Question 1

A therapist claims that Luke's irrational fear of snakes results from repressed childhood feelings of hostility toward his own father. The therapist's interpretation reflects a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The therapist making an interpretation based on repressed childhood feelings is a sign of a psychoanalytic perspective on the origin of Luke's fear.

Question 2

Some studies indicate that anxiety disorders may result from excess levels of the neurotransmitter ________ in the brain.

Accepted Answer

Some research suggests that high levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and is involved in various functions such as memory, learning, and emotion. However, excess glutamate can overexcite neurons and lead to cell damage, which may contribute to anxiety symptoms.

Question 3

Cancer survivors who develop a fresh delight in their children and savor the joy of each new day best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes that can occur following a traumatic event, such as a cancer diagnosis. This growth may manifest as an increased appreciation for life, a greater sense of purpose, and enhanced personal relationships. Cancer survivors who develop a newfound joy in their children and embrace each day with gratitude are examples of posttraumatic growth. The medical model, biopsychosocial approach, and linkage analysis are not directly related to this concept.

Question 4

It is easy to condition but hard to extinguish fears of the types of stimuli that threatened our ancestors. This fact is best explained from a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The fact that it is easy to condition but hard to extinguish fears of stimuli that threatened our ancestors is best explained from a biological perspective. This is because our ancestors needed to be able to quickly and easily learn to fear certain stimuli in order to survive in their environments, but once those fears were learned, they became deeply ingrained in the biology of future generations. This is known as preparedness theory.

Question 5

Although experiencing severely traumatic events may lead to PTSD, it is also likely to lead to

Accepted Answer

Experiencing severe trauma can also lead to posttraumatic growth, which is characterized by increased personal strength, positive changes in perception of self and others, and a greater appreciation for life. This phenomenon has been observed in some individuals who have experienced traumatic events, such as combat veterans and cancer survivors.

Question 6

According to Professor Kang, fear responses pave neural pathways that are more readily activated by later anxiety-producing experiences. The professor's suggestion most directly reflects a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The professor's suggestion reflects a biological perspective, as it focuses on the role of neural pathways and physiological responses in shaping behavior and emotions. The other perspectives listed (humanistic, social-cognitive, psychoanalytic) do not emphasize biology to the same extent.

Question 7

Dogs come to fear neutral stimuli associated with shock. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question involves an association between a neutral stimulus (previously unrelated to fear) and shock, which leads to the development of fear. This is a classic example of classical conditioning, in which an automatic response to a stimulus is learned through repeated associations between the stimulus and a particular outcome.

Question 8

After watching her sister's fearful response to the sight of a spider, Kerri became intensely fearful of spiders. This best illustrates that a specific phobia can be learned through

Accepted Answer

Kerri's fear of spiders developed after observing her sister's fearful response, which is an example of observational learning, where behaviors are acquired by watching others.

Question 9

Although World War II air raids were extremely traumatic for those who experienced them, few of these people developed lasting phobic reactions to overhead planes. This fact is best explained from a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although World War II air raids were...

Question 10

According to the ________ perspective, the process of reinforcement leads those with obsessive-compulsive disorder to frequently repeat their compulsive behaviors

Accepted Answer

The learning perspective emphasizes the role of reinforcement in shaping and maintaining behavior. In the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the repeated performance of compulsive behaviors may be reinforced by the temporary reduction in anxiety or distress that often accompanies the behavior. Over time, this reinforcement can lead to the compulsions becoming a habitual and automatic response to anxiety-provoking situations.

Question 11

A therapist suggests that Mr. Ozawa's fear of darkness can probably be traced back to his early childhood when he was occasionally beaten and locked up in a small, dark closet by an older brother. The therapist's suggestion most clearly reflects a ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A therapist suggests that Mr. Ozawa's fear...

Question 12

The capacity to recover from traumatic stressful experiences best illustrates survivor

Accepted Answer

Resiliency refers to the ability to recover from traumatic experiences, which is the main focus of the question. Survivor tolerance, obsession, and dissociation do not directly relate to the capacity to recover from trauma.

Question 13

As infants become mobile and experience falls, they become increasingly afraid of heights. This best illustrates the impact of ________ on fear.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is a form of learning whereby a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with a reflexive response until the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the same response. In the case of infants becoming afraid of heights, their falls may act as an unconditioned stimulus that triggers an unconditioned fear response. As they experience these falls in environments where there are heights, the height becomes associated with the fear response, and the fear becomes conditioned.

Question 14

People whose life history includes some adversity tend to enjoy better mental health and well-being than those who have never faced any significant adversity. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic growth is the theory that individuals who have experienced adversity or trauma may experience positive psychological changes as a result. This phenomenon is supported by research which indicates that individuals who have experienced adversity often have better mental health and well-being compared to those who have not experienced adversity. Therefore, the importance of posttraumatic growth is illustrated by this evidence. Option A is incorrect because linkage analysis is a biological tool used to identify genetic links to specific traits or disorders. Option B is incorrect because the medical model is a framework used to diagnose and treat medical illnesses, which is not directly related to the phenomenon described in the question. Option C is incorrect because DSM-5 is a diagnostic tool used to classify and diagnose mental disorders.

Question 15

Learning theorists have suggested that compulsive behaviors are

Accepted Answer

Learning theorists believe that compulsive behaviors are reinforced by the reduction of anxiety they provide. This creates a cycle where a person engages in the behavior to reduce their anxiety, reinforcing the behavior to continue in the future when anxiety returns.

Question 16

A rape victim may experience a panic attack when she sees anyone wearing a coat that resembles the one worn by her attacker. This reaction best illustrates the process of

Accepted Answer

Stimulus generalization refers to the process by which a conditioned response is elicited by stimuli that are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus. In this case, the victim's panic attack is being triggered by the similarity between the coat worn by her attacker and coats worn by other people, indicating that stimulus generalization has occurred.

Question 17

Fear-learning experiences can traumatize the brain by creating fear circuits within the

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is the main structure responsible for the formation and storage of fear memories. It is involved in the processing of emotional information, particularly the detection of threat or danger. Traumatic experiences can create strong associative connections between stimuli and fear, resulting in the formation of fear circuits within the amygdala.

Question 18

Research on anxiety disorders indicates that

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that genetics play a role in the development of anxiety disorders. Studies have shown that individuals with a family history of anxiety disorders are more likely to develop them themselves.

Quiz 48: A: Anxiety Disorders, Ocd, and Ptsd