Deck 1: Abnormal Psychology: Historical and Modern Perspectives

Question 1

According to your text, abnormal behaviour is defined as behaviour that is inconsistent with the individual's developmental, cultural, and societal norms, creates emotional distress, or

A) is seen by others as deviant.
B) interferes with daily functioning.
C) is "culturally bound."
D) is aligned with the "goodness-of-fit" model.

Answer 1

interferes with daily functioning.

Question 2

Men are more likely than women to suffer from

A) alcohol and drug abuse.
B) mood disorders and anxiety disorders.
C) alcohol abuse and mood disorders.
D) depression and anxiety disorders.

Answer 2

alcohol and drug abuse.

Question 3

Except for drug and alcohol abuse, the highest rates of psychological disorders are found among persons with the lowest incomes and

A) least amount of education.
B) highest number of siblings.
C) female gender.
D) suburban places of residence.

Answer 3

least amount of education.

Question 4

When using the DSM-5 system to define a behaviour as abnormal, which of the following statements is True?

A) The person's behaviour is assessed both categorically and dimensionally.
B) The person either falls into a category or does not fall into a category.
C) The person's level of dysfunction is not considered.
D) The behaviour is not considered within a cultural context.

Question 5

The case of Vincent Li as described in your text highlights the

A) shift from weird behaviour to committing a violent crime.
B) stereotyping of a person with mental illness.
C) importance of early intervention in culture-bound illnesses.
D) influence of the media on defining abnormal behaviour.

Question 6

Which of the following terms is defined as the shared behavioural patterns and lifestyles that differentiate one group of people from another?

A) race
B) ethnicity
C) culture
D) group expectations

Question 7

In psychology, if the term "abnormal" means "away from normal," what problem does this definition present when categorizing someone as being "abnormal"?

A) It does not measure standard deviations.
B) It does not assume that deviation on both sides of average is negative.
C) It does not assume abnormality is negative.
D) It does not allow for positive deviations.

Question 8

The term "deviance" implies

A) looking different.
B) behaving differently.
C) having a mental illness.
D) engaging in criminal wrongdoing.

Question 9

Which of the following approaches would allow an understanding of how abnormal behaviour varies in severity over time, perhaps increasing and decreasing, or how behaviours change from one disorder to another?

A) categorical
B) dimensional
C) orthogonal
D) rational

Question 10

Trephination, as practiced by ancient cultures, was a process whereby

A) the two halves of the brain were severed.
B) a small opening was made in the eye socket.
C) the inner ear was punctured with a sharp object.
D) certain portions of the skull were cut away.

Question 11

Approximately what total percentage of Canadians meet the criteria for a mood disorder?

A) 13%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 25%

Question 12

A study in your text addressing the relationship between SES and the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder among children found that

A) children from different SES groups develop psychological disorders at different rates.
B) children at particular ages develop psychological disorders at different rates.
C) children from all SES groups develop psychological disorders at the same rates.
D) children of middle-income parents have the lowest rates of illness.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about differences found in the rates of psychological disorders in boys and girls at different ages is True?

A) Both boys and girls peak at approximately the same age.
B) Boys peak at age 13 but girls peak much earlier.
C) Boys peak at approximately age 9 or 10 but girls peak in their early 20s.
D) Boys peak around age 10 but girls reach their peak around age 16.

Question 14

The concept of "developmental trajectory" expresses the notion that

A) symptoms of a disorder are always most severe in childhood.
B) symptoms of a disorder may vary depending on a person's age.
C) age determines the presence of a disorder but not symptom expression.
D) a person's developmental stage has little bearing on a given diagnosis.

Question 15

William is a well-educated 40-year-old man who suffers from schizophrenic disorder. Originally, he was employed as a computer programmer, but he was fired two months ago because of chronic absenteeism. For the last several weeks he has been homeless. He sleeps at night in a cardboard box behind a Dunkin Donut after closing time. Which of the following terms is used to describe William's current plight?

A) Downward shift
B) Downward drift
C) Downward SES
D) Downward trajectory

Question 16

Gerry is a night watchman who has worked at the same company for 25 years. He is described as very shy and withdrawn around others. While this behaviour is not problematic at work, his relatives find him "weird" and tend to shun him at family gatherings. Despite encouragement by his immediate family to mingle, Gerry hardly speaks to others at these events. According to the "goodness-of-fit" concept, Gerry's behaviour would

A) not be viewed as a problem at family gatherings.
B) not be viewed as a problem at work but would be viewed as a problem at family gatherings.
C) not be viewed as a problem at all.
D) only be viewed as a problem if it caused difficulty for his immediate family.

