View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The woman who had a fear of flying was actually being bothered by which of the following?

2. Instinct causes people to do what _____.:

3. Erickson talks about patients overcoming which of the following:

4. One man in the text is referred to as he wanted to stop indulging in certain behaviors. What was the man's former occupation?

5. Earlier in the text, Erickson convinced the athlete that he could move forward, at first by using what measurement?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the last case in the book about the woman who ignored her children. How did Erickson help her?

2. Explain how one of Erickson's techniques helped a man to overcome a fear of walking across ice.

3. Reframing can occur in many different ways. Explain one of the ways in which Erickson uses reframing to help a man who wanted to stop drinking.

4. What was the example used regarding the fact that some people disagree just to disagree?

5. According to Erickson, there is a particular way to overcome limitations. What is the method?

6. What is the doctor's opinion on the difference between theory and practice? What ensures the best end result?

7. Explain the lesson learned by Erickson in regards to people wanting to change their habits and behaviors.

8. It is stated that there's a lot to be said for stubbornness. What is the example used regarding stubbornness and illness?

9. How can a person learn from the behaviors and actions of children?

10. Describe the story involving the retired police officer.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many people go into therapy wanting to make major changes in their lives, particularly if they are miserable in their current situations. Give at least five examples of things people may want to change, how Erickson would deal with those issues and the results. In what situations would small changes be best? In what situations would major changes take place right away? What is your opinion of small changes versus big changes in behavior?

Essay Topic 2

Everyone has automatic behaviors in certain situations. The behaviors may stem from many issues but are almost always subconscious. What examples of automatic behavior are used in the text? Are the behaviors reasonable? Do you think you have any automatic behaviors? If so, what do they deal with? Do they have any connection to a physical injury like the woman in the book? Are the behaviors triggered by something specific? Ask family and friends for observations on your automatic behaviors. Once conscious of the behaviors, do you notice when you do it? Do you still do the behaviors?

Essay Topic 3

Hundreds of books have been written about people who overcame serious or terminal illness through the sheer force of will or simply denying that the problem was as bad as it was or even that it could be fatal. How is it possible for a person to overcome something that doctors say will kill him? Is the mind so powerful that it can heal the body or is it something else? Do you believe in divine intervention? If so, do you think it could be a factor? Do the people who beat the illness ever relapse?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 975 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample