NAME DatePeriod

Chp 1

Directions: For each of the following situations please identify one of the 6 contemporary theories of psychology that best explains the cause of the behavior. Also be sure to explain your reasoning for your choice.

  1. Charley has been unable to commit himself to a long–term relationship with any women he has dated. Most of his relationships are shallow and based only on sex. He visits a psychologist who learns that Charley’s relationship with his mom has always been strained. When he was young, Charley’s father died and his mom has remarried several times. All have ended in divorce. How would you explain the reason for Charley’s relationship woes?
  1. When Alex Robbins started playing baseball he was 125 lbs and was an average player. One year he is approached by a trainer who prescribes as series of injections of steroids. That year he gains 50lbs and is the leader in homeruns for the league he plays in. How do you explain the vast improvement in his ball playing?
  1. Adam gets good grades for the class that he is taking for the semester. He does not need the credits from the class in order to graduate. As a result of the average from all the good grades that he received for both quarters, Adam decides that he does not need to do the major project due at the end of the semester. He figures that even without doing the project he mathematically will pass for the semester. Therefore, Adam does not do he project even though he knows that it will disappoint the teacher. How do you explain Adam’s actions?
  1. Jim goes on a trip out of the country. When he gets to his destination he finds that things are different than from what he is used to at home. For instance, when he is out in public Jim goes for a walk in a tee-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. As a result, he gets lots of angry stares and remarks directed at him. After reading more about the area that he is visiting, Jim decides that whenever he goes out in public he no longer wears shorts and flip-flops and he no longer gets the angry stares or remarks. What is the reason for Jim’s change in behavior?
  1. Frank wants to try out for the school basketball team. He knows that he is not very good but still decides that he wants to try. Weeks before the tryouts, Frank watches some instructional videos every day and practices with his dad in the driveway when possible. As a result of all the practice, Frank’s skills improve and he does well enough in try-outs to make the team. How do you explain Frank’s success?
  1. The local basketball team has a team manager who practices with the team but does not play in any games. He is a mentally and physically challenged boy with Down’s syndrome. Every day he serves as team manager and helps with the players in any way that he can. The last game of the season is about to come up and a starting player on the team decides to forfeit his starting position so that the team manager can play the game. The manager starts and plays the entire game ending up scoring two three point shots- the second and the last points of the game. His last shot is the winning baseket of the game. How might you explain TWO behaviors in this game, the manager’s success in the game as well as the player who gave up his starting position?