Question 17

Approximately what total percentage of Canadians meet the criteria for substance use disorder?

A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 18%
D) 20%

Question 18

Jon is a freshman at a local university. He gets up at the same time each day and follows the same pattern: showering and shaving, dressing, and checking his backpack for required books, notebooks, and pens. Early in the first semester, this behaviour took approximately 30 minutes. As the semester progressed, Jon spent more and more time checking and rechecking his backpack to make sure he had everything he needed. Toward the end of the semester, Jon was always late for his first class because of his "thoroughness." A psychologist might conclude that Jon's behaviour is

A) typical for a conscientious student.
B) dysfunctional even if not distressful.
C) not abnormal because it does not cause problems for others.
D) normal according to the "goodness-of-fit" model.

Question 19

Which statement below is True of the original definition of a culture-bound illness?

A) It is less severe than other forms of mental illness.
B) The abnormal behaviour is specific to a particular location or group.
C) It is usually found only in children.
D) The behaviour usually requires hospitalization in the home culture.

Question 20

The etiology of a disorder refers to

A) the developmental stage in which a disorder appears.
B) the cultural context of a disorder.
C) how a disorder begins.
D) how a culture impacts a disorder.

Question 21

In medieval Europe, mental illness was thought to be caused by

A) retribution from the gods.
B) evil or demonic spirits.
C) a wandering uterus.
D) a dysfunctional family.

Question 22

Emotional contagion is the automatic mimicry and synchronization of expression, vocalizations, postures, and

A) values of another.
B) fantasies of another.
C) word patterns of another.
D) movements of another.

Question 23

Emil Kraepelin is best known for his contributions to the study of schizophrenia. He introduced two new diagnostic categories of disordered behaviour - dementia praecox and manic-depressive insanity - based on symptom differentiation, _________________, and ________________.

A) etiology; prognosis
B) etiology; physiology
C) prognosis; symptomology
D) prognosis; physiology

Question 24

William Tuke, a contemporary of Philippe Pinel, proposed that patients live, work, and relax in a compassionate and religious environment. This philosophy was the foundation for

A) community treatment.
B) moral treatment.
C) voluntary commitment.
D) individual treatment.

Question 25

Felicia believes that her cell phone is beginning to control her thoughts. She noticed this after she switched phone plans and thinks the problem began with the new service. This belief would typically be known as a

A) delusion.
B) hallucination.
C) hysterical episode.
D) melancholic thought.

Question 26

Paul is a college freshman who looks forward to weekend parties at college. He especially likes to play "beer pong" and is known on campus as a champion player. After a recent party, Paul received a DUI citation. Paul's parents have urged him to seek treatment for his "alcohol problem," but Paul refuses. He does not believe he has a drinking problem. In Freud's theory, which of the following defense mechanisms is Paul likely using?

A) Intellectualization
B) Rationalization
C) Denial
D) Repression

Question 27

According to Freud's theory, the id is

A) the source of basic drives and of psychic energy.
B) capable of delaying gratification through its conscience.
C) controlled by the superego but not by the ego.
D) located at the conscious level of awareness.

Question 28

Our modern use of the word "bedlam," denoting a chaotic situation, is historically rooted in which of the following practices?

A) Allowing hysterics to act out their beliefs.
B) Warehousing of mentally ill persons.
C) Allowing witch hunters to convict and hang witches.
D) Warehousing entire families believed to be mentally ill.

Question 29

A recent news story describes an unusual condition found among females at a local high school. After eating frozen yogurt from their cafeteria, a number of girls have begun to "spin wildly" throughout the lunchroom until being restrained by a faculty hall monitor. Immediately after being stopped, each girl reported feeling compelled to "spin" after eating. The number of girls involved in these incidents increased until the yogurt machine was removed from the cafeteria. In all probability, this behaviour can be considered an episode of

A) mass-induced mania.
B) mass hysteria.
C) demonic possession.
D) emotional dysplasia.

