Question 1

What is the main advantage of projective personality tests over other forms of personality tests?

Accepted Answer

The main advantage of projective personality tests over other forms of personality tests is that they can provide a view of a patient's unique view of the world. Projective tests are designed to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings that may not be apparent through other forms of assessment. These tests are thought to provide a deeper understanding of a patient's personality and can help clinicians tailor their treatment plans to the individual's unique needs.

Question 2

You are attempting to diagnosis a patient and you would like a view of her brain. You are interested in static structures, not function, so your two choices of scanning techniques are CT scans and

Accepted Answer

CT scans and MRI scans both provide a static image of the brain, but MRI scans have better resolution and provide clearer images without the use of ionizing radiation. fMRI and EEG scans are used to measure brain activity and are not needed for static structure diagnosis. TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) is a psychological test used for evaluating personality traits, and is not a brain scanning technique.

Question 3

One of the main limitations of modern brain imaging techniques in the field of abnormal psychology is that

Accepted Answer

Modern brain imaging techniques do not have enough normative information to allow for diagnosis, as they can only provide information about what is statistically abnormal with respect to a larger population but cannot determine whether an individual has a disorder.

Question 4

What is an advantage of the use of physiological measures in studying mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

Physiological measures provide objective information that is difficult to fake, which can help to reduce biases and inaccuracies in the assessment of mental disorders. This is particularly important in cases where individuals may be intentionally or unintentionally misrepresenting their symptoms.

Question 5

Pet and fMRI scans have found valuable information about the biological components of OCD including over activity in all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

While OCD is associated with increased activity in several brain regions, including the orbital prefrontal cortex, head of the caudate nucleus, and anterior cingulate cortex, there is no evidence of over activity in the occipital lobe.

Question 6

___________ refers to rejection or isolation of an individual resulting from a stamp or label.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________ refers to rejection or isolation of...

Question 7

What is a limitation of the use of physiological assessment?

Accepted Answer

The use of physiological assessment is limited by the fact that every individual's physiological reactivity and stability vary. Different people can have different reactions to the same stimulus, and physiological measures alone may not provide a complete picture of a person's overall emotional or cognitive state.

Question 8

As originally designed, the Rorschach was scored based on the

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach test was originally designed to be scored based on the clinician's interpretations of the content of the client's responses. The test consists of a series of inkblots in which clients are asked to describe what they see, with the assumption being that their responses will give insights into their thoughts, feelings, and personality characteristics. The test has been widely criticized over the years for lacking reliability and validity, but it remains a popular tool in clinical and forensic settings.

Question 9

The textbook suggests that each of the following are potential advantages of a projective test EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

The textbook does not suggest that projective tests are slightly better on reliability and validity measures than tests such as the MMPI. This is actually the opposite of what is suggested, as projective tests have generally been found to have lower reliability and validity.

Question 10

Recent advances in brain imaging have allowed clinicians to make scientifically useful comparisons in the relative size of the chambers in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. These chambers are called

Accepted Answer

The chambers in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid are called ventricles. The other options listed are incorrect - lobes refer to different regions of the brain, cerebrospinal spaces is not a commonly used term, and meninges are the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, the best choice is B, ventricles.

Question 11

How could psychophysiological measurements be used to help us with the case of Michael presented in your text?

Accepted Answer

Psychophysiological measurements such as heart rate monitoring could be used to determine Michael's physiological response to touching contaminated objects. This information could then be used to develop a treatment plan, such as desensitization therapy, to help him overcome his contamination fears. Options A, C, and D are not relevant to the case of Michael presented in the text.

Question 12

What is one of the limitations of projective personality testing?

Accepted Answer

One of the limitations of projective personality testing is that it provides little information on normal individuals or children. This is because projective tests were originally designed to assess the psychopathology of individuals with severe mental illness, and their use has since been expanded to include other populations. However, because projective tests rely on interpretation of ambiguous stimuli, they may not be as effective in measuring personality traits in individuals who do not exhibit significant psychopathology.

Question 13

Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress are called __________ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images...

Question 14

A __________ approach focuses on how much of a diagnostic characteristic an individual exhibits.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A __________ approach focuses on how much...

Question 15

One advantage of psychophysiological tests is that

Accepted Answer

Psychophysiological tests measure physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity, which do not require self-report and may be less subject to faking. This makes them more reliable than self-report measures such as questionnaires or interviews. However, psychophysiological tests cannot diagnose or treat mental disorders on their own, and they may not pinpoint the underlying causes of a disorder. They also usually require specialized equipment and trained professionals to administer, which makes them less practical for home use.

Question 16

Which biological system is highly reactive to environmental events and can provide useful information regarding a person's emotional states?

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system is highly reactive to environmental events and can provide useful information regarding a person's emotional states. It has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulate physiological responses to stress and relaxation, respectively. Monitoring activity of the autonomic nervous system can be useful in studying emotional states, stress and related physiological responses.

Question 17

One of the main advantages of modern brain imaging techniques is that they can

Accepted Answer

Modern brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), allow researchers and clinicians to directly observe brain activity in relation to different mental functions and problems. This allows for a better understanding of the underlying neurological mechanisms of mental health conditions and can inform the development of more effective treatments.

Question 18

A __________ approach to classification assumes that distinctions among members of different categories are qualitative.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A __________ approach to classification assumes that...

Question 19

FMRI is a new and exciting method of imaging brains that is based on the physiological observation that

Accepted Answer

FMRI is based on the observation that the magnetic properties of blood change as a function of the level of oxygen it is carrying. This allows researchers to indirectly measure blood flow in specific brain regions, which is associated with neural activity.

Question 20

Recent advances in the scoring of projective tests focus on

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recent advances in the scoring of projective...

Quiz 4: Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior