defense mechanisms

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Final Exam

1. Defense mechanisms ________.

A. make a person feel more anxious and have more problems, as they begin to act defensively.
B. are strategies the id uses to try to achieve its desires.
C. are conscious, intentional attempts to cope effectively with an anxiety-producing event.
D. help a person feel less anxious, but because they usually work by distorting reality, they are not always adaptive.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because defense mechanisms aim to reduce anxiety but can lead to distortion of reality, making them not always beneficial. Choice A is incorrect as defense mechanisms are meant to reduce anxiety, not increase it. Choice B is incorrect because defense mechanisms are not strategies of the id specifically. Choice C is incorrect as defense mechanisms are often unconscious and not always intentional.

2. Arrange the three stages of prenatal development in the correct order.

A. Germinal stage, fetal stage, embryonic stage
B. Fetal stage, embryonic stage, germinal stage
C. Embryonic stage, germinal stage, fetal stage
D. Germinal stage, embryonic stage, fetal stage

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct order of the three stages of prenatal development is germinal stage, embryonic stage, and fetal stage. During the germinal stage, the fertilized egg rapidly divides and implants in the uterine wall. The embryonic stage follows, where major organs and systems begin to develop. Finally, during the fetal stage, the developing organism is known as a fetus and continues to grow and mature. Choice A is incorrect because it has the stages in the wrong order. Choice B is incorrect as it also presents the stages out of order. Choice C is incorrect as it reverses the order of the stages. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

3. According to John Watson, behavior is governed primarily by?

A. Heredity.
B. Personal motives.
C. The environment.
D. Unconscious desires.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: According to John Watson, behavior is primarily governed by environmental factors. Watson was a behaviorist who emphasized the influence of the environment on behavior. He believed that behavior is shaped by external stimuli and experiences, rather than internal factors like heredity or unconscious desires. Therefore, choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not align with Watson's perspective on behaviorism.

4. Biological discoveries ________.

A. have lessened the subjectivity of definitions of abnormality.
B. demonstrate that the environment plays only a minimal role in the development of psychopathology.
C. make it clear that mental disorders are diseases and should be dealt with by the medical profession.
D. have led to a recognition of the role that genetic factors and other biological influences play in the development of many disorders.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Biological discoveries have indeed led to a recognition of the role that genetic factors and other biological influences play in the development of many disorders. This understanding has shifted the focus from purely environmental explanations to acknowledging the significant impact of genetics and biology on mental health. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because biological discoveries have not specifically addressed the subjectivity of definitions of abnormality, minimized the role of the environment in psychopathology, or definitively classified mental disorders as diseases that should only be handled by the medical profession.

5. Which part of your brain is active when you get cues about being hungry, thirsty, or sleepy?

A. Hippocampus
B. Thalamus
C. Hypothalamus
D. Amygdala

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is the Hypothalamus (Choice C). The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating basic bodily functions such as hunger, thirst, and sleep. It receives cues related to these needs and helps to maintain homeostasis in the body. The Hippocampus (Choice A) is primarily involved in memory formation and spatial navigation, not in regulating physiological needs. The Thalamus (Choice B) acts as a relay station for sensory information but is not the main center for hunger, thirst, or sleep regulation. The Amygdala (Choice D) is more associated with emotions, particularly fear and pleasure, rather than physiological needs like hunger, thirst, or sleep.