Question 1

Focusing on prevention may help more than focusing on treatment on mental illness.

Accepted Answer

By focusing on prevention, we can promote mental wellness, educate individuals on coping skills, reduce risk factors, and create supportive environments. This can lead to a decrease in the number of people experiencing mental illness, ultimately reducing the need for treatment.

Question 2

Which of the following is least likely to be studied in abnormal psychology?
A) A prostitute
B) A psychopath
C) A developmentally delayed child
D) An anxious person

Accepted Answer

Abnormal psychology focuses on understanding abnormal behavior, psychological disorders, and psychiatric illnesses. A prostitute, while potentially engaging in behavior that is considered socially or morally deviant by some standards, does not inherently exhibit abnormal behavior in the psychological sense. Psychopaths, developmentally delayed individuals, and anxious persons, on the other hand, may all be subjects of study in abnormal psychology due to the presence of psychological disorders or behaviors that deviate significantly from normative developmental or psychological patterns.

Question 3

Defining abnormal behaviour on the basis of personal distress or suffering is problematic for which reason?
A) Distress and suffering is normal in modern society.
B) Some disorders do not involve personal suffering.
C) It ignores the suffering of family members of disturbed people.
D) Only people with depression experience personal distress.

Accepted Answer

Some disorders, such as Antisocial Personality Disorder, do not involve personal distress but still cause significant harm to others. Therefore, defining abnormal behaviour solely on the basis of personal distress is problematic.

Question 4

Variations in cultural background make it difficult to define abnormal behaviour as simply behaviour which
A) involves a deviation from norms.
B) leads to dysfunction.
C) improves after therapy.
D) causes personal distress.

Accepted Answer

Different cultures have different norms and expectations for behaviour, so a behaviour that may be considered abnormal in one culture may not be abnormal in another culture. Therefore, abnormal behaviour cannot simply be defined as a deviation from norms.

Answer: B 
 Dysfunction refers to impairment in normal functioning. This can be observed across cultures, as impairment can have negative effects on the individual's ability to go about their daily tasks and interact with others, regardless of cultural background.

Answer: C 
 Improvement after therapy can be subjective and influenced by cultural beliefs and attitudes towards mental health and therapy. Therefore, it cannot be a reliable indicator of abnormal behaviour.

Answer: D 
 Personal distress can also be subjective and influenced by cultural beliefs and attitudes. What may be distressing to one individual may not be distressing to another based on their cultural background. Therefore, personal distress alone cannot be a reliable indicator of abnormal behaviour.

Question 5

While it is normal for students to get nervous before an exam, it may be considered abnormal for a student to be so anxious as to run screaming from the classroom when the exam is handed out. This is an example of which criteria for abnormal behaviour?
A) Statistical infrequency
B) Unexpectedness
C) Disability or dysfunction
D) Personal suffering

Accepted Answer

The criteria of unexpectedness refers to behavior that is not culturally or socially expected, such as running out of the classroom when an exam is handed out.

Question 6

Which characteristic of abnormal behaviour do cultural differences affect most?
A) Statistical infrequency
B) Violation of norms
C) Personal distress
D) Disability or dysfunction

Accepted Answer

Violation of norms can be heavily influenced by cultural differences. What is considered abnormal behaviour in one culture may be accepted in another culture. For example, hearing voices and having visions may be seen as abnormal in western cultures, but viewed as a sign of spirituality or connection with ancestors in other cultures. Therefore, cultural norms and values must be considered when determining if behaviour is abnormal.

Question 7

Transvestism (i.e., cross-dressing for sexual pleasure) was used in the textbook to make the point that:
A) The same behaviour both can and cannot meet criteria for abnormality.
B) Behaviours that distress other people can automatically be considered abnormal.
C) Even atypical behaviours may not necessarily reflect a disability.
D) Both A and C.

Accepted Answer

Transvestism can meet criteria for abnormality according to some definitions, but it is not necessarily a disability or disorder. This highlights the complexity of defining abnormality and the need to consider multiple factors when making such assessments.

Question 8

According to the criteria outlined by Davison et al. in their definition of abnormality, which of the following is not part of the definition?
A) Whether the behaviour violates social norms
B) Whether the behaviour causes personal distress
C) Whether the behaviour reflects a past history of abnormal behaviour
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Davison et al.'s definition of abnormality includes two main criteria: 1) the behaviour is statistically rare or deviates from cultural norms, and 2) the behaviour causes subjective distress or impairment in functioning. Past history of abnormal behaviour is not included as a criterion in their definition. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 9

Jim wants to be a professional basketball player, but his height (i.e., 5'5") will not allow him to make a career of the sport. This could be considered a ________________, but it is not a concern of abnormal psychology.
A) Statistical infrequency
B) Violation of norms
C) Personal distress
D) Disability or dysfunction

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jim wants to be a professional basketball...

Question 10

Autism is based on which of the following definitions of abnormal behaviour?
A) Statistical infrequency
B) Violation of personal norms
C) Personal distress
D) Social distress

Accepted Answer

Autism is diagnosed based on statistical infrequency, meaning that it is a deviation from the typical range of social and communicative behaviors.

Question 11

Kevin was seen walking around campus naked on the first day of term. When campus security caught up with him, they told him he was crazy and needed a psychiatric evaluation, despite Kevin telling them he was a nudist. While Kevin is not mentally ill, his behaviour meets which criteria of abnormal behaviour?
A) Personal distress
B) Unexpectedness
C) Violation of norms
D) Disability or dysfunction

Accepted Answer

Kevin's behaviour violates social norms, as nudity in public is generally considered unacceptable behavior.

