PSYCH 111: Introduction to Psychology Final Exam

The Correct Answer is:

B. Experiencing trauma involving harm by others, such as rape or assault

Traumatic events that involve direct harm by others—such as combat, rape, sexual assault, and physical violence—carry a greater risk of leading to PTSD than events like natural disasters. These experiences are often deeply personal and threatening, which can leave lasting emotional and psychological impacts, especially when combined with lack of social support and additional life stressors.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Experiencing a natural disaster with full community support

This is incorrect because, while natural disasters can trigger PTSD, having strong social support significantly reduces the risk of long-term trauma-related symptoms.

C. Experiencing minor daily stressors like work deadlines

This is incorrect because everyday stressors generally do not lead to PTSD. PTSD results from severe traumatic events, not routine life pressures.

D. Experiencing stressful but positive life events, such as moving to a new city

This is incorrect because even though relocation can cause temporary stress, it is not considered a traumatic event that typically leads to PTSD.

The Correct Answer is:

A. ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder in the DSM-5. It typically begins in childhood and is characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning at school, work, or home. While symptoms may continue into adulthood, early identification and treatment through behavioral therapy, educational support, and sometimes medication can significantly improve outcomes.

Why the other options are incorrect:

PTSD

This is incorrect because Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is classified under trauma- and stressor-related disorders. It develops after exposure to traumatic events and involves symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety rather than early-onset neurodevelopmental difficulties.

Schizophrenia

This is incorrect because schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder in the DSM-5. It involves hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, but it is not considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, even though some early brain development factors may contribute to its onset.

Panic disorder

This is incorrect because panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by sudden episodes of intense fear and physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. Unlike ADHD, it does not originate from early neurodevelopmental differences.

The Correct Answer is:

A. It studies how thoughts influence our experiences and actions

Cognitive psychology is the area of psychology that focuses on studying mental processes, including thinking, memory, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making, and how these processes influence our behaviors and experiences. It explores the connection between thoughts and actions, helping us understand how people process information and use it to guide their responses.

Why the other options are incorrect:

It examines only unconscious motives and childhood conflicts

This is incorrect because studying unconscious desires and early experiences is the focus of psychoanalysis, not cognitive psychology.

It focuses exclusively on observable behaviors and learned responses

This is incorrect because this describes behaviorism, which studies measurable actions, while cognitive psychology explores internal thought processes.

It analyzes cultural and social factors shaping human behavior

This is incorrect because understanding cultural and environmental influences is part of the sociocultural perspective, whereas cognitive psychology emphasizes how thoughts affect actions and experiences.

The Correct Answer is:

A. PDD involves chronic, long-lasting depression, while MDD involves shorter, more severe episodes

PDD lasts two years or more, whereas MDD involves episodic depressive episodes that may be more severe but shorter in duration. Individuals with PDD can experience “double depression,” where a major depressive episode occurs on top of an already persistent low mood.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. PDD includes manic episodes, whereas MDD does not

This is incorrect because manic episodes are associated with bipolar disorder, not PDD or MDD.

C. PDD always develops during pregnancy, whereas MDD does not

This is incorrect because this describes peripartum-onset depression, not PDD.

D. PDD occurs only in winter, while MDD happens year-round

This is incorrect because seasonal depression, not PDD, is linked to seasonal changes.

The Correct Answer is:

C. Enjoying day-to-day pleasures that bring fun, joy, and excitement

The pleasant life focuses on maximizing positive emotions and enjoying simple pleasures that add joy to daily living. Examples include hobbies, evening walks, vacations, or quality time with loved ones. These experiences enhance happiness by making daily life more enjoyable and fulfilling. While valuable, the pleasant life is just one component of overall well-being in Seligman’s model.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Using personal strengths to serve others and create a lasting impact

This is incorrect because using personal strengths for the greater good describes the meaningful life, not the pleasant life. The pleasant life focuses on personal enjoyment rather than broader contributions.

B. Engaging talents and skills to enrich life and find purpose

This is incorrect because this defines the good life, where individuals use their unique abilities to create deep personal satisfaction and engagement, not necessarily through pleasure alone.

