and has the strength to overcome obstacles. Reflections of empathy and listening are also key. We must engage Kevin in conversation and communicate that we are interested in what is being said. We must understand Kevin and the problems he went through in order to attribute his experiences to his need for bike hoarding. Lastly, we will summarize what we have learned about Kevin and give him an opportunity to respond. The reflective, understanding, and nonjudgmental atmosphere we provided Kevin during the motivational interview will in turn allow Kevin to gradually consider his strength to break his habit and overcome hoarding.

Both Scott and Duane look into a mirror and see their reflection staring back at them. Scott has been diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder whereas Duane has no symptoms of BDD. Describe how Scott's brain likely processes his reflection differently compared to Duane's brain. What is the problem with concluding that this brain difference causes BDD?

With body dysmorphic disorder, Scott perceives an imaginary or minor defect in his appearance which causes significant clinical distress. Regardless of whether or not there are any defects in appearance, Scott's brain will process his appearance to present at least one or an imaginary defect. Duane, on the other hand, may have minor defects in his appearance he is concerned about, but his concerns are not as extreme as Scott's. The problem with concluding that this brain difference causes BDD is that biology may have nothing to do with BDD and the disorder could strictly be a cause of a cognitive perspective. Instead of a brain difference, someone with BDD may perceive minor or imaginary defects in themselves because they experienced trauma at an earlier time when someone bullied them or shamed them based on their appearance.