Chapter 25: Anger and Aggression
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The use of inappropriate, harmful, or destructive behaviors to express current or past emotions is
defined as:
a. Anger
b. Assault
c. Acting out
d. Aggression
ANS: C
Acting out is the use of inappropriate, detrimental, or destructive behaviors to express current or past
emotions. Anger is a normal emotional response in certain situations; assault is a threat
for bodily injury; and aggression is a forceful attitude or action.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 287
OBJ: 1 TOP: Anger and Aggression
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. Toddlers often express their anger through:
a. Crying
b. Manipulation
c. Temper tantrums
d. Direct aggression
ANS: C
Toddlers engage in temper tantrums when they learn to focus their aggression on what they believe is
responsible for their anger.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 288
OBJ: 2 TOP: Aggression Throughout the Life Cycle
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. In the assault cycle, people are unable to listen to reason, follow directions, or engage in mental
exercises during the stage of:
a. Crisis
b. Trigger
c. Recovery
d. Escalation
ANS: A
Assault is an aggressive behavior that violates another’s person or property. Crisis describes the
behaviors in the question. Trigger refers to the phase when a stress-producing event
occurs; recovery is described as the cooling-down period of the assault cycle; and escalation is
characterized by a behavioral response that is approaching loss of control.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 290
OBJ: 5 TOP: The Cycle of Assault
, KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Crisis interventions are very successful if begun early in the assault cycle, in the stage.
a. Crisis
b. Trigger
c. Depression
d. Escalation
ANS: B
Crisis intervention works best in this stage because coping mechanisms can be implemented that are
effective rather than allowing behavior to continue to the next phase of escalation.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 290
OBJ: 5 TOP: The Cycle of Assault
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Intervention MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Persons who naturally relate aggressively to others, seldom have empathy, and lack appropriate guilt
feelings are given the diagnosis of disorder.
a. Conduct
b. Adjustment
c. Impulse-control
d. Oppositional defiant
ANS: A
These are characteristics of conduct disorders. Adjustment disorders are characterized by a
psychological response from an identifiable stressor or group of stressors that causes significant
emotional or behavioral symptoms that do not meet criteria for more specific disorders; impulse-
control disorders are characterized by a failure to resist impulses or temptations that are harmful Nto
thRe pIersoGn oBr t.o CotheMrs; and oppositional defiant disorder refers
U SthatNis seen
to a pattern of negative, aggressive behaviors T most commonly in children who
focus on authority figures. O
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 291
OBJ: 6 TOP: Aggressive Behavioral Disorders of Childhood
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Emotional or behavioral problems that develop in response to an identifiable source and last no longer
than 6 months are called disorders.
a. Conduct
b. Adjustment
c. Impulse-control
d. Oppositional defiant
ANS: B
This is the criterion for adjustment disorders. Conduct disorders are characterized by individuals who
naturally relate aggressively to others, seldom have empathy, and lack appropriate guilt feelings;
impulse-control disorders are characterized by failure to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation; and
oppositional defiant disorder refers to a pattern of negative, aggressive behaviors that is seen most
commonly in children who focus on authority figures.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 292
OBJ: 6 TOP: Adjustment Disorders
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The use of inappropriate, harmful, or destructive behaviors to express current or past emotions is
defined as:
a. Anger
b. Assault
c. Acting out
d. Aggression
ANS: C
Acting out is the use of inappropriate, detrimental, or destructive behaviors to express current or past
emotions. Anger is a normal emotional response in certain situations; assault is a threat
for bodily injury; and aggression is a forceful attitude or action.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 287
OBJ: 1 TOP: Anger and Aggression
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. Toddlers often express their anger through:
a. Crying
b. Manipulation
c. Temper tantrums
d. Direct aggression
ANS: C
Toddlers engage in temper tantrums when they learn to focus their aggression on what they believe is
responsible for their anger.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 288
OBJ: 2 TOP: Aggression Throughout the Life Cycle
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. In the assault cycle, people are unable to listen to reason, follow directions, or engage in mental
exercises during the stage of:
a. Crisis
b. Trigger
c. Recovery
d. Escalation
ANS: A
Assault is an aggressive behavior that violates another’s person or property. Crisis describes the
behaviors in the question. Trigger refers to the phase when a stress-producing event
occurs; recovery is described as the cooling-down period of the assault cycle; and escalation is
characterized by a behavioral response that is approaching loss of control.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 290
OBJ: 5 TOP: The Cycle of Assault
, KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Crisis interventions are very successful if begun early in the assault cycle, in the stage.
a. Crisis
b. Trigger
c. Depression
d. Escalation
ANS: B
Crisis intervention works best in this stage because coping mechanisms can be implemented that are
effective rather than allowing behavior to continue to the next phase of escalation.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 290
OBJ: 5 TOP: The Cycle of Assault
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Intervention MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Persons who naturally relate aggressively to others, seldom have empathy, and lack appropriate guilt
feelings are given the diagnosis of disorder.
a. Conduct
b. Adjustment
c. Impulse-control
d. Oppositional defiant
ANS: A
These are characteristics of conduct disorders. Adjustment disorders are characterized by a
psychological response from an identifiable stressor or group of stressors that causes significant
emotional or behavioral symptoms that do not meet criteria for more specific disorders; impulse-
control disorders are characterized by a failure to resist impulses or temptations that are harmful Nto
thRe pIersoGn oBr t.o CotheMrs; and oppositional defiant disorder refers
U SthatNis seen
to a pattern of negative, aggressive behaviors T most commonly in children who
focus on authority figures. O
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 291
OBJ: 6 TOP: Aggressive Behavioral Disorders of Childhood
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Emotional or behavioral problems that develop in response to an identifiable source and last no longer
than 6 months are called disorders.
a. Conduct
b. Adjustment
c. Impulse-control
d. Oppositional defiant
ANS: B
This is the criterion for adjustment disorders. Conduct disorders are characterized by individuals who
naturally relate aggressively to others, seldom have empathy, and lack appropriate guilt feelings;
impulse-control disorders are characterized by failure to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation; and
oppositional defiant disorder refers to a pattern of negative, aggressive behaviors that is seen most
commonly in children who focus on authority figures.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 292
OBJ: 6 TOP: Adjustment Disorders
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
