Question 1

One problem that mental health professionals encounter when using personal distress as a measure of maladaptive behavior is

Accepted Answer

Personal distress can vary across individuals and cultures, making it difficult to establish a clear cut-off point that indicates abnormality. This can lead to challenges in diagnosis and determining appropriate treatment.

Question 2

Sasha worries about her mother's cancer so much that she cannot concentrate on her schoolwork, causing it to suffer.Her continual thoughts about her mother and trouble concentrating would be considered maladaptive because she

Accepted Answer

Sasha's troubles with concentrating due to worry about her mother's cancer are maladaptive because they are causing her difficulties in adapting to the demands of her daily life, such as her schoolwork. This is negatively impacting her ability to function and succeed in her activities and responsibilities, indicating a maladaptive response. None of the other options accurately describe Sasha's situation.

Question 3

Suddenly disappearing from home and assuming a new identity, as Treva did, would be considered

Accepted Answer

Suddenly disappearing from home and assuming a new identity is not a common behavior, and therefore considered statistically far from the norm. It goes against typical human social behavior and is considered a significant life event that has a substantial impact on both the individual and their loved ones.

Question 4

In determining whether a behavior is abnormal, one key judgment that is often made by mental health professionals is

Accepted Answer

Mental health professionals often use the criteria of whether a behavior or experience interferes with a person's ability to function effectively in their daily life as a key factor in determining if it is abnormal. This includes considering if the behavior is causing distress, impairing relationships, or hindering the person's ability to meet their responsibilities or goals.

Question 5

Bob has always been a clean-shaven, well-kept individual.Lately he has failed to shower on a regular basis, neglected his oral care, and has not been able to eat as much as previously.It appears that Bob has begun to exhibit

Accepted Answer

Bob's change in hygiene and eating habits suggests a maladaptive behavior, meaning that his behavior is no longer functional or effective in meeting his basic needs. This could potentially be a sign of a larger issue, such as depression or another mental health concern.

Question 6

Emotional experience and expression are MOST clearly influenced by

Accepted Answer

Emotional experience and expression are heavily influenced by cultural norms and values, as different cultures may have different expectations and beliefs about what emotions should be expressed and how they should be expressed. Studies have shown that individuals from different cultures have varying levels of emotional expressiveness and that this can be attributed to cultural differences.

Question 7

Which of the following limitations does the text cite regarding the interpretation of statistical deviance from the norm?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions that there are arbitrary cutoffs in identifying statistical deviance from the norm, which means that there is subjectivity involved in defining what is "abnormal" or outside the norm. None of the other options are mentioned in relation to the interpretation of statistical deviance.

Question 8

When a mental health professional treats someone from another culture, it is important for him/her to remember that

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of mental disorders can vary from culture to culture based on cultural norms, beliefs, and values. It is important for mental health professionals to be aware of these differences and consider them when making a diagnosis and creating a treatment plan. A uniform approach may not be effective for individuals from different cultural backgrounds.

Question 9

Dr.Jones is working with a client from a culture other than his own.He would like to use the deviation-from-the- norm criteria.This would be inappropriate to use because

Accepted Answer

Cultural differences can greatly impact how individuals perceive and define what is considered "normal." Therefore, using the deviation-from-the-norm criteria may be inappropriate when working with clients from cultures other than one's own. It is important to take into account the client's cultural background and understand their perspective on what is considered normal or abnormal behavior.

Question 10

Josh is 18 and believes that something outside of him is controlling his thoughts and that he must retrace his steps four times to keep them under control.This behavior causes him to be released from his job due to tardiness.A mental health professional would say that his behavior is abnormal because it

Accepted Answer

Josh's behavior is abnormal because it is interfering with his ability to function effectively, as he was released from his job due to tardiness. This suggests that his behavior is negatively impacting his daily life and responsibilities. The other options (B, C, and D) do not accurately describe why his behavior is abnormal.

