PYC2601
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, PYC2601/201
Feedback on the questions in Assignment 01
Each question will now be discussed. The correct alternative has been identified and highlighted
in yellow, and an explanation has been provided on why it is correct.
QUESTIONS ON FREUD’S THEORY
QUESTION 1
Freud is well known for his development of which theory?
A. Psychosexual theory
B. Archetypes theory
C. Classical conditioning theory
D. Hierarchy of needs theory
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 1
The correct answer is alternative A. Freud’s theory is, commonly referred to as a psychosexual
theory. This is because Freud’s developmental theory focuses on the development of the sex
drive and how society and the child deal with the accompanying problems. Theory of the
archetypes is associated with Carl Jung. While hierarchy of needs is a theory that is linked to
Abraham Maslow. Classical conditioning is a concept that is generally employed by radical
behaviourist theorists such as Skinner.
QUESTION 2
Hope finds herself attracted to a work colleague who isn’t her partner. When she gets home, she
unprovokedly accuses her partner of being a flirt. Which defence mechanism is Hope
employing/deploying or using?
A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Fixation
D. Rationalisation
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 2
Alternative A is correct. In the above case scenario, Hope is attributing her own feelings or desires
to another person, in this case, her partner. The prescribed textbook explains projection as an
attempt to keep the unconscious and threatening psychic material unconscious by projecting the
focus to the drives or wishes of other people and thereby ignoring the impulses within themselves.
Fixation transpires when an individual’s psychological development becomes partly stuck at a
particular stage. Regression occurs when an individual partially or totally returns to the behaviour
of an earlier stage of development in which less anxiety and frustrations were experienced.
Therefore, alternatives B and C are incorrect. Alternative D is incorrect since rationalisation is a
person’s attempt to explain their behaviour, towards themselves or others, by providing irrational
reasons.
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,QUESTION 3
Which of the following is NOT an example of a defence mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Regression
C. Rationalisation
D. Free association
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 3
The prescribed textbook discusses in detail 7 defence mechanisms that are associated with
Freud's psychoanalytical theory. These are: 1. repression and resistance 2. Projection 3. Reaction
formation 4. Rationalisation 5. Displacement and sublimation 6. Fixation and regression 7.
Identification. Can you differentiate between these defence mechanisms? Free association is a
therapeutic technique where stimulus words are used to which the patient must respond by
revealing everything that comes to mind. The correct answer is alternative D.
QUESTION 4
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of Freudian defense mechanisms?
A. Defend the individual or person against anxiety.
B. Break down complex cells into inorganic matter.
C. Seek erotic pleasures.
D. Follow the biological tendency of cell development.
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 4
In Freudian theory the death drive is associated with the tendency to break down complex cells
to inorganic matter while the life drives are linked, connected and associated with an inclination
or predisposition to follow the general biological tendency of cell-formation and development.
Therefore, alternatives B and D are incorrect. Alternative C is incorrect as it is the sexual drives
that are concerned with the satisfaction of erotic pleasures. Since you must choose the best
possible answer alternative A is the correct answer. The individual adopts a variety of defence
mechanisms to defend themselves against anxiety.
QUESTION 5
Which of the following statements is a correct representation of Freud’s psychoanalytical theory?
A. Psychoanalytical theory provides explanations for abnormal behaviour only.
B. Psychoanalytical theory provides explanations for normal behaviour only.
C. Psychoanalytical theory provides explanations for both normal and abnormal behaviour.
D. Psychoanalytical theory does not provide explanations for normal and abnormal behaviour.
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, PYC2601/201
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 5
Psychoanalytical theory refers strictly to Freud’s theory that he developed as a result of analysing
human functioning. Freud regards the psychoanalytical theory as capable of explaining both
normal and abnormal behaviour. For Freud, abnormal behaviour is merely an extreme form of
normal behaviour. The correct answer is alternative C. The other three alternatives (A, B and D)
are incorrect as they contradict Freud’s views or understanding of the psychoanalytical theory.
QUESTIONS ON THE SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY
QUESTION 6
In terms of Bandura’s theory, observational learning occurs when __
A. behaviour is reproduced spontaneously.
B. a person observes a model’s behaviour.
C. The observer’s behaviour, which changes as a result of observing the model’s behaviour, is
rewarded.
D. the observer’s behaviour changes as a result of observing the model’s behaviour and the
outcome thereof.
FEEDBACK ON QUESTION 6
Alternative D is the correct answer. When observational learning occurs, the observer’s behaviour
is likely to change as a result of observing the model’s behaviour being rewarded or punished.
Alternative A is incorrect. Observing a model’s behaviour does not necessarily lead to
spontaneous reproduction or repetition of behaviour. Alternative B is also incorrect. Merely
observing a model’s behaviour will not necessarily lead to learning. An observer needs to pay
attention to the behaviour of a model that captures his or her attention. The observer needs to be
interested sufficiently to remember the rewarded or punished behaviour of the model, and to have
the self-efficacy to reproduce the behaviour. Alternative C is also incorrect. When a person’s
behaviour is rewarded (i.e. the observer in this alternative), it refers to direct learning and not
observational learning. The emphasis in observational learning is on an observer noticing a model
being rewarded and not on the consequences of the observer’s behaviour (i.e. whether the
observer’s behaviour is rewarded or not).
QUESTION 7
Richard goes to watch a cricket match between India and South Africa. He pays careful attention
to how his favourite batsmen, Kohli and Markram play skillfully. When he gets home, he recounts
what he observed to his dad and explains their moves and elegant batting techniques in detail.
However, Richard makes no attempt to demonstrate these moves and does not believe that he
could be a skillful cricket batsman. According to Bandura’s theory, the fact that Richard does not
believe that he can be a skilled batsman could be explained by his __.
A. low self-efficacy
B. lack of interest in cricket
C. paying insufficient attention to the models
D. inability to remember what he observed
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