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. Down syndrome is caused by ________.

A. a chemical imbalance.
B. a gene on the X chromosome.
C. possessing an extra X chromosome.
D. possessing an extra chromosome in chromosome 21.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Down syndrome is caused by possessing an extra chromosome in chromosome 21, not by a chemical imbalance (choice A), a gene on the X chromosome (choice B), or possessing an extra X chromosome (choice C). The presence of an additional chromosome 21 disrupts the normal course of development and leads to the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

3. Which of the following views is most consistent with the notion that unconscious motivations can influence our overt behavior?

A. Carl Rogers.
B. Wilhelm Wundt.
C. B.F. Skinner.
D. Sigmund Freud.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Sigmund Freud. Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasized the impact of unconscious motivations on behavior. Carl Rogers (choice A) is known for person-centered therapy emphasizing self-actualization, Wilhelm Wundt (choice B) is a structuralist in psychology focusing on consciousness, and B.F. Skinner (choice C) is associated with behaviorism and operant conditioning, which do not primarily focus on unconscious motivations.

4. The cognitive perspective contends that to fully understand human behavior, psychologists need to focus attention on?

A. The role of the unconscious.
B. Internal mental events.
C. The interrelations among the mind, body, and behavior.
D. The adaptive value of a behavior.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The cognitive perspective emphasizes understanding human behavior by focusing on internal mental events such as thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions. This helps in explaining how individuals process information, solve problems, and make decisions. Choice A, the role of the unconscious, is associated with psychoanalytic theory rather than the cognitive perspective. Choice C, the interrelations among the mind, body, and behavior, is more aligned with a holistic or biopsychosocial perspective. Choice D, the adaptive value of a behavior, is more related to evolutionary psychology rather than the cognitive perspective.

5. Strict behaviorists would be most sympathetic to which one of the following statements?

A. Human behavior is primarily caused by inherited factors.
B. Human behavior is primarily caused by environmental factors.
C. Human behavior is primarily caused by equal contributions of inherited and environmental factors.
D. No one really knows the primary causes for human behavior.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Strict behaviorists, who adhere to behaviorism, believe that human behavior is primarily influenced by environmental factors. This perspective asserts that individuals' actions and responses are shaped by their interactions with the environment, learning experiences, and external stimuli. Choice A is incorrect because strict behaviorists do not focus on inherited factors but on how behavior is learned and shaped through environmental influences. Choice C is also incorrect as behaviorists do not believe in equal contributions of inherited and environmental factors; they emphasize environmental determinants. Choice D is incorrect as behaviorists have a clear stance that behavior is influenced by environmental stimuli and learning experiences.