Question 1

Davis has such an intense, irrational fear of clowns that he cannot take his daughters to see the circus when it is in town. Davis would be most correctly diagnosed as suffering from

Accepted Answer

Davis exhibits an intense, irrational fear of clowns that prevents him from taking his daughters to see the circus. This fear can be classified as a phobia, which is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, excessive, and unreasonable fear of a particular object, situation, or activity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (A) involves obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that cause distress and interfere with everyday functioning. Panic disorder (B) is characterized by sudden, unexpected panic attacks that are accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling. Posttraumatic stress disorder (D) is a disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and involves symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and avoidance behaviors. None of these disorders accurately describe Davis's fear of clowns.

Question 2

Research into demographic differences in the rates of major depression, or clinical depression as it is often called, suggests that

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with major depression. This gender difference in diagnosis rates is a well-documented phenomenon in the field of mental health.

Question 3

People with OCD often develop ____________ in response to ______________.

Accepted Answer

OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) that are aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing feared outcomes. People with OCD often develop specific compulsions as a way of coping with their obsessions. For example, someone with contamination obsessions might develop a compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly, while someone with intrusive thoughts about harming others might develop a compulsion to check and recheck their environment for potential dangers.

Question 4

Which of the following is a mood disorder?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by dramatic shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder), and narcissistic personality disorder are not mood disorders.

Question 5

People who have a(n) __________ are afraid of being evaluated in some negative way by others, so they tend to avoid situations that can be embarrassing.

Accepted Answer

The description in the question matches the symptoms of social phobia, which is characterized by extreme fear or anxiety in social situations where one may be exposed to scrutiny or judgment by others. People with social phobia tend to avoid such situations to avoid embarrassment or negative evaluation. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (A) is characterized by intrusive and repetitive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors. Specific phobia (C) is characterized by irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation. Interactive phobia (D) is not a recognized diagnosis in psychology.

Question 6

During the day, Barb suffers from frequent, unwanted thoughts that she has left her front door unlocked and recurrent images that all her belongings have been taken. These thoughts and images are what psychologists refer to as a

Accepted Answer

The description suggests that Barb is experiencing intrusive and distressing thoughts and images, which are characteristics of obsessions. Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. Delusions and hallucinations are types of psychotic symptoms that involve a misinterpretation of reality or perception of sensory experiences that are not actually present in the environment.

Question 7

What is the main difference between generalized anxiety disorder and phobias?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between generalized anxiety disorder and phobias is that phobias are linked to specific triggers while generalized anxiety disorder is not linked to a specific trigger. People with generalized anxiety disorder feel anxious and worried about a variety of things, while people with phobias only experience anxiety in relation to specific objects or situations.

Question 8

From an evolutionary perspective, humans would be most likely to develop a phobia to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

From an evolutionary perspective, humans would be most likely to develop a phobia to snakes because they were a common threat in our ancestral environments and posed a significant danger to human survival. On the other hand, atomic weapons and guns are modern inventions that humans have not had enough time to evolve a natural fear response to, and house cats do not pose a significant threat to human survival.

Question 9

A person who suffers from bipolar disorder alternates between

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder involves mood swings between episodes of depression and episodes of mania. This is characterized by periods of high energy, decreased need for sleep, impulsivity, and grandiosity during manic episodes, followed by periods of low energy, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty with daily functioning during depressive episodes. Schizophrenia involves symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, but does not typically involve the same mood swings seen in bipolar disorder. Anxiety may be present in individuals with bipolar disorder, but it is not a defining symptom.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of the "vicious cycle" of anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a vicious cycle because the woman's anxiety about making mistakes leads to heightened self-consciousness and increased attention to her own behavior, which in turn increases her anxiety. This cycle can continue and worsen over time, leading to more severe social phobia.

Question 11

Sierra is constantly worried that everyone whom she comes in contact with is full of germs, so she is constantly rushing off to wash her hands. Sierra may suffer from which psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Sierra's behavior of constantly washing her hands due to her fear of germs is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Individuals with OCD have intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that lead them to engage in repetitive, compulsive behaviors (such as excessive cleaning or hand washing) in an attempt to alleviate their anxiety.

Question 12

Each day, while Sid is sitting at his desk at work, he continually thinks about germs. Each time this occurs, he washes his hands. Sid probably suffers from

Accepted Answer

Sid's constant thoughts about germs and compulsive hand washing are typical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 13

A strong, intense fear of being in public or performing behaviors in public might be characteristic of

Accepted Answer

The given symptoms are characteristic of social anxiety disorder, which is also known as social phobia. People with this disorder have an intense fear of being judged or scrutinized by others, which leads them to avoid social situations or perform behaviors in public. This may include actions such as speaking in public, eating in front of others, or using public restrooms. Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of empathy, not a fear of public situations. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves repetitive, intrusive thoughts and behaviors that are not necessarily related to public situations. Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks, which may include physical symptoms such as heart palpitations or sweating, but not necessarily a fear of public situations.

Question 14

Sandra is suffering from major depression. She is convinced that she will always be unhappy and her life will never change. Which of the three elements of the depressive explanatory style does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Sandra's belief that she will always be unhappy and her life will never change illustrates the "stabilizing" element of the depressive explanatory style, which involves seeing negative events as permanent or unchangeable.

Question 15

Prolonged periods of sadness, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, social withdrawal, and cognitive and physical sluggishness best describes which disorder?

Accepted Answer

These symptoms are most commonly associated with major depression, also sometimes referred to as clinical depression.

Question 16

What mood disorder is characterized by alterations between periods of extremely high levels and extremely low levels of activity?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is defined by alternating periods of mania (extremely high levels of activity) and depression (extremely low levels of activity).

Question 17

The depressive explanatory style is characterized by which three elements?

Accepted Answer

The depressive explanatory style is characterized by internalizing (attributing negative events to one's own flaws or actions), stabilizing (believing that these causes will persist over time), and globalizing (believing that these causes will affect many areas of one's life).

Question 18

Mr. Carpenter is constantly afraid that he is going to oversleep and be late for work. As a result, he spends nearly an hour total each night making certain that his alarm clock is correctly set and saying "It's set, it's set, it's set" each of the times he checks it. This repetitive action is what clinical psychologists refer to as a

Accepted Answer

Mr. Carpenter's repetitive action of checking his alarm clock and verbally confirming it is set multiple times is a compulsion. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly, often to reduce anxiety or distress.

Question 19

Kayla has experienced a decrease in the need for sleep for the past three nights, is extremely talkative and sexually charged, and has been very irresponsible with money during this time. Kayla is in the midst of a(n)

Accepted Answer

Kayla is exhibiting symptoms of a manic episode, which is characterized by decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, and irresponsible behavior, such as reckless spending.

Question 20

__________ is a disorder in which a person experiences episodes of mania and depression.

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression. People with bipolar disorder experience shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and ability to function. During a manic episode, individuals may experience excessive energy, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior. During a depressive episode, individuals may experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, lack of energy, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating. Generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and borderline personality disorder do not necessarily include episodes of mania.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders