Unit 8 MCQs

Morris is exhibiting symptoms most consistent with illness anxiety disorder. Which of the following is most likely occurring?

After not eating breakfast, Morris' stomach growls and he feels a slight cramp. He panics and is convinced that he has stomach cancer.

Brett is exhibiting signs of dissociative amnesia. Which of the following scenarios would most likely depict Brett's situation?

Brett was at work in Seattle when a police officer asked if he was John Simons from Miami. Brett said no, but the officer showed him a picture of himself with a family he had no memory of. Brett did not remember how he got to Seattle and did not remember ever being named John.

Travis is obsessed with his weight, but he often cannot stop himself from eating an entire carton of ice cream or two pizzas in one sitting. Afterward, he makes himself throw up or takes laxatives to rid himself of the food. Travis' behavior is indicative of what psychological disorder?

Bulimia nervosa

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates a behavioral approach to therapy?

Finn has been acting out at school, so his therapist employs a token economy to reward Finn when he behaves well

Using psychological techniques such as free association to explore a client's early relationships is characteristic of what type of treatment?

Psychoanalysis

Which of the following best explains how humors were thought to affect psychopathology?

Psychological disorders are caused by an imbalance between black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm.

While pregnant, Marley was exposed to the flu virus. Based on current research, which psychological disorder is Marley's child most likely to develop?

Schizophrenia, because flu virus exposure is positively correlated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

Dr. Obetz is conducting an experimental study on the effectiveness of antianxiety medication. Which of the following will most likely be her independent variable?

Type of medication, because she will randomly divide participants into groups and give the groups different types of medication.

Which of the following statements best illustrates a social-cognitive explanation for the development of depression?

Yolanda ruminates about her failures, so she is more likely to develop depression.

Ever since she was a child, Henrietta has had an intense fear of clowns, even though she has never been hurt by one. She runs screaming whenever she sees one. Henrietta most likely has what psychological disorder?

a specific phobia

Timothy, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, remains motionless for hours, no matter how awkward the position his body is in. What symptom is Timothy most clearly exhibiting?

Catatonia, because catatonia is a condition in which a person's body remains in a rigid state.

How would a clinical psychology researcher know whether client-centered therapy is effective in treating anxiety?

Clients randomly assigned to be spoken to with unconditional positive regard have lower cortisol levels than those in a control group.

Which of the following is the term associated with psychologists not sharing their clients' personal information with others?

Confidentiality

Which contemporary approach asserts that psychological disorders occur when environmental factors negatively influence individuals who have genetic vulnerabilities to developing psychological disorders?

Diathesis-stress

Dr. Antonio conducted a study on a patient who was experiencing extreme depression and was suicidal. Dr. Antonio recorded the patient's thoughts and actions in an attempt to determine what thoughts most likely led to the suicidal ideation. What type of study is Dr. Antonio conducting, and what conclusion can he make?

Dr. Antonio is conducting a case study, and he can conclude that for this patient certain thoughts are related to suicidal ideation.

Charlene is experiencing problems that are most consistent with bipolar disorder. Which of the following scenarios most likely represents Charlene's situation?

For the last two weeks, Charlene has been unable to go to work because she has no energy or interest in anything, and she feels that life may not be worth living. Three weeks ago, however, she was optimistic and wildly euphoric and working 18 hours a day voluntarily.

Which therapist best illustrates the humanistic orientation to therapy?

Gil's therapist, who engages in active listening during their sessions

Jimmy, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, sees images of cats everywhere even when no cats are present. What symptom is Jimmy most clearly demonstrating?

Hallucinations, because Jimmy's perception is incorrect.

Anthony thinks he will fail his math test because he believes he is terrible at math, even though he has passed his previous math tests. Which of the following explanations would the cognitive approach use to explain Anthony's behavior?

His irrational thoughts are causing him to doubt his abilities, even though he has evidence to show otherwise.

Mindy's colleagues were embarrassed when she arrived at the professional meeting dressed more appropriately for a nightclub. In addition, she continually drew attention to herself by talking loudly and dramatically, as though she was onstage. Mindy's behavior is most consistent with which of the following psychological disorders?

Histrionic personality disorder, because Mindy is exhibiting exaggerated and self-centered emoting.

Which of the following depictions is most consistent with signs of borderline disorder?

Merle was getting along fine with his roommate Carl until Carl left the milk out of the refrigerator. Merle then dumped all of the food in the refrigerator onto the kitchen floor and changed the locks when Carl was away.

Kent continually finds himself growing anxious about germs gathering on his skin. He can only decrease his anxiety by washing his hands. Soon, however, the anxiety returns, and he washes his hands again. He repeats this cycle dozens of times each day. Kent most likely is experiencing which psychological disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Regina is experiencing symptoms most consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder. Which of the following scenarios is most likely to describe Regina's situation?

Since she has returned from war, Regina has been having nightmares and is startled by every sound, believing she is in imminent danger.

Dalton developed a phobia of dogs after watching his older cousin act fearfully when he interacted with dogs in their neighborhood. Which of the following best explains why Dalton developed his phobia of dogs?

Social learning theory, because Dalton learned from observing his cousin's behavior toward dogs.

Which of the following scenarios is an example of a therapist using rational-emotive behavior therapy?

Stanley thinks he is never going to get a job, so his therapist says that would be the worst thing that could ever happen to Stanley.

Leonard's therapist suggests that Leonard's anxiety may be the result of an unconscious fear of his father's disapproval. What might a critic say about the therapist's suggestion in terms of treating Leonard's anxiety?

The psychodynamic approach is difficult to support because unconscious drives are untestable.

Dr. Xi conducted an experiment on the effectiveness of an antidepressant medication. Given her research design, if she finds that the drug is effective, which of the following will she be able to conclude?

antidepressant decrease the severity of depression, and the experiment demonstrates cause and effect because she used random assignment

Albert Ellis' view of psychological problems was that they

are due to irrational thinking

Aaron T. Beck would most likely

focus on a client's catastrophic thinking patterns

Dr. Whitlock is conducting an experimental study on the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication. Which of the following will most likely be her dependent variable?

frequency of auditory hallucinations, because it is the variable she is measuring