Question 12

Which of the following disorders would most likely not fit the "personal distress" characteristic of abnormal psychology?
A) Social phobia
B) Psychopathy
C) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) Depression

Accepted Answer

Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of empathy, guilt and remorse. It is unlikely that the individual with psychopathy would experience personal distress, as they are often unaware or unconcerned with the negative impact their behavior has on themselves or others. Social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression all involve distressing symptoms and experiences for the individual.

Question 13

Which criterion for abnormality applies to Cindy? Cindy is an accomplished lawyer who sought psychological help in dealing with the stresses of balancing work and family responsibilities.
A) Unexpectedness
B) Violation of social norms
C) Personal distress
D) Statistical infrequency

Accepted Answer

Cindy sought psychological help, indicating that she is experiencing personal distress. The other criteria for abnormality do not apply to her situation as she is not exhibiting unexpected behavior, she is not violating social norms, and being an accomplished lawyer does not constitute statistical infrequency.

Question 14

Ted, who has a fear of snakes, quit his job when he was asked to relocate to the Southwest (where snakes are more common.) This is an example of which criterion for abnormal behaviour?
A) Unexpectedness
B) Disability or dysfunction
C) Statistical infrequency
D) Violation of norms

Accepted Answer

Ted's fear of snakes is causing him disability or dysfunction in his daily life, as he quit his job when he was asked to relocate to a region where snakes are more common. This interference with his ability to function normally signifies abnormal behaviour.

Question 15

Which of the following was developed so that credentials of psychologists in one province would transfer to other provinces in Canada?
A) Agreement on Provincial Trade (APT)
B) Mutual Recognition Agreement
C) Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
D) College of Psychologists

Accepted Answer

The Mutual Recognition Agreement was developed to ensure that the credentials and professional standing of psychologists in one province would transfer to other provinces in Canada. This allows for mobility and the ability to practice in different locations without having to go through an additional credentialing process. A, C, and D are not relevant to this specific purpose.

Question 16

A commonly accepted cut-off point for a diagnosis of mental retardation is an intelligence quotient (IQ) that is below:
A) 125
B) 100
C) 85
D) 70

Accepted Answer

The commonly accepted cut-off point for a diagnosis of mental retardation is an IQ that is below 70.

Question 17

An illustration of abnormal behaviour would be:
A) Soiling oneself once a month at age 14.
B) Experiencing anxiety when engaged in rituals after leaving the house.
C) Losing control of oneself in anger, with no apparent provocation.
D) None of the above are examples of abnormal behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An illustration of abnormal behaviour would be:
A)...

Question 18

A happily married man covertly purchases women's shoes. Afterwards he masturbates while wearing the shoes. This illustrates what definition of abnormality?
A) Disability or dysfunction
B) Unexpectedness
C) Personal distress
D) None of these; the behaviour is not abnormal.

Accepted Answer

The behavior does not necessarily indicate disability, dysfunction, unexpectedness, or personal distress, and without further context indicating harm or distress, it cannot be deemed abnormal.

Question 19

Pat threatened to punch out a student colleague when the latter refused to lend him $20. This is an example of which criteria for abnormal behaviour?
A) Unexpectedness
B) Disability or dysfunction
C) Statistical infrequency
D) A and B

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pat threatened to punch out a student...

Question 20

Which of the following illustrates the difficulty in defining abnormal behaviour as behaviour that is statistically infrequent?
A) IQ below 70 is considered mentally retarded.
B) It is unusual for people to have delusions.
C) Math prodigies are rare in the population.
D) Bedwetting is common in young children.

Accepted Answer

Statistical infrequency alone cannot define abnormal behavior because it would also classify rare talents or positive deviations, such as being a math prodigy, as abnormal. This highlights the complexity and inadequacy of using rarity as the sole criterion for abnormality.

Quiz 1: Introduction Definitional And Historical Considerations, And Canada’s Mental Health System

Focusing on prevention may help more than focusing on treatment on mental illness.

Which of the following is least likely to be studied in abnormal psychology?

Defining abnormal behaviour on the basis of personal distress or suffering is problematic for which reason?

Variations in cultural background make it difficult to define abnormal behaviour as simply behaviour which

While it is normal for students to get nervous before an exam, it may be considered abnormal for a student to be so anxious as to run screaming from the classroom when the exam is handed out. This is an example of which criteria for abnormal behaviour?

Which characteristic of abnormal behaviour do cultural differences affect most?

Transvestism (i.e., cross-dressing for sexual pleasure) was used in the textbook to make the point that:

According to the criteria outlined by Davison et al. in their definition of abnormality, which of the following is not part of the definition?

Jim wants to be a professional basketball player, but his height (i.e., 5'5") will not allow him to make a career of the sport. This could be considered a ________________, but it is not a concern of abnormal psychology.

Autism is based on which of the following definitions of abnormal behaviour?

Which of the following disorders would most likely not fit the "personal distress" characteristic of abnormal psychology?

Which criterion for abnormality applies to Cindy? Cindy is an accomplished lawyer who sought psychological help in dealing with the stresses of balancing work and family responsibilities.

Ted, who has a fear of snakes, quit his job when he was asked to relocate to the Southwest (where snakes are more common.) This is an example of which criterion for abnormal behaviour?

Which of the following was developed so that credentials of psychologists in one province would transfer to other provinces in Canada?

A commonly accepted cut-off point for a diagnosis of mental retardation is an intelligence quotient (IQ) that is below:

An illustration of abnormal behaviour would be:

A happily married man covertly purchases women's shoes. Afterwards he masturbates while wearing the shoes. This illustrates what definition of abnormality?

Pat threatened to punch out a student colleague when the latter refused to lend him $20. This is an example of which criteria for abnormal behaviour?

Which of the following illustrates the difficulty in defining abnormal behaviour as behaviour that is statistically infrequent?