Cortisol is a hormone that ________

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland that mobilizes the body to deal with stress. It helps regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and assist in memory formulation. Choice A is incorrect as cortisol is not released by the hypothalamus and does not travel to the pituitary gland. Choice B is incorrect as cortisol is not released by the pituitary gland but acts on it to regulate hormone production. Choice D is incorrect as cortisol does not reduce the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Neural plasticity allows the brain to recover and reorganize after injuries. It is the brain's ability to adapt and change, forming new connections or reorganizing existing ones to compensate for damage. Choice A is incorrect as neural plasticity enables recovery. Choice C is incorrect as neural plasticity involves the brain's capacity to change. Choice D is incorrect as neural plasticity is a well-established phenomenon in neuroscience.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: John Bowlby's attachment theory emphasized the quality of parental care in forming attachments. This is because Bowlby believed that a child's early experiences with their primary caregiver, especially the quality of care and responsiveness received, significantly influence the child's ability to form secure attachments. Choice A is incorrect because while the social environment plays a role, Bowlby's theory focused more on the caregiver-child relationship. Choice C is incorrect as it does not capture the central role of parental care highlighted in Bowlby's theory. Choice D is also incorrect as Bowlby's theory actually emphasized the importance of a secure attachment to parental figures for healthy emotional development.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Studying identical twins raised in different environments allows researchers to understand the impact of genetics versus environmental factors on traits. Choice A is incorrect because differences in brain function can be influenced by a variety of factors and not solely by environmental differences. Choice B is incorrect as concordance rates tend to be higher in identical twins reared together due to shared genetics and environment. Choice C is incorrect because genetics do not change due to being raised in different environments.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In Japanese culture, a securely attached child is described as dependent and emotionally restrained. This means that the child relies on their caregiver for support and is able to control their emotions, expressing their feelings in a more subtle and indirect manner. Choice B is incorrect as it describes independence, which is not characteristic of a securely attached child in Japanese culture. Choice C is also incorrect as it describes emotional lability and expressing feelings aggressively, which are not typical of securely attached children. Choice D is incorrect as it combines independence with emotional restraint, which does not align with the characteristics of a securely attached child in Japanese culture.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The diathesis-stress model of psychopathology posits that individuals must have a vulnerability or predisposition to a disorder (diathesis) and be exposed to stressful environmental factors for the disorder to manifest. This model emphasizes the interaction between genetic or biological vulnerabilities (diathesis) and environmental stressors. Choice A is incorrect because the model does not suggest that stress is the sole cause of psychopathology. Choice B is incorrect as the model considers both genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. Choice C is incorrect because the diathesis-stress model acknowledges the role of both genetic and environmental factors in the development of disorders.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Phallic. Freud's psychosexual stage that occurs between ages 3 and 5 and includes the Oedipal period is the phallic stage. This stage is characterized by the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the oral stage typically occurs during the first year of life, the anal stage occurs around ages 2 to 3, and the genital stage is the final stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development.

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.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The diathesis-stress model suggests that both genetic predisposition and environmental stress are necessary for the development of mental disorders, highlighting the interaction between nature and nurture. Choice A is incorrect because the model emphasizes the combined influence of genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors. Choice C is incorrect as the diathesis-stress model remains a valuable framework in understanding mental health. Choice D is incorrect because the model considers both genetic and environmental factors, not solely environmental factors.