understanding the causes of mental disorders is important because

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Exam 3 Test

1. Understanding the causes of mental disorders is important because ________

A. effective treatment is not possible without such an understanding.
B. classification of disorders cannot be done without such information.
C. such knowledge might make both the prevention and cure of mental disorders possible.
D. disagreements about the causes of psychopathology have long limited the advancements made in the study of abnormal psychology.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Understanding the causes of mental disorders is crucial because it can potentially lead to both prevention and cure. By identifying the root causes, strategies can be developed to prevent the onset of disorders, and effective treatments can be tailored to address these causes directly. This approach can make treatments more efficient, as addressing the underlying factors contributing to the disorder can result in better outcomes for individuals. Choices A and B are incorrect because while understanding causes is important for effective treatment and classification, the primary focus is on prevention and cure. Choice D, while highlighting the impact of disagreements on advancements in abnormal psychology, does not directly address the importance of understanding causes for prevention and cure.

2. What is the term for the age of an unborn baby, usually dated from the first day of an expectant mother's last menstrual cycle?

A. Mental age
B. Chronological age
C. Functional age
D. Gestational age

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Gestational age. Gestational age is calculated from the first day of the expectant mother's last menstrual cycle, providing an estimate of how far along the pregnancy is. Mental age (choice A), refers to an individual's level of cognitive functioning in relation to others of the same age group. Chronological age (choice B) is a person's actual age in years. Functional age (choice C) refers to how well a person is able to perform various activities compared to their chronological age.

3. Who founded functionalism?

A. John Watson.
B. Sigmund Freud.
C. William James.
D. Wilhelm Wundt.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: William James is credited with founding functionalism, which emphasizes the adaptive purpose of consciousness. John Watson is associated with behaviorism, not functionalism. Sigmund Freud is known for psychoanalysis, and Wilhelm Wundt is considered the founder of modern psychology and structuralism, not functionalism.

4. a researcher found that there is a negative relationship between perceived parental perfectionism and life satisfaction. what does this mean?

A. Respondents who reported higher levels of perceived parental perfectionism are more likely to report higher levels of life satisfaction
B. Respondents who reported higher levels of perceived parental perfectionism are more likely to report lower levels of life satisfaction
C. Perceived parental perfectionism causes a decline in life satisfaction
D. Any of the above is correct

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A negative relationship means that as one variable increases, the other decreases, so higher perceived parental perfectionism is associated with lower life satisfaction.

5. Which psychological perspective, emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, reflects a renewed interest in studying the mind or consciousness, similar to psychology's early days as a science in the late 1800s?

A. Cognitive perspective.
B. Mental perspective.
C. Philosophical perspective.
D. Biological perspective.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is the Cognitive perspective. The cognitive perspective indeed emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, reflecting a renewed interest in studying the mind and consciousness, akin to early psychology's focus when it first established as a science in the late 1800s. This perspective emphasizes mental processes, problem-solving, decision-making, and information processing. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the mental perspective is too generic and does not capture the emphasis on processes, the philosophical perspective is more focused on theories and concepts, and the biological perspective centers on the influence of biology on behavior rather than consciousness and mental processes.