Deck 15: Abnormal Behaviour

Question 1

Rasheed enjoys gambling so much that he does it every day, totally neglecting his family and job. Rasheed's behaviour satisfies which criterion of abnormality MOST clearly?

A) personal distress
B) deviance
C) persistence
D) maladaptive behaviour

Answer 1

maladaptive behaviour

Question 2

Randall is an alcoholic who has been fired from four jobs in the past year, but he is not concerned because he feels that there are lots of other jobs available. In this example, the fact that Randall's alcoholism affects his occupational status would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) maladaptive.
C) culturally deviant.
D) legal incompetency.

Answer 2

maladaptive.

Question 3

The medical model of abnormal behavior proposes that

A) abnormal behaviours are very similar to physical diseases.
B) abnormal behaviours are best treated by medical doctors.
C) it is useful to think of abnormal behaviour as a disease.
D) it is useful to think of abnormal behaviours as being caused by infectious agents.

Answer 3

it is useful to think of abnormal behaviour as a disease.

Question 4

Dr Radebe is reviewing the records from a patient who has just been referred for treatment. He is carefully considering the symptoms that have been documented, and is attempting to identify the type of psychological disorder the individual is most likely to have. Dr Radebe is currently focusing on

A) aetiology.
B) prognosis.
C) diagnosis.
D) histology.

Question 5

Susie has anorexia nervosa and is slowly starving herself to death. However, when friends or family tell her to seek professional help, she tells them that she feels fine. She can't understand why people won't just leave her alone. In this example, Susie's eating disorder would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) culturally deviant.
C) maladaptive.
D) delusional.

Question 6

According to the medical model,

A) all mental illnesses are caused by biological factors.
B) all mental illnesses can be treated using drugs.
C) abnormal behaviour can be thought of as a disease.
D) all physical illnesses have a psychological component.

Question 7

Behaviour that interferes with an individual's social or occupational functioning may be considered to be

A) deviant.
B) maladaptive.
C) personally distressing.
D) insane.

Question 8

Behaviour that causes anxiety or concern for the affected individual may be considered to be

A) deviant.
B) maladaptive.
C) personally distressing.
D) insane.

Question 9

The apparent causation and developmental history of an illness is referred to as its

A) aetiology.
B) epidemiology.
C) diagnosis.
D) prognosis.

Question 10

When a psychologist compares the symptoms an individual is experiencing to the symptoms of various disorders to determine the specific disorder the individual has, the psychologist is concerned with

A) aetiology.
B) prognosis.
C) diagnosis.
D) treatment.

Question 11

A major criticism of the medical model made by Thomas Szasz is that

A) no evidence exists to support the efficiency of the medical model's treatment approaches.
B) the model is not well understood by its practitioners.
C) uniformity of behaviour patterns cannot be established from the medical model viewpoint.
D) most abnormal behaviour reflects a moral judgement about what is socially acceptable or unacceptable behaviour.

Question 12

The rise of the medical model in the study of psychopathology brought about

A) improvements in the treatment of individuals who exhibited abnormal behaviour.
B) an increase in the number of asylums for the treatment of the mentally ill.
C) an increase in misconceptions about mental disorders.
D) decreases in the expression of sympathy towards the mentally ill.

Question 13

The terms "mental illness" and "psychopathology" are MOST closely associated with which model of abnormal behaviour?

A) the learning model
B) the humanistic model
C) the medical model
D) the psychodynamic model

Question 14

A prognosis

A) is a forecast about the probable cause of an illness.
B) involves distinguishing one illness from another.
C) refers to the apparent causation and developmental history of an illness.
D) is a plan for treating an illness.

Question 15

Diagnosis is to aetiology as

A) where is to when.
B) when is to where.
C) why is to what.
D) what is to why.

Question 16

Dr Moosa is asking her newest client questions about his life history. She is particularly interested in any recent stressful events that the client may have experienced. Dr Moosa is currently

A) developing a prognosis for her client.
B) trying to determine an appropriate diagnosis.
C) trying to understand the aetiology of her client's current illness.
D) engaged in naturalistic observation.

Question 17

Dr Cummings believes that psychological disorders can be diagnosed, treated and possibly cured, just like physical illnesses. Dr Cummings' views reflect the point of view suggested by

A) the medical model of abnormal behaviour.
B) the behavioural model of abnormal behaviour.
C) the deviance model of abnormal behaviour.
D) the psychodynamic model of abnormal behaviour.

Question 18

Thomas Szasz would be most critical of the commonly used criterion to diagnose psychological disorders that relates to

A) deviance.
B) maladaptive behaviour.
C) personal distress.
D) cognitive confusion.

Question 19

Mario has just entered treatment for a major depressive episode. He is told that most patients respond to treatment within a month, and many never experience a second depressive episode. This information represents

A) an aetiology.
B) a prognosis.
C) a diagnosis.
D) a histology.

Question 20

Troy's best friend was seriously injured in a car accident last month. Since that time Troy has been attending all his classes, but he feels like he is unable to pay attention because he is constantly thinking about his friend. Troy finds he can't seem to think about anything else, and he is frequently overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness. In this example, Troy's feelings would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) culturally deviant.
C) maladaptive.
D) compulsive.