D. Dedicating time to achieve high professional success

This is incorrect because career success does not always guarantee happiness or pleasure. While achievements can contribute to life satisfaction, the pleasant life specifically focuses on daily enjoyment and fun.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Applying psychological principles to workplace settings

Industrial-Organizational psychology is a subfield of psychology that focuses on applying psychological theories, principles, and research findings in industrial and organizational environments. I-O psychologists work on areas such as personnel selection, training, organizational structure, employee motivation, and productivity. They help businesses make better hiring decisions, improve workplace environments, and enhance overall efficiency while also conducting research on workplace behaviors.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Studying patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make individuals unique

This is incorrect because personality psychology, not I-O psychology, focuses on identifying consistent traits and behavioral patterns that distinguish one individual from another.

Understanding unconscious conflicts that influence personality

This is incorrect because psychoanalytic psychology, particularly Freud’s theory, focuses on internal drives and unconscious processes, which differ from I-O psychology’s emphasis on workplace dynamics.

Exploring physical, emotional, and cognitive development across the lifespan

This is incorrect because developmental psychology studies how humans grow and change from infancy to adulthood, whereas I-O psychology centers on applying psychological principles to organizational and work settings.

The Correct Answer is:

B. People with an underlying predisposition are more likely to develop a disorder when exposed to adverse life events or stress

The diathesis-stress model explains that psychological disorders result from the interaction between an individual’s underlying vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stressors. A diathesis can be biological, such as genetic risks, or psychological, like pessimistic thinking patterns. When stressful events—such as trauma, childhood maltreatment, or negative life experiences—interact with these vulnerabilities, the likelihood of developing a disorder increases significantly.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Disorders only develop when environmental stressors are present, regardless of genetic or psychological vulnerability

This is incorrect because stress alone does not always cause disorders. Without an underlying vulnerability, many individuals experience stress without developing significant psychological conditions.

C. Psychological disorders occur randomly and are unrelated to biological or environmental factors

This is incorrect because the diathesis-stress model specifically integrates biological, psychological, and environmental factors. It emphasizes that disorders are not random but result from the interaction between vulnerabilities and stressful events.

D. Individuals with strong social support are guaranteed protection against developing psychological disorders

This is incorrect because, while social support can reduce risk and improve resilience, it does not guarantee immunity. People with strong social networks can still develop disorders if they have significant predispositions and encounter extreme or prolonged stressors.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Experiences strong emotions, especially those associated with a perceived threat

Walter Cannon proposed the fight-or-flight response to explain how the body reacts to threats or intense emotions. When a person perceives danger, the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system are activated, causing rapid physiological arousal. This prepares the body to either confront the threat (“fight”) or escape it (“flight”). Increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and energy mobilization are common responses, helping the individual respond quickly to perceived danger.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Engages in mindful relaxation to reduce stress levels

This is incorrect because mindful relaxation is a coping strategy to lower stress, while the fight-or-flight response involves activation and heightened arousal, not calming the body.

Enters a state of deep sleep where the body repairs itself

This is incorrect because deep sleep supports recovery and healing, but it is unrelated to the fight-or-flight response, which deals with immediate reactions to perceived threats.

Uses problem-solving strategies to manage workplace stress

This is incorrect because problem-solving is a cognitive coping approach, whereas the fight-or-flight response is an automatic physiological reaction triggered by strong emotions or perceived danger.

The Correct Answer is:

B. To examine the relationship between life stressors and physical illness based on life events requiring personal adjustment

Holmes and Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to study how major life events, whether positive or negative, influence stress levels and physical health. The SRRS includes 43 life events that require varying degrees of personal adjustment. Their research found that significant lifestyle changes, even desirable ones, can increase stress and potentially contribute to illness by overloading the body’s coping mechanisms.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. To measure personality traits that influence coping with stress

This is incorrect because the SRRS focuses on life events and their cumulative stress impact, not personality traits. While coping styles may influence stress outcomes, the scale measures external stressors rather than internal personality differences.

C. To diagnose psychological disorders linked to traumatic experiences

This is incorrect because the SRRS was not designed to diagnose mental illnesses like PTSD or depression. Instead, it measures the level of stress associated with major life events and examines their connection to physical health outcomes, not psychiatric diagnoses.

D. To assess intelligence levels affected by stressful life situations

This is incorrect because the SRRS does not measure intelligence or cognitive ability. Its purpose is specifically to evaluate stress levels caused by significant life changes and their potential effects on overall health, not mental performance or IQ.