Question 1

What additional determinant of the abnormal label did Becker (1963) identify?

Accepted Answer

Becker (1963) identified the additional determinant of the abnormal label as the effect of a powerful person ostracizing an action, which means that if a powerful person or group disapproves of a behavior, they can label it as abnormal even if it is not objectively pathological. This reflects the power dynamics and social norms that influence the definition of abnormality in a particular society.

Question 2

What is the underlying fascination that students have in asking the question "what is normal?"

Accepted Answer

As humans, we often try to make sense of the world around us by categorizing things and defining what is "normal." It is a natural curiosity to understand how we fit in and what is expected behavior in society. This fascination is part of a healthy attempt to comprehend and navigate the world.

Question 3

What is the primary human goal, beyond survival, according to Chickering?

Accepted Answer

According to Chickering, the primary human goal beyond survival is the establishment of an identity, which involves understanding oneself in relation to others and the world, developing one's values and beliefs, and achieving a sense of purpose and direction in life.

Question 4

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the bias where individuals tend to attribute their own actions to situational factors while attributing others' actions to their personal characteristics or dispositions.

Question 5

Which of the following is a reason why work on optimal human functioning has fallen behind the work of focusing on the negative traits of mental illness?

Accepted Answer

The alleviation of suffering is considered a more urgent and pressing issue than focusing on the attainment of positive mental health. This has led to greater attention and resources being devoted to studying mental illness and negative traits, while work on optimal human functioning has fallen behind.

Question 6

Which three aspects of a behavior are relevant to the fundamental negative bias?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental negative bias is the tendency for negative information to have a greater impact on behavior and cognition than positive information. The three aspects of a behavior that are relevant to this bias are context, value, and saliency. Context refers to the circumstances surrounding the behavior and how these circumstances may influence how negative information is processed. Value refers to the subjective importance of the behavior, with negative behaviors being more likely to have a greater impact on behavior due to their perceived importance. Saliency refers to how attention-grabbing the behavior is, with negative behaviors being more likely to capture attention due to their potential threat or danger. Frequency and form are not directly related to the fundamental negative bias.

Question 7

What is demonstrated in the case of Michael when the author asked him about coping, strengths, and weaknesses?

Accepted Answer

By asking Michael about his coping strategies, strengths, and weaknesses, the author demonstrates a balanced approach to treating him as a client. This approach recognizes the importance of understanding a client's strengths and coping strategies while also recognizing areas of potential weakness or vulnerability that may need to be addressed in therapy.

Question 8

What question do developmental theories often fail to address when conceptualizing behavior?

Accepted Answer

Developmental theories often focus on how people develop and what factors influence their behavior, but may not always address the question of how people cope with negative experiences or events that occur outside of their control. This can include anything from trauma or adversity to everyday stressors, and may require a more nuanced understanding of how different individuals respond to different situations. By exploring this question more fully, developmental theorists may be able to better understand how people develop resilience, coping strategies, and other key skills needed to thrive in a complex and sometimes unpredictable world.

Question 9

Which of the following best illustrates the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for another person's behavior rather than considering situational (external) factors. In option B, the person assumes that the other driver is a bad person based solely on their behavior of cutting them off, without considering that the driver may have had a reason for doing so (such as an emergency). This is an example of the fundamental attribution error. The other options do not demonstrate this error.

Question 10

What is the purpose of the four-front approach to conceptualization of behavior?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the four-front approach to conceptualization of behavior is to provide a balanced representation of the client's situation. This approach considers four different areas of the client's life: their cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal functioning. This comprehensive approach allows for a holistic understanding of the client's behavior and can guide treatment planning.

Question 11

How does fundamental attribution error differ from fundamental negative bias?

Accepted Answer

Fundamental attribution error involves attributing the cause of someone's behavior to their internal characteristics rather than external situations. Fundamental negative bias, on the other hand, refers to the tendency to focus on and remember negative information more easily than positive information. They are distinct concepts with different focuses.

Question 12

Which of the following fronts of behavior does the four-front approach assess?

Accepted Answer

The four-front approach assesses environmental factors hindering healthy functioning. It does not assess the person's personality or how well they do academically, but it does assess the person's capacity for forming relationships as it is one of the environmental factors.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true about how we judge behavior when we have only a small amount of information?

Accepted Answer

When we have only a small amount of information, we tend to rely on saliency or what stands out more. Negative behaviors tend to stand out more because they are unexpected and potentially threatening. Therefore, we are more likely to judge behavior based on negative saliency rather than positive saliency.

Question 14

What three criteria are commonly used to identify abnormal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Function, effects, and frequency are commonly used criteria to identify abnormal behavior. Function refers to how well the behavior allows an individual to adapt to life circumstances, effects pertain to the impact of the behavior on the individual or others, and frequency considers how often the behavior occurs in comparison to societal norms.

Question 15

What important lesson concerning abnormal behavior can be learned from the example of a grown woman kissing the tarmac at an airport?

Accepted Answer

The temporal context, or the circumstances surrounding the behavior, must be considered when evaluating abnormality. Kissing the tarmac may be abnormal in most contexts, but if the woman had just stepped off a plane after surviving a dangerous flight or a long deployment, her behavior may be more understandable and not necessarily abnormal. Therefore, temporal context must be considered when determining whether behavior is abnormal.

Question 16

Which of the following issues needs to be addressed by clinicians as part of mental health care?

Accepted Answer

Environmental influences on behavior play a significant role in mental health and need to be addressed by clinicians in their care. It is important to consider a person's environment, such as their living conditions or social support, when developing a treatment plan.

Question 17

What have developmental psychopathology scholars discovered during the past 25 years?

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychopathology scholars have found that while genetics play a role in the development of mental disorders, events during childhood and other environmental factors also have a significant impact. Additionally, researchers have identified specific risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing certain disorders.

Question 18

Which psychologist explored the 'sane society' in which mental health was defined as 'the ability to love and to create?'

Accepted Answer

This concept of the "sane society" and mental health being linked to the ability to love and create was explored by psychologist Erich Fromm.

Question 19

Which of the following is one of the characteristics of the mentally healthy person identified by Marie Jahoda?

Accepted Answer

Marie Jahoda identified six characteristics of the mentally healthy person, and one of them is mastering the environment and the enjoyment of love, work, and play. This includes being able to cope with the demands of everyday life, finding satisfaction in work and relationships, and being able to engage in leisure activities that bring enjoyment. Pursuing what they are guaranteed to be successful at (A) or being confrontational to achieve goals (B) are not necessarily indicative of mental health and may even be counterproductive in certain situations. Additionally, the ability to express negative emotions in all contexts (D) is not necessarily a characteristic of mental health, as suppressing or controlling negative emotions can actually be a sign of emotional maturity and well-being.

Question 20

Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the mental health focus of the latter half of the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

The latter half of the 20th century saw a significant emphasis on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, with a predominant focus on the negative aspects of mental health. This period was marked by the development and refinement of diagnostic criteria and the expansion of treatment options, but there was less emphasis on positive psychology or the strengths and well-being aspects of mental health until later years.

Quiz 13: Balanced Conceptualizations of Mental Health and Behavior