Question 30

Hippocrates identified symptoms of abnormal behaviour still recognized today by psychologists. These symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, melancholia, and

A) avoidance.
B) mania.
C) tremors.
D) psychosis.

Question 31

Which of the following is a technique that Freud used for treatment?

A) undoing
B) regression
C) interpretation
D) sublimation

Question 32

The first physician to adopt a form of occupational therapy for patients was

A) Pinel.
B) Paracelsus.
C) Dix.
D) Hippocrates.

Question 33

In ancient Greece, hysteria was believed to be caused by

A) wandering blood.
B) a wandering brain.
C) a wandering uterus.
D) wandering bile.

Question 34

Although Anton Mesmer was criticized for his animal magnetism approach to treatment, he managed to demonstrate the importance of

A) a physician's training.
B) energy flow.
C) humane treatment.
D) the placebo effect.

Question 35

Jeffrey's therapist is conducting an initial interview with him. The therapist spends a lot of time asking questions about Jeffrey's parents and his early life experiences. Since he seems to view Jeffrey's parents as the "root cause" of his problems, this therapist is most likely oriented toward ____________.

A) psychoanalysis
B) humanism
C) behaviourism
D) behavioural genetics

Question 36

Hippocrates believed that maladaptive behaviours were caused by an imbalance in bodily humors that originated either with physical factors or

A) demonic possession.
B) the wrath of the gods.
C) a shifting of lunar tides.
D) a change in the seasons.

Question 37

During which of the following psychosexual stages does a child experience fantasies about the opposite-sex parent?

A) Genital Stage
B) Anal Stage
C) Oral Stage
D) Phallic Stage

Question 38

Darien is 3 years old. He slips off a step, falls, and bruises his knee. Upon picking the crying toddler up, Darien's mother kisses his knee and gives him an M&M. Magically, Darien's pain disappears. This phenomenon would be known as the _____________ in psychology.

A) Mesmer effect
B) talking cure
C) placebo effect
D) classical conditioning effect

Question 39

Which of the following statements about Josef Breuer's approach to the case of Anna O. is True?

A) He recognized that Anna's difficulty moving her legs was due to general paresis, so he treated her with medication.
B) Breuer believed that only psychoanalysis would help cure the hysteria manifested by Anna.
C) He believed that the animal magnetism concept could be effective if the patient had faith in the placebo effect.
D) Breuer believed that hypnosis could have a beneficial effect by allowing Anna to discuss events and experiences relevant to the disorder.

Question 40

The ancient Greek physician Asclepius foreshadowed modern treatment for psychological disorders in that he

A) founded the first pharmacy that prescribed psychoactive medication for patients.
B) based his practice on the idea that trephination, as an early medical intervention, was successful for most disorders.
C) invented the practice of placing patients in cool baths to relieve stress.
D) founded the first sanctuary for mental disorders offering a variety of treatments.

Question 41

In Aaron Beck's model of depression, the cognitive triad consists of

A) past, present, and future expectations.
B) three types of negative thoughts.
C) Freud's id, ego and superego.
D) three levels of the mind.

Question 42

In the classical conditioning paradigm demonstrated by Pavlov through his study of the physiology of dog digestion, what was the UCS?

A) Bell
B) Food powder
C) Pavlov
D) Salivating

Question 43

Object relations theory proposes that people have a basic drive for

A) dominating others.
B) satisfying sexual instincts.
C) engaging in social interactions.
D) spiritual development.

Question 44

Dr. Pambros returns Abnormal Psychology exams. Juanita, Kevin, and Morgan all receive grades of "C." Juanita is grateful to have passed. Kevin is devastated. Morgan is mildly disappointed but recognizes that there are three remaining exams that could boost his grade. How would the cognitive model explain the different responses of these students to the same event?

A) Thoughts are not as important at the event itself.
B) The event is essentially neutral.
C) Grades are inherently powerful events.
D) Grades are classic negative reinforcers.

Question 45

In operant conditioning, a reinforcer serves to _______ a behaviour it follows.

A) extinguish
B) weaken
C) strengthen
D) diminish

Question 46

According to Freud, which of the following was critical to overcoming psychological difficulties?

A) Empathy
B) Hypnosis
C) Insight
D) Regression

Question 47

In Pavlov's experiment with dogs, classical conditioning was demonstrated when

A) the UCS elicited the CR.
B) the UCS elicited the UCR.
C) the CS elicited the CR.
D) the CS was paired with the UCS.

Question 48

Neurons release neurotransmitters into synapses. These neurotransmitters

A) land on the receptor site of the next neuron, causing it to fire.
B) block further messages from being sent to the next neuron.
C) land on an axon, causing it to fire and send an electrical impulse.
D) establish a permanent link between one nerve cell and the next.

Question 49

Freud and his successor, Carl Jung, had fundamental disagreements about the motivation for Behaviour. While Freud thought that past events and sexual impulses were important, Jung believed that

A) future goals and spiritual motivators may cause behaviour.
B) past events and sexual and spiritual motivators were important.
C) present events and spiritual motivators cause behaviour.
D) birth order was the most important determinant.

Question 50

Biological scarring, as seen in some disorders such as PTSD, demonstrates that

A) the brain is capable of healing itself after a trauma.
B) the brain may change as a result of the disorder.
C) genetics plays a vital role in vulnerability to a disorder.
D) brain plasticity is not possible after trauma.

Question 51

Every time little Jeffrey goes shopping with his mom, there is an incident at the checkout line when he spots candy. Typically, Jeffrey's mom initially refuses his request for a candy bar. When the child throws himself to the floor kicking and screaming, Jeffrey's mom gives in and hands him the candy bar to end the embarrassing scene. In operant conditioning terms, what is maintaining the child's "checkout tantrums"?

A) Negative reinforcement
B) Non-contingent reinforcement
C) Positive reinforcement
D) Vicarious reinforcement

Question 52

Which of the following reinforcers meets the criterion for being "primary"?

A) Money
B) Attention
C) Grades
D) Power

Question 53

Which of the following statements about the viral infection theory as it relates to the development of psychological disorders is True?

A) Viral infections do not cause changes in the brain that lead to later behavioural disturbances.
B) There is no relationship between viral infection and psychological disturbances.
C) Viral infections do not lead to psychological disturbances through immune system suppression.
D) Viral infections may take several pathways in producing disordered behaviour.

Question 54

Which of the following forms of learning explains why television has a profound effect on children's learning?

A) Operant conditioning
B) Vicarious conditioning
C) Classical conditioning
D) Shaping conditioning

Question 55

Dr. Barstow is treating a young man who is afraid of dogs. One method he uses is progressive muscle relaxation using vivid imagery. Once the patient is relaxed, Dr. Barstow introduces the patient to a picture of a dog with instructions to "Breathe deeply and remain calm and relaxed." Which learning principle established by Wolpe is being employed in this example?

A) Mindfulness
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Backward chaining
D) Reciprocal inhibition

Question 56

Which of the following statements about reinforcement is True?

A) Reinforcement may increase or decrease a behaviour it follows, as it depends on the targeted behaviour of the organism.
B) Reinforcement must be primary to have an impact.
C) Reinforcement must be delivered every time a behaviour is emitted to strengthen that behaviour.
D) Reinforcement for one person may be punishment for another.

Question 57

Derek did not clean the dishes even though it was his turn. As a result, his parents told him he could not go to his friend's house to play. What did his parents engage in?

A) reinforcement
B) punishment
C) vicarious learning
D) shaping

Question 58

Whereas the behavioural approach focuses on ________, the cognitive model targets _______ in explaining behaviour.

A) external events; mental processes
B) mental processes; external events
C) thought distortions; punishment
D) punishment; thought distortions

Question 59

John B. Watson, the founder of Behaviourism, maintained that

A) fear was an instinctive and unlearned response in children.
B) all behaviours were learned through exposure to the environment.
C) inner thoughts were acceptable behaviours for scientific study.
D) behaviour was conditioned through operant reinforcement.

Question 60

If a psychologist defines herself as a "scientist-practitioner," what do we automatically know about her through this label?

A) She is focused on pure research and practices sound methodological principles.
B) She relies on the latest research findings in providing quality care and treatment to patients.
C) She takes a behavioural approach, only trying to change dysfunctional behaviours that are observable.
D) She is not focused on the etiology of a disorder but on a research-based treatment approach.

Question 61

Most people with psychological disorders do not engage in dangerous behaviour.

Question 62

"I got a B in the course. I'll never get into graduate school." This statement typifies the cognitive distortion known as

A) overgeneralizing.
B) emotional reasoning.
C) catastrophizing.
D) magnifying.

