Question 1

Regarding people with an antisocial personality disorder, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

People with antisocial personality disorder, often referred to as psychopaths or sociopaths, typically do not experience guilt or remorse for their actions, which contradicts the statement that they are usually tormented by guilt afterward.

Question 2

Lynn married Philip after a short whirlwind romance. She had found Philip to be charming and a smooth-talker. Several months into the marriage, she began to realize that Philip had taken all the money from her savings accounts, had pawned some of her jewelry, and had run up huge bills on her credit cards. Philip had also been lying all along about working at the business where Lynn had been dropping him off each morning. Worse yet, when Philip was confronted, he just laughed at Lynn. Philip would be diagnosed with which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Philip's behaviors, such as deceitfulness, manipulation, lack of remorse, and exploitation of others for personal gain, are characteristic of antisocial personality disorder.

Question 3

Jeremy is a 10-year-old child, who has been diagnosed with a conduct disorder. Having this disorder makes Jeremy more at risk of having which type of personality disorder as an adolescent and adult?

Accepted Answer

Conduct disorder in childhood is a known risk factor for developing antisocial personality disorder in adolescence and adulthood. This is because both share characteristics such as a disregard for social norms and the rights of others.

Question 4

In a study in which psychopaths and normal people were shown extremely grisly and unpleasant photographs, the psychopaths reacted in which way to the photographs?

Accepted Answer

Psychopaths often show a reduced startle response to stimuli that would typically cause a strong emotional reaction in non-psychopathic individuals. This is due to their reduced emotional reactivity and empathy.

Question 5

People who are impulsive, selfish, dishonest, emotionally shallow, and manipulative and who are poorly socialized and seem incapable of feeling guilt, shame, fear, loyalty, or love would be diagnosed with which type of personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

These characteristics are indicative of antisocial personality disorder, which is marked by a long-term pattern of manipulation, exploitation, or violation of others' rights.

Question 6

Regarding psychopaths, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Psychopaths often show underarousal in their brain activity, not overarousal. This underarousal is thought to be linked to their risk-seeking behaviors and lack of fear or anxiety.

Question 7

Lance would be described as initially charming, but he is really emotionally cold and "blind" to disgust in others. He feels no guilt, shame, fear, loyalty, or love. Lance would be diagnosed with which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Lance's characteristics, such as being emotionally cold, lacking in guilt, shame, fear, loyalty, or love, and being initially charming but ultimately manipulative or indifferent to others' feelings, align with antisocial personality disorder. This disorder is characterized by a disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

Question 8

Which of the following persons would most likely be diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder often exhibit behaviors that are manipulative, deceitful, or violate the rights of others. They typically lack remorse and fail to conform to social norms. Darden's description of being charming yet irresponsible and lacking guilt aligns with these characteristics.

Question 9

Brain studies show that adult psychopaths display subtle neurological problems, such as having unusual brainwave patterns that suggest

Accepted Answer

Adult psychopaths often show unusual brainwave patterns indicating underarousal of the brain, which can contribute to their lack of fear and inhibition.

Question 10

Persons with an antisocial personality disorder usually

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-term pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. Individuals with this disorder often exhibit behaviors that include manipulation, deceit, impulsivity, and a lack of remorse for their actions. These traits can manifest as thrill-seeking behavior, cheating, and manipulation, and the disorder is more commonly diagnosed in men.

Question 11

Very few criminal trials end with a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Accepted Answer

Most criminal trials do not end with a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity because it is a difficult defense to prove, requiring the defendant to meet specific legal criteria showing they were unable to understand the nature of their actions or distinguish right from wrong due to a severe mental disease or defect at the time of the crime.

Question 12

Psychopathy is considered an extreme form of which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Psychopathy is often considered an extreme form of antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and often criminal activity.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety is not a characteristic of antisocial personality disorder. Instead, individuals with antisocial personality disorder tend to lack regard for others' rights and feelings, not experience anxiety in social situations.

Question 14

The phrase that best describes the antisocial personality is

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-term pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. A lack of conscience or guilt is a central feature of this disorder.

Question 15

Deceiving and manipulating others without any remorse are the main characteristics of which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-term pattern of manipulation, exploitation, or violation of others' rights without any remorse.

Question 16

The core feature of all psychopathological behavior is that it causes subjective discomfort.

Accepted Answer

Not all psychopathological behaviors cause subjective discomfort; some individuals may not experience distress from their symptoms, which can include a lack of insight or awareness into their condition.

Question 17

Typically, people with antisocial personalities showed similar problems in childhood, having a condition known as

Accepted Answer

People with antisocial personalities often showed signs of conduct disorder in childhood, which is characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules.

Question 18

Paul is described as irresponsible, reckless, deceitful, and lacking a conscience. Which type of disorder is most likely involved?

Accepted Answer

Paul's described characteristics align with antisocial personality disorder, which is characterized by a long-term pattern of manipulation, exploitation, or violation of others' rights.

Question 19

Insanity is a legal term, not a psychological one.

Accepted Answer

Insanity is a term used in the legal system to describe a defendant's inability to understand right from wrong or the nature of their actions at the time of a crime, rather than a specific clinical diagnosis in psychology or psychiatry.

Question 20

Almost 18 percent of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health and other health organizations, it's estimated that nearly one in five American adults live with a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, which aligns with the 18 percent figure.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders