Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

A disruption in the linkages between awareness, feelings, thoughts, behavior, and memories is termed?

1. Dissociation

2. Psychosis

3. Neuropathy

4. Cognitive dissonance

The correct answer is: Dissociation

The term that describes a disruption in the linkages between awareness, feelings, thoughts, behavior, and memories is dissociation. This phenomenon typically occurs when a person experiences significant psychological stress or trauma, causing them to detach from their surroundings or their emotional responses. Dissociation can manifest in various ways, such as feeling disconnected from oneself or experiencing gaps in memory. It acts as a coping mechanism to protect against overwhelming feelings or thoughts associated with distressing experiences. In contrast, psychosis refers to a condition that affects the mind, leading to a disconnection from reality, which may include symptoms like hallucinations or delusions, but does not primarily emphasize the disruption of the internal linkages as dissociation does. Neuropathy involves damage to the peripheral nerves and is primarily a physical condition that affects sensation and movement, without a direct focus on psychological processes. Cognitive dissonance describes the mental discomfort experienced when holding two contradictory beliefs or values, which can lead to changes in attitudes or behaviors but is not about dissociating from experiences or memories. Thus, dissociation is the most appropriate term for the described disruption.