Jones-Smith, Culturally Diverse Counseling, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 3: Neuroscience, Multiple Cultural Identities, and
Cultural Strengths
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. ______ is the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of life experiences.
A. Mirror neurons
B. Neurotransmitters
C. Neuroplasticity
D. Development
2. What is the mind?
A. another term for the brain
B. emerges from the brain and is shaped by interpersonal relationships
C. emerges from the brain and is influenced by parents/caregivers
D. part of the brain that interprets the cultural context
3. If an individual has a negative stereotype toward people who are Muslim and sees a
member of this religious group in the community, it may set off a series of
neurotransmitter firing in the brain that forms the concept “this individual is suspicious
and dangerous.” What is this an example of?
A. neural network
B. concept representation
C. mirror neurons
D. neuroplasticity
4. ______ indicates that negative experiences have a greater impact than neutral or
positive experiences.
A. Negativity network
B. Negativity bias
C. Negativity outlook
D. Negativity–pessimistic trait theory
5. Why is important for counselors to be aware of the negativity bias?
A. Counselors can unintentionally confirm negative evaluations or ask negative
questions, leading to more negativity.
B. Counselors can provide more negativity to clients who are overly optimistic.
C. Counselors own negativity may interfere with therapy.
D. Counselors need to identify and address negative, neutral, and positive thoughts and
feelings with clients explicitly.
6. Which of the following is activated for a therapist when they are engaged in deep
listening and close observation of clients’ behaviors?
A. neurons
B. mirror neurons
C. neural networks
D. conceptual representations
7. Advantages of therapists using a strength-based approach with clients include all of
the following EXCEPT ______.
A. it allows the client to regain self-control and confidence
B. it allows the client to become more peaceful with the self and others
Jones-Smith, Culturally Diverse Counseling, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. it allows the client’s body to relax
D. it allows the therapist’s body to relax
8. According to research, there is evidence of three cultural dimensions that moderate
neural bases of social and emotional behavior. Which of the following is NOT one of the
dimensions listed in your textbook?
A. social communication and behaviors
B. racial identification
C. power distance or preference for social hierarchy
D. individualism–collectivism
True/False
1. The brain changes due to influences from the environment.
2. Research has shown that individuals from different cultures have similar brain
structures and process information in the same way.
3. People are genetically predisposed to have a positive instead of negative view of the
world.
4. The more therapists can mirror the neural activity in their clients’ brain, the more
effective they will be in understanding their clients.
5. People have only one dominant cultural identity.
Short Answer
1. Describe how cultural identity is formed.
2. Provide at least two examples of how the therapeutic relationship produces
neurological changes in a client’s brain.
3. The DSM-5 calls for a counselor to systematically assess for five categories related
to a person’s cultural background when assessing and diagnosing. What are the five
categories?