Question 1

"Low arousal leads to the thrill-seeking behavior we see in antisocial personality disorder." This statement best reflects which explanation of the disorder?

Accepted Answer

The statement refers to low arousal levels, which are linked to autonomic reactivity, suggesting that individuals with antisocial personality disorder may seek thrills to compensate for their underactive autonomic nervous system.

Question 2

What Dr. Daniels tells his class, "Research suggests abnormal brain activity causes antisocial personality disorder. EEG scans have revealed neurological differences in the occipital lobe that make people with APD more sensitive to emotions. The brain differences seem to explain why those with APD have trouble learning from punishment. Which part of Dr. Daniels' statement is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that brain differences, particularly in areas related to emotion and decision-making, may contribute to difficulties in learning from punishment in individuals with antisocial personality disorder.

Question 3

A psychologist says, "We know that genetics is the cause of antisocial personality disorder because the concordance rates for monozygotic (MZ) twins is higher than that for dizygotic (DZ) twins." Such findings should be interpreted with caution because ____.

Accepted Answer

Concordance rates can be influenced by environmental factors, so higher rates in MZ twins may not solely indicate a genetic cause.

Question 4

Jerry is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. If the emotional underarousal explanation for the disorder is correct, we can predict that Jerry ____.

Accepted Answer

The emotional underarousal explanation suggests that individuals with antisocial personality disorder have lower baseline levels of arousal, leading them to seek stimulation to reach normal arousal levels.

Question 5

What research finding suggests that there is a biological component to the lower levels of emotional empathy in those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

MRI scans have shown neurological differences in the prefrontal cortex and limbic amygdala circuitry, which are areas of the brain associated with emotional processing, suggesting a biological component to the lower levels of emotional empathy in those with antisocial personality disorder.

Question 6

Rambo was prone to violating moral and ethical standards, and channeled his adventurous acts into destruction. Based on this description, he would share the same characteristics as ____.

Accepted Answer

Rambo's tendency to violate moral and ethical standards and engage in destructive behavior aligns with characteristics of antisocial personality disorder, which includes a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of remorse for harmful actions.

Question 7

In addition to genetic factors, antisocial personality disorder is most likely to be influenced by ____.

Accepted Answer

The nature of the parental-child relationship is a significant environmental factor that can influence the development of antisocial personality disorder, as early childhood experiences and parenting styles can impact personality development.

Question 8

Research investigating the rate of antisocial personality in adoptees with psychopathic biological parents suggests that genetic factors ____.

Accepted Answer

Research investigating the rate of antisocial personality in adoptees with psychopathic biological parents suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in the disorder. Studies have shown that children who have biological parents with psychopathic traits have a higher risk of developing antisocial behavior, suggesting a strong genetic component.

Question 9

Under what set of circumstances would a psychopath learn to avoid an aversive situation more readily than a nonpsychopath?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under what set of circumstances would a...

Question 10

The difference between the psychopath who takes risks and the adventurer who takes risks is ____.

Accepted Answer

The key difference lies in whether the thrill-seeking behaviors are destructive or constructive. Psychopaths often engage in harmful or destructive acts, while adventurers typically pursue constructive or non-harmful activities.

Question 11

Various medications have been used to treat antisocial personality disorder. What can we say about their effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Clozapine has shown some success in reducing impulsive and violent behaviors in a small prison sample, indicating its potential effectiveness in treating certain symptoms of antisocial personality disorder.

Question 12

Dr. Jackson believes that antisocial personalities act as they do because their personalities are dominated by id impulses. Dr. Jackson's ideas mirror which theory?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jackson's belief that antisocial personalities are dominated by id impulses aligns with the psychodynamic theory, which emphasizes the role of unconscious drives and the id, ego, and superego in shaping behavior.

Question 13

Which term is used to describe the indirect or passive behavior of females with antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Relational aggression refers to a type of indirect or passive behavior often used to harm others through manipulation or damage to relationships, which can be seen in females with antisocial personality disorder.

Question 14

Dr. Cirello is treating a 25-year-old man diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. When Dr. Cirello investigates the man's family history, she is likely to learn that ____.

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is often associated with a history of family instability, such as parental separation or divorce during childhood.

Question 15

The director of a prison wants to improve the likelihood that antisocial personality prisoners will learn from their experience. Using research results, the director might ____.

Accepted Answer

Creating rules and enforcing consequences provides a structured environment where prisoners can learn the relationship between actions and consequences, which is more effective for individuals with antisocial personality traits.

Question 16

The director of a new treatment facility for delinquent youths is thinking about using behavior modification as the chief method of changing behavior. Your advice to the new director might be the following: ____.

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification can be an effective method for changing behavior, especially when it is skill-based. However, it is important to recognize that maintaining behavior change may require support and assistance from peers and family members. These individuals can provide reinforcement and help the individual generalize the skills they have learned to other settings.

Question 17

Gus has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and is in treatment. His therapist supports Beck's cognitive approach to therapy. We can guess that Gus's therapist ____.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive approach to therapy, which Gus's therapist supports, emphasizes changing negative thought patterns and developing a more rational and responsible perspective. This suggests that the therapist will work with Gus to develop a sense of responsibility and help him think more about others rather than just himself. Punishment and guilt are not typically used in this approach, and providing a stimulating environment may not necessarily be a focus of treatment.

Question 18

According to research by Beck and colleagues, which statement best exemplifies an individual with antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder often exhibit a disregard for social norms and rules, as exemplified by the statement "I'm above the rules."

Question 19

Researchers concentrating on core beliefs and the predatory strategy are characteristic of which perspective on antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective focuses on how thought processes, such as core beliefs and strategies, influence behavior, including antisocial behavior.

Question 20

Because antisocial personalities exhibit ____ levels of anxiety, traditional treatment approaches, which require the cooperation from the client, have been very ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because antisocial personalities exhibit ____ levels of...

Quiz 14: Personality Psychopathology