ATI RN
Exam 4 Psychology Questions
Question 1 of 5
How does psychoanalytic theory attempt to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the unconscious determinants of behavior to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders. This approach suggests that hidden forces in the unconscious mind influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, shaping our overall psychological makeup. Choice A is incorrect because psychoanalytic theory delves beyond observable behavior. Choice B is incorrect as psychoanalytic theory goes deeper than analyzing conscious experience alone. Choice D is incorrect as psychoanalytic theory is more concerned with unconscious processes rather than the function or purpose of consciousness.
Question 2 of 5
Strict behaviorists would be most sympathetic to which one of the following statements?
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.
Question 3 of 5
A group of psychologists is conducting research to determine whether people eat more when they are in the presence of environmental stimuli that increase anxiety, such as loud noises or flashing lights. These scientists most likely follow?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, the behavioral perspective. This perspective focuses on how environmental stimuli influence behavior, making it suitable for studying how anxiety-inducing stimuli affect eating behavior. The psychodynamic perspective (choice B) would focus more on unconscious processes and early life experiences. The humanistic perspective (choice C) emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization. The functionalist perspective (choice D) is more related to the study of the purpose of behavior and mental processes in adapting to the environment.
Question 4 of 5
Who took the position that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and tend not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B.F. Skinner. Skinner proposed the theory of operant conditioning, where behavior is shaped by its consequences. Positive outcomes increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while neutral or negative outcomes decrease it. Sigmund Freud (choice A) is known for his psychoanalytic theory, Carl Rogers (choice C) for person-centered therapy, and Abraham Maslow (choice D) for the hierarchy of needs.
Question 5 of 5
Which school of psychology takes the most positive view of human nature?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Humanism. Humanism is a school of psychology that focuses on the positive aspects of human nature, emphasizing personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness in individuals. Behaviorism (choice A) primarily focuses on observable behaviors and conditioning, functionalism (choice B) emphasizes the functions of consciousness and behavior adaptation, and psychoanalysis (choice D) delves into unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences, rather than having a fundamentally positive view of human nature.