General Flashcards

In classical conditioning, 'extinction' occurs when:

Answer: The conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus

Extinction in classical conditioning results from repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus alone, without the unconditioned stimulus, until the conditioned response diminishes.

Which neurotransmitter system is MOST directly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, as supported by the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer: Dopamine hyperactivity in the mesolimbic pathway

The dopamine hypothesis proposes that positive symptoms of schizophrenia arise from excess dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic pathway.

A psychologist who believes that psychological disorders result from distorted, maladaptive thinking patterns is MOST likely practicing from which theoretical orientation?

Answer: Cognitive-behavioral

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is founded on the premise that distorted cognitive schemas and automatic thoughts drive emotional and behavioral problems.

Under the APA Ethics Code, a psychologist may disclose confidential client information without consent in which of the following situations?

Answer: The client is an adult who is gravely suicidal and refusing voluntary hospitalization

Imminent danger to self or others is a recognized ethical and legal exception to confidentiality, permitting disclosure to protect the client or others.

The heritability coefficient estimates the proportion of phenotypic variance in a trait attributable to genetic factors in a specific population. A heritability of .80 for intelligence means:

Answer: 80% of the variation in intelligence scores in that population is associated with genetic differences

Heritability is a population-level statistic describing how much of the observed variation in a trait within a given population can be attributed to genetic differences.

A client diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder repeatedly idealizes then devalues their therapist. This pattern is MOST associated with the defense mechanism of:

Answer: Splitting

Splitting involves viewing people as all good or all bad, unable to integrate both positive and negative qualities, and is a hallmark feature of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Which of the following correctly describes the difference between a norm-referenced and a criterion-referenced assessment?

Answer: Norm-referenced tests compare performance to a standardization sample; criterion-referenced tests evaluate mastery of defined content standards

Norm-referenced assessments rank an individual relative to a normative group, while criterion-referenced assessments determine whether a person has mastered specific knowledge or skills.