Question 21

Stuart feels like he has been worrying constantly for the past four months. He is worried about making his car payments, losing his job and how his children are doing in school. He has also started to experience dizziness and occasional heart palpitations. In this case, Stuart's symptoms are MOST consistent with

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) hypochondriasis.

Question 22

Thandi is so terrified of fire that she cannot light a match or even enjoy dinner by candlelight. Thandi is most likely suffering from

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 23

If a psychological disorder results in an individual having difficulty completing routine or necessary everyday activities, the individual's behaviour would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) incompetent.
C) maladaptive.
D) deviant.

Question 24

All of the following are considered anxiety disorders EXCEPT

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) phobic disorder.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 25

Which of the following is a common stereotype about psychological disorders?

A) Psychological disorders are curable.
B) Psychological disorders are a function of biophysiological factors.
C) People with psychological disorders are violent and dangerous.
D) People with psychological disorders are not very different from normal people.

Question 26

Alvin suffers from both major depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Alvin's diagnoses illustrate that mental disorders can be

A) categorical.
B) comorbid.
C) confounded.
D) epidemiological.

Question 27

Epidemiology is the study of

A) the distribution of mental or physical disorders in a population.
B) treatments for psychological disorders.
C) sudden "epidemics" involving specific mental or physical disorders.
D) how cultural values affect judgments of abnormality.

Question 28

Epidemiological studies of psychological disorders suggest that

A) nearly everyone who needs treatment for psychological disorders receives it.
B) epidemics involving psychological disorders are common.
C) psychological disorders are more common than many people realise.
D) there has been a significant decrease in prevalence rates of mental illness in the United States in recent years.

Question 29

The difference between a phobia and a normal fear is that a phobia

A) involves a cognitive component as well as behavioural responses.
B) is characterised by an increase in heart rate.
C) interferes with everyday behaviour.
D) only takes place when the actual object is present.

Question 30

Dr de Klerk is a psychiatrist who argues that different diagnoses represent similar underlying psychological symptoms. Dr de Klerk is, therefore, likely to argue for a _________ approach to diagnosis.

A) comorbid
B) categorical
C) dimensional
D) epidemiological

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT one of the three most common types of psychological disorders?

A) mood disorders
B) schizophrenia
C) substance (alcohol and drug) use disorders
D) anxiety disorders

Question 32

The disorder that is characterised by worry and fear, muscle tension, trembling, faintness and difficulty in concentrating is known as a

A) conversion disorder.
B) paranoid disorder.
C) dissociative disorder.
D) generalised anxiety disorder.

Question 33

Tom displays very odd behaviour. He wears a heavy overcoat and mittens during the summer and lectures from the steps of City Hall about upcoming invasions by men from outer space. Most likely, Tom has a psychological disorder since his behaviour meets the criterion of

A) deviance.
B) maladaptive behaviour.
C) personal distress.
D) cognitive confusion.

Question 34

While walking through a shopping centre, you suddenly have an intense feeling of dread, notice your heart beating strongly, feel like you are suffocating and find yourself running for the nearest exit. You would be exhibiting symptoms of

A) mania.
B) acrophobia.
C) schizophrenia.
D) panic disorder.

Question 35

The cartoon character Charlie Brown, with his extreme dread, pessimism, worrying and brooding, could be diagnosed as having

A) a generalised anxiety disorder.
B) a phobic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 36

In regard to psychological disorders, prevalence refers to

A) the percentage of a population that exhibits a disorder during a specified time period.
B) the absolute number of people who are experiencing any psychological disorder at a given point in time.
C) the reliability of the diagnosis of psychological disorders.
D) the percentage of a population that has ever been treated for a psychological disorder.

Question 37

David washes his hands at least 50 times a day, even though his hands are rarely dirty. David's behaviour is an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a phobia.
C) a compulsion.
D) a delusion.

Question 38

Magda is afraid to leave her home to go shopping or even go to work; she avoids all public places. Magda suffers from a disorder known as

A) agoraphobia.
B) brontophobia.
C) simple phobia.
D) claustrophobia.

Question 39

The study of the incidence and distribution of mental or physical disorders within a population defines the discipline known as

A) aetiology.
B) epidemiology.
C) psychobiology.
D) demography.

Question 40

Elise is so terrified of enclosed places that she had to quit her new job because her office had no windows. She knows that her fear is irrational, but she can't seem to control her anxiety. In this case, Elise's symptoms are most consistent with

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) a phobic disorder.
C) Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) a conversion disorder.

Question 41

A person who checks his alarm clock 20 times before going to sleep is being

A) compulsive.
B) obsessive.
C) phobic.
D) amnesiac.

Question 42

A concordance rate indicates

A) the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same disorder.
B) agreement rates between physicians in diagnosing psychological disorders.
C) the degree to which psychological factors affect physical health.
D) the degree to which biological factors affect psychological adjustment.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT among the common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder?