Question 63

The diathesis-stress model of abnormal behaviour assumes that

A) a person who has a genetic predisposition for a disorder will exhibit the disorder at some point in time.
B) biological and environmental factors interact to determine the likelihood that a person will exhibit abnormal behaviour.
C) a "diathesis" from the environment interacts with biological influences to produce disordered behaviour.
D) stress causes physiological changes that lead to disruptions in environmental supports.

Question 64

Having a biological predisposition for a disorder means that a person

A) will develop the full syndrome over the life span.
B) has increased vulnerability to developing a disorder.
C) will only develop a partial manifestation of the problem behaviour.
D) has a genetic mutation for the disorder.

Question 65

Which of the following statements is True?

A) Modern psychologists believe that psychopathology is physiologically based.
B) Abnormal behaviour may be best understood using a single theoretical framework.
C) Understanding abnormal behaviours requires an integration of models.
D) Sociocultural factors are the best explanation for disordered behaviour.

Question 66

A woman from Ecuador dresses colorfully and makes eye contact with others in church, while another woman from Japan dresses in quieter colors and does not make eye contact. This is an example of culture-bound syndrome.

Question 67

A message that implies "I will love you if you graduate with honors" is an example of

A) unconditional positive regard.
B) unconditional negative regard.
C) conditional positive regard.
D) conditional negative regard.

Question 68

Carl Rogers proposed that phenomenology is critical in understanding an individual. Phenomenology means the

A) difference between what one perceives and what one ought to do.
B) subjective world of the individual.
C) objective world of reality.
D) degree to which objective reality and subjective reality are a fit.

Question 69

Mario has just returned from his third deployment to Afghanistan. For several months after returning, he is unable to sleep and has difficulty dealing with flashbacks of mortar fire over the compound in which he worked. Using a biopsychosocial model, we might explain his problems as deriving from

A) the stress of deployment alone.
B) a diathesis, as well as the stress of deployment.
C) a lack of social support.
D) a failure in coping alone.

Question 70

Gender roles influence which of the following:

A) intelligence
B) eye colour
C) eating disorders
D) athletic ability

Question 71

Treatment approaches that incorporate cultural values and expressions may enhance the therapeutic process by?

A) identifying new psychological disorders
B) identifying new biological disorders
C) increasing the number of people who seek, and benefit from, these enhanced interventions.
D) encouraging cultural segregation

Question 72

The biopsychosocial perspective, compared with the perspectives of Freud, Jung, and Rogers,

A) focuses on early developments as the diathesis.
B) adequately explains all disorders.
C) is broader than the other models.
D) assumes the nature of man to be good.

Question 73

While psychoanalytic and humanistic models assume that abnormality lies within the individual, ________ models assume that abnormal behaviour must be understood in a larger context outside of the individual.

A) phenomenological
B) sociocultural
C) sociopathic
D) socioenvironmental

Question 74

Which of the following statements about women and abnormal behaviour within a sociocultural context is True?

A) Biological factors affect rates of mental illness for women around the world regardless of contextual factors.
B) Socioeconomic status is unrelated to rates of mental illness for women.
C) Some contextual factors place women at higher risk for psychological disorders.
D) Gender role expectations do not influence the development of abnormal behaviours.

Question 75

Koro, occurs among people of South and East Asia and consists of:

A) pathological relationships between family members.
B) cold, distance patterns of communication between family members.
C) intense anxiety that the penis (or vulva and nipples in women) will disappear or cause one?s death .
D) traditional family roles where the men hold more power than women.

Question 76

This model of abnormal behaviour acknowledges an interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors in the development of mental health disorders.

A) biological model
B) sociocultural model
C) biopsychosocial model
D) psychological model

Question 77

Gender roles directly affect the ______ of abnormal behaviours.

A) expression
B) cause
C) severity
D) chronicity

Question 78

In considering whether a behaviour is abnormal or normal, one must consider the context in which the behaviour occurs.

Question 79

In Puerto Rico, dissociation (a feeling of being detached from one's body-sometimes called an out-of-body experience) is considered .

A) a normal part of spiritual and religious experiences
B) a psychological disorder
C) a biological disorder
D) a cognitive disorder

Question 80

Defining "abnormal" as being "away from normal" is circular.