Question 1

Abramson revised the learned helplessness theory to suggest that
A) the worldview dimension of attributions is the most important to depression.
B) hopelessness is needed to produce depression, helplessness is not important.
C) the number of negative life events someone experiences is more important than his or her attributions for those events.
D) the pessimistic attributional style people have about negative events produces depression.

Accepted Answer

Abramson's revised learned helplessness theory proposes that the pessimistic attributional style people have about negative events (such as making internal, stable, and global attributions) produces depression. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Question 2

Debbie receives her paper back from her instructor. It is marked with an A grade and has several positive comments. The instructor also suggested Debbie reword one small section. Debbie becomes extremely upset and tells her friends her instructor hated the paper and wants her to redo it. This is an example of
A) selective abstraction.
B) dichotomous thinking.
C) arbitrary inference.
D) learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

Debbie is focusing solely on the minor negative feedback and ignoring the overall positive comments and high grade, which is an example of selective abstraction. This cognitive distortion involves focusing on a single negative detail and allowing it to define the entire situation.

Question 3

A review of several studies found that ________ increased the likelihood of developing a more severe depression.
A) experiencing a stressful life event
B) being in an intimate relationship
C) working outside of the home
D) having religious faith

Accepted Answer

Several studies have found that experiencing a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one or a significant financial setback, increases the likelihood of developing a more severe depression.

Question 4

A therapist with a ________ orientation would emphasize the depressed person's need to improve his or her social skills.
A) behavioral
B) psychodynamic
C) cognitive
D) sociocultural

Accepted Answer

A therapist with a behavioral orientation would focus on improving the person's behavior through the use of techniques such as modeling, role-playing, and reinforcement. Improving social skills would be a specific aspect of behavior that a therapist with this orientation would target.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a COGNITIVE diathesis for depression?
A) Neuroticism
B) Optimism
C) Attributing negative events to internal causes
D) Attributing negative events to external causes

Accepted Answer

Attributing negative events to internal causes is an example of a cognitive diathesis for depression because it reflects a negative thinking style that can predispose an individual to depression. This type of thinking can lead to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, which are common features of depression.

Question 6

Joanne tends to blow up at people and then feel guilty. She worries a lot. She complains that she just doesn't really find anything exciting and life is boring. Joanne
A) shows evidence of neuroticism and low positive affectivity, and has a high risk of developing depression.
B) shows evidence of neuroticism and has a moderate risk of developing depression.
C) shows evidence of introversion, and has a mild risk of developing depression.
D) shows no evidence of any kind that would increase her risk for developing depression.

Accepted Answer

Joanne's tendency to blow up at people, worry a lot, and complain about life being boring all point to traits common in individuals with high levels of neuroticism and low positive affectivity. This combination puts her at a high risk for developing depression.

Question 7

According to Freud, depression
A) and grief are the same thing.
B) must be treated with introjection.
C) is a consequence of loss.
D) reflects fixation in the anal stage.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, depression is a consequence of loss. Freud believed that when individuals experience loss or separation, it triggers feelings of grief and mourning, which can lead to depression. He saw depression as a normal and natural response to loss, but if unresolved, it can lead to pathological depression.

Question 8

Beck's negative cognitive triad involves feeling negatively about
A) helplessness, hopelessness, and sorrow.
B) one's self, one's experiences, and one's future.
C) one's past, one's present, and one's future.
D) one's family, one's self, and one's friends.

Accepted Answer

Beck's negative cognitive triad involves negative beliefs about oneself (e.g., "I'm worthless"), one's experiences (e.g., "I always fail"), and one's future (e.g., "Nothing good will ever happen to me").

Question 9

Which of the following is a behavioral explanation for depression?
A) Lack of environmental reinforcers
B) Insecure attachment
C) Pessimistic tendencies
D) Reliance on depressogenic schemas

Accepted Answer

Lack of environmental reinforcers

Question 10

No matter what prisoners try to do, they cannot escape. Eventually, they become passive and depressed. This illustrates the central idea in the ________ theory of depression.
A) attribution
B) depressogenic schema
C) learned helplessness
D) behavioral

Accepted Answer

The statement describes the concept of learned helplessness, which is a central idea in the theory of depression proposed by Martin Seligman. In his research with dogs, Seligman found that after experiencing a situation in which they had no control, the dogs became passive and gave up trying to escape, even when presented with a chance to do so. This theory has been applied to humans, suggesting that repeatedly experiencing situations in which one feels powerless can lead to a similar state of helplessness and depression.

Question 11

Which of the following is the type of attribution that is most likely to cause depression?
A) I am never going to make it through this course because it is too early in the morning and I'm having trouble getting up.
B) I am never going to make it through this course because I'm stupid and I just can't learn the material.
C) I am never going to make it through this course because the professor is unfair.
D) I am never going to make it through this course because I just don't feel like studying lately.

Accepted Answer

Option B involves an internal, stable, and global attribution that blames one's personal intelligence for the difficulty in the course. This attribution is likely to cause learned helplessness and depression, as the individual feels that they are incapable of changing the situation or improving their abilities. Options A, C, and D involve external or unstable attributions that provide a target for intervention, such as changing the class time or seeking feedback from the professor.