Question 11

Margarette has an irrational fear of entering tunnels.As a result, she experiences a high level of personal distress.Jason is highly disruptive in school and does not experience personal distress, but his behavior is still considered abnormal because

Accepted Answer

Jason's behavior may not cause personal distress for himself, but it is still considered abnormal because it produces a high level of distress for others around him.

Question 12

One difficulty of using the deviation-from-the-norm criterion in determining if a behavior is abnormal is deciding

Accepted Answer

The deviation-from-the-norm criterion requires a statistical point at which a behavior is considered abnormal, which can be difficult to determine. There is no clear-cut or universally agreed upon point at which a behavior can be considered statistically deviant or abnormal.

Question 13

Maladaptive behavior may result in

Accepted Answer

Maladaptive behavior can have a range of responses, including changing one's environment to accommodate the behavior, seeking professional help, or not seeking treatment at all. The best answer is therefore D, as it includes all possible responses.

Question 14

Problems with interpreting difficulty-adapting-to-life demands criterion include

Accepted Answer

Measuring the difference between good functioning and maladaptive behavior can be a challenge when interpreting the difficulty-adapting-to-life demands criterion. Factors such as culture, context, and individual differences can affect what is considered "good functioning" and what is "maladaptive behavior." This can make it difficult to determine if someone is truly having difficulty adapting to life demands.

Question 15

One problem with the difficulties-adapting-to-life-demands criterion in diagnosing a person as having a mental disorder is that people may engage in unusual behaviors that

Accepted Answer

The answer of One problem with the difficulties-adapting-to-life-demands criterion in...

Question 16

Terrance refuses to leave home due to the belief that there are too many free radicals that are specifically aiming to harm him and his complexion.He works from home, has all of his food and other needs delivered to him, and communicates on a regular basis with friends and family.The above illustrates the problem with the difficulties- adapting-to-life-demands criterion for diagnosing a mental disorder because people engage in

Accepted Answer

The scenario presented in the question suggests that Terrance's behavior of refusing to leave home is odd and may be abnormal, but it does not necessarily interfere with his ability to function on a daily basis. This highlights the issue with using difficulties in adapting to life demands as a criterion for diagnosing a mental disorder, as some individuals may engage in odd but relatively harmless behaviors that do not necessarily impede their daily functioning. Choices A, B, and C are not relevant or supported by the information provided in the scenario.

Question 17

The fact that symptoms of mental disorders vary from culture to culture is important when

Accepted Answer

When treating someone from another culture, it is important to understand that their expression of their symptoms may differ from what is typically seen in the professional's own culture. This can impact the diagnosis and treatment plan, making it important to be culturally sensitive and knowledgeable.

Question 18

According to the textbook, a behavior is one that interferes with a person's life, including ability to care for oneself, have good relationships with others, and function well at school or at work.

Accepted Answer

The term "maladaptive" specifically refers to behaviors that are harmful or counterproductive to a person's life, which aligns with the definition given in the question. The other choices (useless, withdrawn, and depressed) describe states or moods rather than behaviors.

Question 19

Defining abnormality successfully involves identifying

Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted definition of abnormality involves a combination of deviance (i.e., behavior that is different from the norm), dysfunction (i.e., behavior that interferes with daily functioning), and personal distress (i.e., behavior that causes distress to the individual). This definition is based on the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals, and is supported by scientific research. A and C are too broad and not specific enough to define abnormality, while D suggests that each practitioner has their own definition, which can lead to inconsistencies in diagnosis and treatment.

Question 20

How does the Einstein example in your text illustrate a drawback of the statistical deviance approach to defining abnormality?

Accepted Answer

The Einstein example illustrates that although he deviated from the statistical norm in terms of intelligence, it was not considered a disorder or abnormality. This highlights the drawback that statistical deviance from the norm is not necessarily indicative of a disorder or abnormality.

Quiz 1: Abnormal Psychology and Life