What neurotransmitter was first believed to be the cause of schizophrenia?

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Exam 4 Psychology 101 Questions

Question 1 of 9

What neurotransmitter was first believed to be the cause of schizophrenia?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is Dopamine. Dopamine was initially thought to be the primary cause of schizophrenia. This neurotransmitter hypothesis was based on the observation that drugs that increase dopamine activity can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia, while drugs that decrease dopamine activity can improve symptoms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because GABA, serotonin, and epinephrine were not the neurotransmitters initially believed to be the cause of schizophrenia.

Question 2 of 9

Jason, a 4-year-old boy, believes that it gets cloudy and rainy every time he is sad. He concluded that his sadness is the cause of the bad weather. This tendency is known as?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Transduction. Transduction refers to when a child believes that their feelings or actions cause unrelated events, such as a child thinking their sadness causes rain. Choice A, Irreversibility, is incorrect as it relates to the belief that actions cannot be undone, which is more related to conservation tasks in Piaget's theory. Choice B, Centration, refers to the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation, overlooking other relevant aspects. Choice C, Animism, is the attribution of lifelike qualities to inanimate objects, which is not applicable in this scenario.

Question 3 of 9

According to Wilhelm Wundt, the focus of psychology was on the scientific study of?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt's approach emphasized the study of conscious experience, marking a shift towards scientific methods in psychology. Choice A, observable behavior, is associated with behaviorism and not Wundt's structuralism. Choice C, unconscious motivation, is more aligned with Freud's psychoanalytic theory. Choice D, the functions of behavior, relates more to functionalism, which was developed by William James.

Question 4 of 9

Colleen found herself attracted to her psychology instructor. She would frequently go by his office just to be near him. When he didn't respond to her advances, Colleen eventually told him that she had thoughts of killing herself so that he would spend time trying to counsel her. What personality disorder best describes Colleen's thinking and behavior?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Colleen's behavior of seeking attention and manipulating others by threatening self-harm to elicit a response from her psychology instructor aligns with the characteristics of borderline personality disorder. This disorder is characterized by unstable relationships, impulsive actions, and efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not match Colleen's behavior as described in the scenario. Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, Schizotypal personality disorder involves social anxiety and odd behavior, and Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a disregard for others' feelings and violating their rights.

Question 5 of 9

In schizophrenia, what is the term used to describe the symptom where individuals exhibit peculiar hand and limb movements or adopt unusual postures for long periods of time?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Catatonia. Catatonia is a symptom seen in some cases of schizophrenia, characterized by motor abnormalities such as peculiar hand and limb movements or adopting unusual postures for extended periods. Choice B, Loose association, refers to a thought disorder where ideas shift from one subject to another in an unrelated way. Choice C, Disorganized speech, is characterized by incoherent or incomprehensible speech patterns. Choice D, Blunted affect, describes a reduction in the intensity of emotional expression.

Question 6 of 9

In an experiment, the investigators manipulate variables to learn how one affects another.?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because in an experimental design, investigators manipulate variables to determine the effect of one on another. This process allows researchers to test causal hypotheses by manipulating one variable while keeping others constant. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not directly relate to manipulating variables in an experiment.

Question 7 of 9

To overcome her fear of balloons due to the loud sound they might make when popping, Bella must sit in a room filled with balloons while the therapist pops each one. After a while, Bella realizes that her fear is unjustified and even begins to pop balloons herself. This technique is known as?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Flooding. Flooding is an exposure therapy technique where a person is exposed to their fear at full intensity until the fear subsides. In this scenario, Bella is exposed to her fear of balloons in a controlled environment until she realizes her fear is unjustified. Choice A, Systematic desensitization, involves gradual exposure to the fear stimulus paired with relaxation techniques. Choice B, Aversion therapy, aims to create a negative association with a stimulus to reduce unwanted behavior. Choice D, Extinction, refers to the gradual decrease in the strength or frequency of a conditioned response.

Question 8 of 9

Roger has suffered a major brain injury. As a result, he is unable to speak fluently, tends to mispronounce words, and speaks haltingly. For instance, he says 'wat' instead of 'watch' and 'tot' instead of 'talk.' What is the diagnosis?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct diagnosis for Roger's condition is Broca's aphasia. Broca's aphasia is characterized by difficulty in speaking fluently and accurately, often due to brain injury. In this case, Roger's symptoms of being unable to speak fluently, mispronouncing words, and speaking haltingly align with the characteristics of Broca's aphasia. Agnosia refers to the inability to recognize or interpret sensory information, spatial neglect is the lack of awareness of one side of the body or space, and prosopagnosia is the inability to recognize faces, none of which match Roger's symptoms.

Question 9 of 9

The ____ believed that consciousness developed in humans because it serves a useful purpose?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Functionalists believed that consciousness evolved because it serves a useful purpose in helping humans adapt to their environment. Choice A, Behaviorists, focused on observable behaviors rather than consciousness. Choice B, Humanists, emphasized human potential and self-actualization. Choice D, Structuralists, studied the basic elements of consciousness rather than its function and purpose.

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