A 34-year-old man has had a series of brief relationships with several romantic partners, but has never established a close, intimate relationship with a partner. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which outcome best describes this example? O A. Despair OB. Isolation O C. Role confusion O D. Stagnation
A 34-year-old man has had a series of brief relationships with several romantic partners, but has never established a close, intimate relationship with a partner. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which outcome best describes this example? O A. Despair OB. Isolation O C. Role confusion O D. Stagnation
Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Chapter1: The Science Of Psychology
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1TY
Related questions
Question
![A 34-year-old man has had a series of brief relationships with several
romantic partners, but has never established a close, intimate
relationship with a partner. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which outcome best describes this
example?
O A. Despair
OB. Isolation
O C. Role confusion
O D. Stagnation](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F8632ab95-12c0-43a1-a9c9-ae2ef8531ad4%2F9b6bfd47-7453-40d9-9b3d-0e1c84db8a97%2Fv7a373_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:A 34-year-old man has had a series of brief relationships with several
romantic partners, but has never established a close, intimate
relationship with a partner. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which outcome best describes this
example?
O A. Despair
OB. Isolation
O C. Role confusion
O D. Stagnation
![A patient who experiences low self-esteem seeks the help of a
therapist. The therapist finds that the patient's self-esteem problems
started after his current relationship began. The patient describes his
current partner as being highly successful and competent and reports
feeling inferior to his partner. He reports that he "hates feeling that
way." He has stopped attending social events with his partner because
such events elevate his feelings of inferiority. However, despite his
feelings of inferiority and envy, the patient also reports having extreme
admiration and love for his partner.
When researching for the case, the therapist reads a study on
interpersonal attraction. The researchers asked participants to rate
their actual self and their ideal self on 50 personality dimensions. These
ratings were then used to develop two scores as proxy measures of
actual and ideal self. Then, the participants were told that they were
going to be paired with potential dates and were given information on
their potential dates' scores on the same personality dimensions. The
dates' scores were made up by the researchers to be either similar to or
different from each participant's actual self or ideal scores. The study
showed that participants reported greater interest in dates who were
similar to their ideal selves than in dates who were similar to their
actual selves. The therapist finds the study relevant to the patient's
case but is reluctant to make direct inferences because she suspects
that the participants' ratings of actual self may have been influenced by
social desirability.
The therapist decides that the self-evaluation maintenance model
(SEM) may help explain the patient's case. The model posits that
upward comparison (comparing oneself with a more successful other)
can lead to negative self-evaluation, which causes psychological
distress. The individual is motivated to eliminate this distress, either by
downplaying the relevance of the dimension of comparison (for
example, if the patient's partner is a successful mathematician, the
patient can state that mathematical skills are not that important) or by
weakening the social bonds with the successful other.
Which statement is NOT a plausible application of psychodynamic
theory to explain psychological responses to upward comparison?
O A. The superego demands that the individual should either
match or surpass the partner on the dimension of
comparison.
OB. The ego fails to satisfy the demands of the superego, and
the individual experiences anxiety.
OC. The id attempts to use the pleasure principle to resolve the
subconscious conflict caused by the superego.
OD. The ego uses rationalization by suggesting that the
dimension of comparison is unimportant.](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F8632ab95-12c0-43a1-a9c9-ae2ef8531ad4%2F9b6bfd47-7453-40d9-9b3d-0e1c84db8a97%2Fvfxiak_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:A patient who experiences low self-esteem seeks the help of a
therapist. The therapist finds that the patient's self-esteem problems
started after his current relationship began. The patient describes his
current partner as being highly successful and competent and reports
feeling inferior to his partner. He reports that he "hates feeling that
way." He has stopped attending social events with his partner because
such events elevate his feelings of inferiority. However, despite his
feelings of inferiority and envy, the patient also reports having extreme
admiration and love for his partner.
When researching for the case, the therapist reads a study on
interpersonal attraction. The researchers asked participants to rate
their actual self and their ideal self on 50 personality dimensions. These
ratings were then used to develop two scores as proxy measures of
actual and ideal self. Then, the participants were told that they were
going to be paired with potential dates and were given information on
their potential dates' scores on the same personality dimensions. The
dates' scores were made up by the researchers to be either similar to or
different from each participant's actual self or ideal scores. The study
showed that participants reported greater interest in dates who were
similar to their ideal selves than in dates who were similar to their
actual selves. The therapist finds the study relevant to the patient's
case but is reluctant to make direct inferences because she suspects
that the participants' ratings of actual self may have been influenced by
social desirability.
The therapist decides that the self-evaluation maintenance model
(SEM) may help explain the patient's case. The model posits that
upward comparison (comparing oneself with a more successful other)
can lead to negative self-evaluation, which causes psychological
distress. The individual is motivated to eliminate this distress, either by
downplaying the relevance of the dimension of comparison (for
example, if the patient's partner is a successful mathematician, the
patient can state that mathematical skills are not that important) or by
weakening the social bonds with the successful other.
Which statement is NOT a plausible application of psychodynamic
theory to explain psychological responses to upward comparison?
O A. The superego demands that the individual should either
match or surpass the partner on the dimension of
comparison.
OB. The ego fails to satisfy the demands of the superego, and
the individual experiences anxiety.
OC. The id attempts to use the pleasure principle to resolve the
subconscious conflict caused by the superego.
OD. The ego uses rationalization by suggesting that the
dimension of comparison is unimportant.
Expert Solution
![](/static/compass_v2/shared-icons/check-mark.png)
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
![Blurred answer](/static/compass_v2/solution-images/blurred-answer.jpg)
Recommended textbooks for you
![Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134477961/9780134477961_smallCoverImage.gif)
Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:
9780134477961
Author:
Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Cognitive Psychology](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337408271/9781337408271_smallCoverImage.gif)
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:
9781337408271
Author:
Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
![Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and …](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337565691/9781337565691_smallCoverImage.gif)
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and …
Psychology
ISBN:
9781337565691
Author:
Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780134477961/9780134477961_smallCoverImage.gif)
Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:
9780134477961
Author:
Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:
PEARSON
![Cognitive Psychology](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337408271/9781337408271_smallCoverImage.gif)
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:
9781337408271
Author:
Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
![Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and …](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781337565691/9781337565691_smallCoverImage.gif)
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and …
Psychology
ISBN:
9781337565691
Author:
Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9780393265156/9780393265156_smallCoverImage.gif)
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:
9780393265156
Author:
Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
![Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a…](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781285763880/9781285763880_smallCoverImage.gif)
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a…
Psychology
ISBN:
9781285763880
Author:
E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
![Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)](https://www.bartleby.com/isbn_cover_images/9781305652958/9781305652958_smallCoverImage.gif)
Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)
Psychology
ISBN:
9781305652958
Author:
Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz
Publisher:
Cengage Learning