Question

Juan is a freshman at a local university. He gets up at the same time each day and follows the same pattern: showering and shaving, dressing, and checking his backpack for required books, notebooks, and pens. Early in the first semester, this behavior took approximately 30 minutes. As the semester progressed, Juan spent more and more time checking and rechecking his backpack to make sure he had everything he needed. Toward the end of the semester, Juan was always late for his first class because of his "thoroughness." A psychologist might conclude that Juan's behavior is:

a) Completely normal and adaptive
b) A sign of high intelligence
c) A manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder
d) A result of peer pressure

Answer 1

Juan's behavior of constantly checking and rechecking his backpack, which leads to him being late for class, could indicate a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), characterized by repetitive behaviors and strict adherence to rituals.

Step-by-step explanation:

A psychologist might conclude that Juan's behavior, which progressed from a regular routine to an extended amount of time spent checking and rechecking his backpack, could be a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

This conclusion is based on the fact that his behavior includes elements such as repetitive motor behaviors and a strict adherence to certain rituals, which are common characteristics of OCD. Additionally, the increasing amount of time spent on the activity and its negative impact on daily life, such as being late for classes, suggests that the behavior may no longer be adaptive or functional.