One of Your Friends, Micah, Says the Best Way to Approach

question 38

Multiple Choice

One of your friends, Micah, says the best way to approach relationships is to expect the best, because then you are more likely to achieve it. Another friend, David, says the best approach is to expect little from relationships, so that you will not be disappointed. Based on what you learned in the beliefs and values chapter, how would you respond to these two friends?

• A) Micah is correct.
• B) David is correct.
• C) Micah's approach is correct when starting a relationship, because you want to be positive and optimistic. David's approach is correct when you are in an established relationship, because you want to be accurate and cautious.
• D) Both are partly correct. Couples should set their sights high enough to motivate their best efforts to keep the relationship strong but not so high that they aspire to goals that are out of reach.

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Definitions:

Denial

A psychological defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, thereby avoiding dealing with painful feelings.

Unconscious Impulses

Desires or thoughts that reside outside of conscious awareness, influencing behavior and decision-making.

Consciousness

Consciousness refers to the quality or state of being aware of an external object or something within oneself.

Psychodynamic Neuroscience

An interdisciplinary field integrating psychodynamic theories with neuroscientific methods to study the brain mechanisms underlying psychological processes.