All GRE Subject Test: Psychology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Treatment Of Disorders
Which of the following therapies is associated with concepts such as “free association,” “resistance,” and “transference”?
Cognitive therapy
Psychoanalysis
Behavioral therapy
Biomedical therapy
Psychoanalysis
While some of these terms may sound medical, they belong to the techniques and concepts of psychoanalytic therapy. The founder of psychoanalytic therapy, Sigmund Freud, was a physician. These terms express an unawareness of mental processes. Since cognitive approaches focus on what is immediately conscious and behavioral approaches avoid focusing on thoughts, they can be eliminated as possible answers.
Example Question #5 : Treatment Of Disorders
Which of the following is not one of the “necessary and specific” conditions in Person-Centered Therapy?
Comfort
Genuineness
Empathy
Unconditional positive regard
Comfort
Carl Rogers who is the founder of Person-Centered (sometimes called Client-Centered) therapy took a humanistic approach. Humanism stresses the importance of freedom, autonomy, and the potential to grow healthily. Rogers believed only three ingredients were needed for these goals of self-actualization to be achieved. Namely, they are unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.
Example Question #41 : Clinical & Abnormal
Which of the following treatments has been extensively researched and found to effectively treat borderline personality disorder?
Dialectical behavior therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Logotherapy
Feminist therapy
Rational emotive behavior therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
“Dialectical behavior therapy” is the most widely researched treatment for borderline personality disorder. It was developed by Marsha Linehan and includes 4 core components: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. On the other hand, “logotherapy” is an existential therapy developed by Viktor Frankl and focuses on finding meaning in life. “Cognitive behavioral therapy” is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, and looks at the impact of one's thoughts on emotions and behaviors. “Rational emotive behavior therapy” was developed by Albert Ellis and focuses on modifying irrational thoughts. “Feminist therapy” emphasizes the impact of women's social roles and includes an equal relationship between therapist and client, therapist self-disclosure, and advocating for socio-political change.
Example Question #42 : Clinical & Abnormal
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is least related to which of the following therapy approaches?
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Psychoanalysis
Relapse Prevention
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Stress inoculation training
Psychoanalysis
CBT is a form of therapy that combines Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy and techniques taken from traditional behavioral approaches, like classical and operant conditioning. On the other hand, “rational emotive behavior therapy” (REBT) was developed by Albert Ellis and focuses on changing cognitions and behaviors by focusing on irrational thoughts. “Dialectical behavior therapy” (DBT) is a behavioral approach that was developed by Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder. “Relapse prevention” is an approach to addiction developed by Marlatt that views addiction as an overlearned habit. “Stress inoculation training” is an effective behavioral treatment for PTSD that focuses on cognitions, coping skills, and practice. Of all the treatments listed, “psychoanalysis” is the most unrelated. It focuses on the interactions between the id, ego, and superego, with the goal being to increase insight into the unconscious.
Example Question #8 : Treatment Of Disorders
Cognitive behavior therapy is to changing cognition as psychoanalysis is to __________?
increasing resistance
increasing repression
modifying behavior
increasing insight
resolving a crisis
increasing insight
The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to modify maladaptive cognitions (thoughts). The goal of traditional psychoanalysis is to "increase insight" into the unconscious. Psychoanalysis may also work to reduce resistance to treatment, and sees resistance as an inevitable part of the process. Psychoanalysis attempts to decrease, rather than increase, the use of defense mechanisms like repression. Psychoanalysis does not directly modify behavior. Crisis intervention focuses on resolving a crisis and restoring previous functioning.
Example Question #9 : Treatment Of Disorders
Tom has bipolar disorder, type I, with severe manic episodes. His psychiatrist is most likely to prescribe him which of the following?
Focalin
Antabuse
Lexapro
Lithium
Seroquel
Lithium
Lithium helps treat manic episodes, which the question mentioned Tom is struggling with. It is the most common medication for mania. Antabuse is medication for alcoholism, Focalin treats ADHD, Seroquel addresses psychosis, and Lexapro deals with anxiety.
Example Question #43 : Clinical & Abnormal
Which psychotherapy was initially created as a way to treat clients with borderline personality disorder?
Person-Centered Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Therapy (CT)
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT was created initially to treat BPD. This theory works best when the therapist works as part of a team so he/she can get his/her own therapy as time goes on. DBT focuses on ares where someone with BPD would struggle- building an emotional skin, regulating emotional responses, and learning good interpersonal relationship strategies.
Example Question #44 : Clinical & Abnormal
Which mode of therapy was initially created to treat depression?
Cognitive Therapy
Existential Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
All of these therapies can be used to treat depression and many have research to support the effectiveness of the use; however, only one of these therapies was created intentionally to treat depression. Beck's cognitive therapy was created specifically to work with depression.
Example Question #45 : Clinical & Abnormal
Which of the following are not criteria of Roger's theory associated with therapeutic relationships?
Confrontation
Congruence
Empathic understanding
Unconditional positive regard
Confrontation
Rogers believed therapists needed to be congruent, empathic, and should show unconditional positive regard towards clients in order for therapeutic change to occur. Rogers did not believe in confrontation. He thought this was too abrasive and would negatively impact the relationship with the client, which could drastically decrease the effectiveness of therapy.
Example Question #46 : Clinical & Abnormal
In traditional psychoanalysis, therapists must be aware of which of the following?
Countertransference
Transference
All of these
Defense mechanisms
All of these
Psychoanalytic therapists must worry about all of these. Transference is when a client transfers feelings they have for someone to the therapist (e.g. treating the therapist like they would their parent). Countertransference is when a therapist experiences feelings in reaction to the client, or when they over relate to something a client is saying. Defense mechanisms are unconscious ways of reacting to trauma or stress.
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