Question 1

Mick has been diagnosed with social anxiety. His therapist's practice aligns closely with the psychological theory of abnormality that focuses on trait explanations of psychological disorders. Which explanation is Mick's therapist MOST likely to give to explain Mick's social anxiety?

Accepted Answer

The psychological theory of abnormality that focuses on trait explanations of psychological disorders emphasizes inherent personality traits, such as neuroticism and introversion, as key factors in the development of such disorders. Therefore, Mick's therapist, aligning with this theory, would most likely explain Mick's social anxiety as a result of his high levels of neuroticism and introversion.

Question 2

When people cannot recall information about themselves for a period of time, they have experienced _____. When this occurs and they also suddenly and unexpectedly travel to a new location, they have experienced _____.

Accepted Answer

When individuals cannot remember information about themselves, it's known as dissociative amnesia. If they also travel unexpectedly to a new location during this period, it's referred to as dissociative fugue.

Question 3

Leo has a(n) _____, which is the most common type of psychological disorder.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychological disorders, affecting a significant portion of the population at some point in their lives. They encompass a range of conditions characterized by excessive fear or anxiety.

Question 4

The two most common anxiety disorders are:

Accepted Answer

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) and specific phobia are among the most common anxiety disorders, characterized by intense fear and avoidance of social situations and specific objects or situations, respectively.

Question 5

_____ fall into a category of psychological disorders based on extreme moods or emotional states.

Accepted Answer

Depressive and bipolar disorders are characterized by extreme moods or emotional states, such as prolonged sadness or excessive energy and mood swings.

Question 6

Which of these descriptors is NOT one of the standard ways by which psychologists define abnormality?

Accepted Answer

The standard ways psychologists define abnormality include infrequency (a behavior that is rare or not practiced by many people), deviation from social norms (behavior that is different from societal expectations), and personal distress (behavior that causes personal suffering or distress). Dangerousness is not typically a standard criterion for defining psychological abnormality, as not all abnormal behaviors are dangerous, and not all dangerous behaviors are considered psychologically abnormal.

Question 7

Which statement is TRUE about binge eating disorder?

Accepted Answer

Binge eating disorder is characterized by episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over eating during the episode. Unlike bulimia nervosa, it does not involve regular use of compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, excessive exercise).

Question 8

Which is NOT true about eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Food is deeply intertwined with social and psychological meanings, including cultural practices, personal identity, and emotional states, contrary to the claim in option B.

Question 9

_____ are symptoms of schizophrenia in which an individual believes that others are out to get them.

Accepted Answer

Delusions of persecution are a type of delusion where the individual believes that they are being persecuted, targeted, or conspired against by others. This is a common symptom in schizophrenia, where the person may irrationally believe that others are out to harm them in some way.

Question 10

Cyclothymic disorder is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Cyclothymic disorder is considered a milder form of bipolar disorder, characterized by chronic fluctuations in mood that are less severe than those seen in full bipolar disorder. It involves periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms that are not as extreme as those in major depression or full manic episodes.

Question 11

Laila has schizophrenia. One of her symptoms is that she believes a particular social media personality makes videos in which he sends her secret messages. Another symptom Laila experiences is that she hears voices that are constantly commenting on what she is doing. Laila's symptoms would be defined as _____ symptoms of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are those that add to the person's behavior, such as delusions (believing in things that aren't real, like receiving secret messages) and hallucinations (hearing voices). These symptoms are an excess or distortion of normal functions. Negative, dissociative, and cognitive symptoms represent different aspects of the disorder, such as the absence of typical behaviors, fragmented thoughts, and difficulties with memory or concentration, respectively.

Question 12

For the past several days, Paul has had boundless energy. His thoughts feel like they are racing, and he can't get his ideas and words out fast enough. Paul has gotten very little sleep during this time. Yesterday, Paul decided on a whim to buy a new car, even though he did not need one and could not really afford it. Paul's behavior over the past few days is MOST consistent with a _____ episode.

Accepted Answer

Paul's symptoms, including boundless energy, racing thoughts, minimal sleep, and impulsive decision-making (such as buying a new car he cannot afford), are most consistent with a manic episode. These symptoms are more severe and disruptive than those of a hypomanic episode, and they do not primarily involve the loss of reality testing seen in psychotic episodes or the disruptions in identity or memory characteristic of dissociative episodes.

Question 13

_____ personality disorder is based on instability in many areas of a person's life, including interpersonal relationships, mood, and self-image.

Accepted Answer

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by significant instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions. People with BPD may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.

Question 14

Chloe was recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. In therapy, Chloe has been working with her therapist on changing her interpretation of situations and events. In particular, Chloe tends to imagine the worst possible outcomes and only focuses on the negative aspects of a situation. Chloe and her therapist are MOST likely working on Chloe's:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chloe was recently diagnosed with an anxiety...

Question 15

Over the past 2 months, your roommate has been feeling very down although she has no realistic reason to. She has had no energy and is not sleeping well; this is causing her to miss classes and work. You suggest that your roommate go to the campus counseling center because you suspect she may have _____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, such as feeling very down without a clear reason, having no energy, not sleeping well, and missing classes and work, are indicative of major depressive disorder. This condition is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or a lack of interest in external stimuli, which significantly impacts daily functioning.

Question 16

_____ are completely false beliefs that a person with schizophrenia believes to be reality.

Accepted Answer

Delusions are false beliefs strongly held by a person despite clear evidence to the contrary, and they are a common symptom of schizophrenia. Hallucinations, on the other hand, involve sensing things that aren't there, while loose associations refer to a disorganized way of thinking, and negative symptoms are deficits of normal emotional responses or of other thought processes.

Question 17

ADHD and autism spectrum disorder are classified as _____ disorders.

Accepted Answer

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism spectrum disorder are both classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. This classification is because they involve the development of the nervous system and typically manifest early in development, affecting personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.

Question 18

A person who has problems understanding relationships and responding to social situations, and who also demonstrates repetitive patterns of behavior, MOST likely has which disorder?

Accepted Answer

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These are the key symptoms described in the question, making D the correct answer.

Question 19

Those with bipolar disorder and depressive disorder are at least 20 times more likely to:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with bipolar disorder and depressive disorder have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, making them at least 20 times more likely to die by suicide.

Question 20

Which disorder is NOT a neurodevelopmental disorder?

Accepted Answer

Gender dysphoria is not classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Neurodevelopmental disorders include conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability, which are characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. Gender dysphoria, on the other hand, involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which they identify. It is categorized under conditions related to sexual health in the DSM-5.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders