Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Avolition is characterized by which of the following?

1. Severe depressive episodes

2. Inability to sit still

3. Excessive energy

4. Emotional numbness

The correct answer is: Inability to sit still

Avolition refers specifically to a lack of motivation or inability to initiate and persist in activities. It is often observed in various mental health disorders, particularly schizophrenia, where individuals may struggle with the motivation to engage in daily tasks or social interactions. The characteristic in choice B, “inability to sit still,” aligns with the concept of avolition in that it may suggest restlessness or an absence of purposeful activity typically related to motivational deficits. The other options describe symptoms associated with different conditions. Severe depressive episodes, while they can involve avolition, primarily focus on profound sadness and loss of interest. Excessive energy is more aligned with conditions such as mania, and emotional numbness can be indicative of different psychological phenomena, such as dissociation or certain mood disorders, but do not specifically denote the motivational deficits that avolition encompasses. Thus, the context surrounding avolition best matches the characteristic mentioned in choice B.