Question 1

Which of the following statements regarding personality disorders is true?

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders and their severity often tend to decline with age and maturity. This is because, over time, individuals may learn more adaptive coping mechanisms or their life circumstances change in ways that reduce the impact of the personality disorder.

Question 2

Marlena isn't feeling like herself lately. She's feeling distant from her boyfriend, she's not into her classes, and she can't even seem to have fun with her friends. So she starts buying self-help books to see if she can get herself out of the rut she's in. This is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Bibliotherapy refers to the use of self-help books as a form of therapy or self-improvement. This is what Marlena is doing by buying self-help books to try to improve her mood and situation.

Question 3

The PID-5 is basically an extreme, negative version of the Big Five. It consists of what five traits?

Accepted Answer

The PID-5 consists of five extreme, negative personality traits: negative affectivity (tendency to experience negative emotions), detachment (lack of interest in social interactions), antagonism (tendency to be arrogant and hostile), disinhibition (lack of self-control), and psychoticism (tendency to have unusual beliefs and experiences). Choice B includes "positivity," which is not one of the traits included in the PID-5. Choice C includes "violence," which is not one of the traits included in the PID-5. Choice D includes "dependency," which is not one of the traits included in the PID-5.

Question 4

Which of the following have studies shown to be an effective way of increasing happiness?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that intentionally trying to be more optimistic and showing gratitude can increase happiness levels.

Question 5

Gia has recently been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. Gia likely is __________.

Accepted Answer

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by mistrust and suspicion of others, which aligns with low agreeableness. Neuroticism refers to emotional instability and high levels of anxiety, which may also contribute to the paranoia experienced with this disorder.

Question 6

Approximately how many people suffer from a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 1 in 10 people in the United States have a personality disorder.

Question 7

Melissa has a distorted view of herself. She believes she's overweight even though she's severely underweight. Her distorted perception of self is driving her to eat less and less. Melissa likely is suffering from __________.

Accepted Answer

Melissa's distorted perception of self and extreme restriction of food intake are common symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Schizophrenia, bulimia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder do not always involve distorted body image or severe restriction of food intake.

Question 8

What is a common trait combination for those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a disregard for the feelings and rights of others, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and a lack of remorse. Individuals with this disorder tend to be low in agreeableness, which includes tendencies towards empathy, trust, and cooperation. They also tend to be low in conscientiousness, which includes tendencies towards responsibility, dependability, and self-discipline. These traits can contribute to the impulsive and irresponsible behavior that is commonly associated with antisocial personality disorder.

Question 9

The disorder characterized by manic episodes of high energy followed by a crash into depression is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania (elevated, expansive, or irritable mood) alternating with periods of depression. This cycling between episodes of mania and depression is the hallmark of bipolar disorder.

Question 10

With which personality disorder do people tend to score somewhat higher than average on agreeableness but also high in neuroticism?

Accepted Answer

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. This can manifest in higher levels of agreeableness as individuals with this disorder often strive to please others and avoid conflict. Additionally, the high level of anxiety and worry about being alone or uncared for contributes to higher scores in neuroticism.

Question 11

People with personality disorders usually, but not always, display which of the following traits?

Accepted Answer

People with personality disorders often display traits such as impulsivity, emotional instability, and difficulty in getting along with others. These traits are generally associated with high levels of neuroticism and low levels of agreeableness. However, it is important to note that not all individuals with personality disorders will have the same traits, as there are many different types of personality disorders with distinct characteristics.

Question 12

Which character trait has proven to be associated with many behavioral problems?

Accepted Answer

Low conscientiousness has been consistently linked to a variety of behavioral problems, such as impulsivity, substance abuse, and delinquency.

Question 13

-Personality disorders are arranged in which of the following three clusters?

Accepted Answer

Personality disorders are divided into three clusters based on their similarities in symptoms and characteristics. Cluster A includes odd or eccentric disorders such as paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Cluster B includes dramatic or emotional disorders such as borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders. Cluster C includes anxious or fearful disorders such as avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Question 14

__________ is a form of therapy that emphasizes changing your thoughts and behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that emphasizes changing your thoughts and behaviors by identifying negative or distorted thought patterns, replacing them with accurate and more positive ones, and practicing new behaviors to reinforce these changes. It is a commonly used form of therapy for a wide range of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.

Question 15

Which of the following people is most likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder?

Accepted Answer

Major depressive disorder is characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Kate's symptoms of being depressed for over a month and rarely leaving the house suggest a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Usha's symptoms are indicative of anxiety, not depression. Clyde's symptoms suggest a depressive episode, but because they only lasted for a week, it would not be diagnosed as major depressive disorder. Moses' symptoms suggest he may be experiencing feelings of alienation, but this alone does not indicate major depressive disorder.

Question 16

What is a common personality profile of someone diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

People with schizophrenia tend to exhibit lower levels of agreeableness, extraversion, and conscientiousness. They may struggle with social interaction (low extraversion), have difficulty following through with responsibilities (low conscientiousness), and may have challenges in interpersonal relationships due to their symptoms (low agreeableness).

Question 17

Which of the following effectively sums up the criteria for being diagnosed with a personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

A personality disorder diagnosis requires that the disorder causes significant problems in a person's life, is pervasive across different contexts, and is not attributable to another cause, such as a medical condition or substance abuse.

Question 18

Which of the following statements regarding antidepressants is true?

Accepted Answer

Antidepressant drugs are effective for treating a wide array of mood, anxiety, and depressive disorders. While psychotherapy can be effective for some individuals, antidepressants are often prescribed in conjunction with therapy for more severe cases. Antidepressants have also been found to be effective in treating moderate to severe depression. However, they may not be as effective for lowering neuroticism, which is a personality trait associated with increased anxiety and emotional instability.

Question 19

Carly has a tendency to be very affectionate with her partner, then becomes angry, and then begs him not to leave. Carly is showing a pattern associated with which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

Carly's pattern of behavior is characteristic of borderline personality disorder, which is characterized by unstable and intense relationships, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and fear of abandonment. The affectionate behavior followed by anger and then begging not to be left are all common behaviors seen in individuals with borderline personality disorder.

Question 20

Theo is completely stressed with finals, work, and trouble at home. He's had trouble dealing with everything lately. On his way to class, he feels paralyzed with fear and a severe tightness in his chest, almost like he's having a heart attack. Which anxiety disorder is Theo showing symptoms of?

Accepted Answer

Theo is experiencing a sudden onset of fear and physical symptoms that resemble a heart attack, which is characteristic of panic disorder.

Quiz 14: Personality and Mental Health