Question 12

Jacob and Matt both flunk their math test. Jacob says to his friends that there is no point in his continuing in the course because the teacher just doesn't like him. Matt says he is going to drop the course because he is just stupid in math. According to the reformulated learned helplessness theory,
A) Matt is more likely to become depressed than Jacob.
B) Matt is more likely to feel helpless than Jacob.
C) Jacob is more likely to become depressed than Matt.
D) Jacob is more likely to feel helpless than Matt.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jacob and Matt both flunk their math...

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of arbitrary inference?
A) Life is so unfair.
B) If she won't go out with me, I'll die.
C) She looked at me funny. She hates me.
D) Why should I even try? She'll definitely reject me.

Accepted Answer

Arbitrary inference involves jumping to conclusions without evidence, and choice C jumps to the conclusion that someone hates the speaker based solely on a perceived look. The other choices may also involve negative thinking patterns, but they do not fit the definition of arbitrary inference.

Question 14

While there is much support for some elements of Beck's cognitive theory,
A) treatments based on his view of depression are not effective.
B) findings supporting it as a causal hypothesis are limited.
C) it does not account for the known biological aspects of depression.
D) is does not account for sex differences in depression.

Accepted Answer

While there is some support for elements of Beck's cognitive theory, such as the role of negative automatic thoughts in depression, there is limited evidence to support it as a causal hypothesis. It is also important to note that while cognitive factors may contribute to depression, there are known biological aspects of depression that the theory does not account for. Additionally, the theory does not address sex differences in depression. However, it is important to recognize that the effectiveness of treatments based on Beck's cognitive theory may vary depending on the individual and their specific symptoms.

Question 15

Depressogenic schemas
A) are inherited.
B) predispose a person to develop depression.
C) serve a protective function and are readily modified by positive life experiences.
D) ensure that a low rate of reinforcement will be experienced.

Accepted Answer

Depressogenic schemas are negative patterns of thinking that predispose a person to depressive episodes. They are not inherited, nor do they serve a protective function or ensure a low rate of reinforcement. Rather, they are negative cognitive patterns that can be modified with therapy.

Question 16

Which of the following is true?
A) Most first time episodes of depression are preceded by a very stressful life event.
B) Both first time and recurrent episodes of depression are usually preceded by a very stressful life event.
C) Even mildly stressful events are associated with the onset of episodes of depression.
D) Mildly stressful events are only associated with the onset of first time depression, not with recurrent episodes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true?
A) Most...

Question 17

Selective abstraction
A) is a tendency to think in extremes.
B) is a tendency to jump to conclusions based on little or no evidence.
C) is part of Beck's cognitive triad.
D) is a tendency to focus on one negative detail of a situation while ignoring other aspects.

Accepted Answer

Selective abstraction is the tendency to focus only on one detail of a situation while ignoring others. This can often lead to a negative bias, as individuals may hone in on negative aspects and fail to see any positive elements.

Question 18

Freud suggested that depression
A) was actually a healthy adaptation to stress.
B) was a result of overly high self-esteem.
C) involved the anal stage of development.
D) was anger turned inward.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that depression was a result of anger turned inward, or repressed hostility towards oneself. This concept is known as "introjection" and suggests that individuals who struggle with depression may have internalized anger and guilt towards themselves, often as a result of experiences during childhood.

Question 19

Which of the following reactions to poor test performance suggests a cognitive diathesis for depression?
A) I'll do better next time.
B) I'll never understand this.
C) Why didn't I study more?
D) That test was way too hard.

Accepted Answer

Option B suggests a cognitive diathesis for depression as it reflects a pessimistic, self-defeating attitude that can be indicative of depression. The individual appears to have a negative view of their ability to learn and improve, leading them to feel helpless and hopeless.

Question 20

Parental loss only results in a vulnerability to depression when
A) the loss is due to death.
B) poor parental care is a consequence of the loss.
C) the loss is not explained adequately to the child.
D) both parents are lost at an early age.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that it is not only the experience of parental loss that leads to vulnerability to depression, but also factors such as poor parental care following the loss. Therefore, choice B is the best answer. However, it is important to note that other factors, such as the child's age at the time of loss and the quality of the relationship with the surviving parent, may also contribute to depression risk.

Quiz 7: Mood Disorders and Suicide

Abramson revised the learned helplessness theory to suggest that

A review of several studies found that ________ increased the likelihood of developing a more severe depression.

A therapist with a ________ orientation would emphasize the depressed person's need to improve his or her social skills.

Which of the following is an example of a COGNITIVE diathesis for depression?

Joanne tends to blow up at people and then feel guilty. She worries a lot. She complains that she just doesn't really find anything exciting and life is boring. Joanne

According to Freud, depression

Beck's negative cognitive triad involves feeling negatively about

Which of the following is a behavioral explanation for depression?

No matter what prisoners try to do, they cannot escape. Eventually, they become passive and depressed. This illustrates the central idea in the ________ theory of depression.

Which of the following is the type of attribution that is most likely to cause depression?

Which of the following is an example of arbitrary inference?

While there is much support for some elements of Beck's cognitive theory,

Depressogenic schemas

Which of the following is true?

Selective abstraction

Freud suggested that depression

Which of the following reactions to poor test performance suggests a cognitive diathesis for depression?

Parental loss only results in a vulnerability to depression when