Multiple Choice
1. A parent says, “My 2-year-old child refuses toilet training and shouts 8No!9 when given
directions. What do you think is wrong?= What is the nurse’s best reply?
a. Your child needs firmer control. It is important to set limits now.=
b. This is normal for your child’s age. The child is striving for independence.=
c. There may be developmental problems. Most children are toilet trained by age 2.=
d. Some undesirable attitudes are developing. A child psychologist can help you
develop a plan.=
ANS: B
This behavior is conventional of a child around the age of 2 years, whose developmental task
is to develop autonomy. The distracters indicate the child’s behavior is abnormal.
2. A nurse wants to find information on current evidence-based research, programs, and
practices regarding mental illness and addictions. Which resource should the nurse consult?
a. American Psychiatric Association
b. American Psychological Association (APA)
c. Clinician’s Quick Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy
d. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
ANS: D
The SAMHSA maintains a National Registry of Evidence-based Practices and Programs. New
therapies are entered into the database on a regular basis. The incorrect responses are
resources but do not focus on evidence-based information.
3. A 26-month-old displays negative behavior, refuses toilet training, and often says, <No!=
Which psychosocial crisis is evident?
a. Trust versus mistrust
b. Initiative versus guilt
c. Industry versus inferiority
d. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
,ANS: D
The crisis of autonomy versus shame and doubt relates to the developmental task of gaining
control of self and environment, as exemplified by toilet training. This psychosocial crisis
occurs during the period of early childhood. Trust versus mistrust is the crisis of the infant.
Initiative versus guilt is the crisis of the preschool and early-school-aged child. Industry
versus inferiority is the crisis of the 6- to 12-year-old child.
4. A 4-year-old grabs toys from other children and says, <I want that now!= From a
psychoanalytic perspective, this behavior is a product of impulses originating in which system
of the personality?
a. Id
b. Ego
c. Superego
d. Preconscious
ANS: A
The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of impulses. The
ego acts as a mediator of behavior and weighs the consequences of the action, perhaps
determining that taking the toy is not worth the mother’s wrath. The superego would oppose
the impulsive behavior as <not nice.= The preconscious is a level of awareness rather than an
aspect of personality.
5. The parent of a 4-year-old rewards and praises the child for helping a sibling, being polite,
and using good manners. These qualities are likely to be internalized and become part of
which system of the personality?
a. Id
b. Ego
c. Superego
d. Preconscious
ANS: C
, The superego contains the <shoulds,= or moral standards internalized from interactions with
significant others. Praise fosters internalization of desirable behaviors. The id is the center of
basic instinctual drives, and the ego is the mediator. The ego is the problem-solving and
reality-testing portion of the personality that negotiates solutions with the outside world. The
preconscious is a level of awareness from which material can be retrieved easily with
conscious effort. This item relates to an audience response question.
6. A nurse supports a parent for praising a child who behaves in helpful ways to others. When
this child behaves with politeness and helpfulness in adulthood, which feeling will most likely
result?
a. Guilt
b. Anxiety
c. Humility
d. Self-esteem
ANS: D
The individual will be living up to the ego ideal, which will result in positive feelings about
self. The other options are incorrect because each represents a negative feeling.
7. An adult says, <I never know the answers,= and <My opinion does not count.= Which
psychosocial crisis was unsuccessfully resolved for this adult?
a. Initiative versus guilt
b. Trust versus mistrust
c. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
d. Generativity versus self-absorption
ANS: C
These statements show severe self-doubt, indicating that the crisis of gaining control over the
environment was not met successfully. Unsuccessful resolution of the crisis of initiative
versus guilt results in feelings of guilt. Unsuccessful resolution of the crisis of trust versus
mistrust results in poor interpersonal relationships and suspicion of others. Unsuccessful
resolution of the crisis of generativity versus self-absorption results in self-absorption that
1. A parent says, “My 2-year-old child refuses toilet training and shouts 8No!9 when given
directions. What do you think is wrong?= What is the nurse’s best reply?
a. Your child needs firmer control. It is important to set limits now.=
b. This is normal for your child’s age. The child is striving for independence.=
c. There may be developmental problems. Most children are toilet trained by age 2.=
d. Some undesirable attitudes are developing. A child psychologist can help you
develop a plan.=
ANS: B
This behavior is conventional of a child around the age of 2 years, whose developmental task
is to develop autonomy. The distracters indicate the child’s behavior is abnormal.
2. A nurse wants to find information on current evidence-based research, programs, and
practices regarding mental illness and addictions. Which resource should the nurse consult?
a. American Psychiatric Association
b. American Psychological Association (APA)
c. Clinician’s Quick Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy
d. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
ANS: D
The SAMHSA maintains a National Registry of Evidence-based Practices and Programs. New
therapies are entered into the database on a regular basis. The incorrect responses are
resources but do not focus on evidence-based information.
3. A 26-month-old displays negative behavior, refuses toilet training, and often says, <No!=
Which psychosocial crisis is evident?
a. Trust versus mistrust
b. Initiative versus guilt
c. Industry versus inferiority
d. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
,ANS: D
The crisis of autonomy versus shame and doubt relates to the developmental task of gaining
control of self and environment, as exemplified by toilet training. This psychosocial crisis
occurs during the period of early childhood. Trust versus mistrust is the crisis of the infant.
Initiative versus guilt is the crisis of the preschool and early-school-aged child. Industry
versus inferiority is the crisis of the 6- to 12-year-old child.
4. A 4-year-old grabs toys from other children and says, <I want that now!= From a
psychoanalytic perspective, this behavior is a product of impulses originating in which system
of the personality?
a. Id
b. Ego
c. Superego
d. Preconscious
ANS: A
The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of impulses. The
ego acts as a mediator of behavior and weighs the consequences of the action, perhaps
determining that taking the toy is not worth the mother’s wrath. The superego would oppose
the impulsive behavior as <not nice.= The preconscious is a level of awareness rather than an
aspect of personality.
5. The parent of a 4-year-old rewards and praises the child for helping a sibling, being polite,
and using good manners. These qualities are likely to be internalized and become part of
which system of the personality?
a. Id
b. Ego
c. Superego
d. Preconscious
ANS: C
, The superego contains the <shoulds,= or moral standards internalized from interactions with
significant others. Praise fosters internalization of desirable behaviors. The id is the center of
basic instinctual drives, and the ego is the mediator. The ego is the problem-solving and
reality-testing portion of the personality that negotiates solutions with the outside world. The
preconscious is a level of awareness from which material can be retrieved easily with
conscious effort. This item relates to an audience response question.
6. A nurse supports a parent for praising a child who behaves in helpful ways to others. When
this child behaves with politeness and helpfulness in adulthood, which feeling will most likely
result?
a. Guilt
b. Anxiety
c. Humility
d. Self-esteem
ANS: D
The individual will be living up to the ego ideal, which will result in positive feelings about
self. The other options are incorrect because each represents a negative feeling.
7. An adult says, <I never know the answers,= and <My opinion does not count.= Which
psychosocial crisis was unsuccessfully resolved for this adult?
a. Initiative versus guilt
b. Trust versus mistrust
c. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
d. Generativity versus self-absorption
ANS: C
These statements show severe self-doubt, indicating that the crisis of gaining control over the
environment was not met successfully. Unsuccessful resolution of the crisis of initiative
versus guilt results in feelings of guilt. Unsuccessful resolution of the crisis of trust versus
mistrust results in poor interpersonal relationships and suspicion of others. Unsuccessful
resolution of the crisis of generativity versus self-absorption results in self-absorption that
