Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

How might a fear of driving develop in a patient who has recently lost a family member in a car accident?

1. Cognitive bias

2. Direct conditioning

3. Informational transmission

4. Vicarious acquisition

The correct answer is: Informational transmission

The fear of driving that develops in a patient who has recently lost a family member in a car accident can be understood through the concept of informational transmission. This involves acquiring fear or anxiety through the experiences of others, particularly when exposed to frightening or traumatic events. In this scenario, witnessing or hearing about the traumatic event of a loved one’s death in a car accident can lead to an increased perception of risk associated with driving, even if the individual has not had a personal negative experience while driving themselves. Furthermore, this can create an environment where the idea of driving becomes associated with thoughts of danger and loss. The emotional response to the news of the accident may be strong enough to instigate a fear response toward the activity of driving. As a result, the individual may develop anticipatory anxiety whenever they consider driving. The other options, while related to emotional and behavioral responses, do not apply as appropriately in this context. Cognitive bias typically involves distorted thinking patterns and beliefs, direct conditioning refers to learned responses through personal experiences, and vicarious acquisition would imply learning through observing someone else's fearful behavior, which is less focused on direct, significant trauma like the death of a family member. Thus, informational transmission is the most fitting explanation for the development of the patient’s