Maria is a retired factory worker who lives with anxiety. Due to the fear of having anxiety attacks, she does not leave her house. This makes her feel trapped in her home, which creates distress. Which criterion would be most appropriate in deciding whether Maria's case represents an example of abnormality?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maria's case represents an example of abnormality because her anxiety is causing distress and interfering with her ability to live a normal life. The criterion of distress is one of the key indicators of abnormal behavior in the field of psychology. Statistical rarity, unpredictability, unconventionality, and undesirability are all other criteria for abnormality, but they do not apply as directly to Maria's situation.

Maria Is a Retired Factory Worker Who Lives with Anxiety