A) an increase in psychosomatic diseases
B) the presence of nightmares and flashbacks
C) an increased sense of vulnerability
D) increased problems with social relations

Question 44

Selena constantly thinks about climbing up the stairs to the roof of her building and jumping into the street below. Selena's uncontrollable thoughts could be considered an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a compulsion.
C) a hallucination.
D) a delusion.

Question 45

An unwanted thought that repeatedly intrudes upon an individual's consciousness is called

A) a delusion.
B) an obsession.
C) a compulsion.
D) a hallucination.

Question 46

The results of both twin and family studies suggest that for anxiety disorders

A) there is no evidence for heritability of anxiety.
B) there is a moderate genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders.
C) there is a strong genetic predisposition to anxiety disorder.
D) anxiety disorders do not run in families.

Question 47

According to Seligman's concept of "preparedness", which of the following stimuli should one develop a phobia toward MOST easily?

A) chairs
B) monkeys
C) heights
D) certain numbers

Question 48

An anxiety disorder that typically follows a very painful event, and is characterised by a reliving of that event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event or numbing of general responsiveness is

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) panic disorder.
D) post-traumatic stress disorder.

Question 49

Recent research into the possibility of a neurochemical basis for anxiety disorders has generated evidence that suggests that anxiety disorders may result from

A) disturbances in the neural circuits using norepinephrine.
B) disturbances in the neural circuits using GABA.
C) too much activity in the neural circuits using serotonin.
D) too little activity in the neural circuits using serotonin.

Question 50

Greg seems to be preoccupied with the possibility that he might miss an important message from someone in his family. He checks for new messages on his answering machine every 15 minutes. Greg's constant checking for messages could be considered an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a hallucination.
C) a delusion.
D) a compulsion.

Question 51

Four years have passed since the death of Bill's eldest son, and still Bill experiences bouts of depression and anxiety when he thinks about the tragic accident that led to his son's death. This lingering depression and anxiety is characteristic of

A) burnout.
B) post-traumatic stress disorder.
C) type A behaviour.
D) amotivational syndrome.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder?

A) problems in social relations
B) irrational thought
C) nightmares and flashbacks
D) emotional numbing

Question 53

"Preparedness" is a term coined by Seligman that refers to

A) a biological predisposition to be easily conditioned to fear certain things.
B) the physical state or condition associated with a panic attack.
C) psychological processes that accompany obsessive-compulsive behaviour patterns.
D) a particular type of learning situation in which negatively reinforced behaviours reduce the level of one's generalised anxiety disorder.

Question 54

Your friend's mother is afraid of squirrels. Although she knows squirrels are basically harmless, she cannot control her anxiety when she sees either a real squirrel or a picture of a squirrel. She never took your friend to the local park when he was a child because of the numerous squirrels. Your friend's mother has

A) panic disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) generalised anxiety disorder.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 55

The anxiety disorder characterised by persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts and urges to engage in senseless rituals or behaviours is

A) post-traumatic stress disorder.
B) generalised anxiety disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 56

Molefe constantly thinks about jumping in front of an oncoming car when she is walking. The only way she seems to be able to stop these self-destructive thoughts is to say nursery rhymes over and over to herself. In this case, Molefe's symptoms are most consistent with

A) generalised anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) bipolar disorder.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 57

Abnormalities in neural circuits that use ____ have recently been implicated in panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

A) dopamine
B) acetylcholine
C) serotonin
D) endorphin

Question 58

Alina has a psychological disorder, and her doctor has prescribed a drug that affects the levels of GABA in her nervous system. Based on this information, it is MOST likely that Alina is being treated for

A) a schizophrenic disorder.
B) an anxiety disorder.
C) a dissociative disorder.
D) a somatoform disorder.

Question 59

According to Mowrer, phobic responses are acquired through ____ conditioning and maintained through ____ conditioning.

A) classical; operant
B) classical; classical
C) operant; classical
D) operant; operant

Question 60

A college student faced with upcoming exams and term papers responds to his resulting feelings of anxiety by reorganising his notes, rearranging his bookshelves, cleaning out his desk drawer and straightening up his closet. He would be showing symptoms of

A) claustrophobia.
B) psychogenic fugue.
C) disorganised schizophrenia.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 61

Who would be MOST likely to worry about driving home from work while it is snowing because he recalls "the last time I drove home in the snow I skidded and almost had an accident?"

A) Bheki, who has a somatoform disorder.
B) Jonas, who has a schizophrenic disorder.
C) Dion, who has a dissociative disorder.
D) Achmed, who has an anxiety disorder.

Question 62

Jerry's mother always dwelled on the dangers of roller coasters. She frequently reminded Jerry of the dangers and expressed fear anytime the family visited an amusement park. Because of his mother's behaviour, Jerry would be MOST likely to develop

A) phobic disorder.
B) histrionic personality disorder.
C) obsessive compulsive disorder.
D) dependent personality disorder.

Question 63

Conditioning theories of anxiety disorders are being revised to include more emphasis on

A) constitutional factors.
B) genetic factors.
C) neurotransmitter factors.
D) cognitive factors.

Question 64

Typically, an individual who has which of the following anxiety disorders would be MOST successful in controlling her anxiety?

A) post-traumatic stress disorder
B) panic disorder
C) generalised anxiety disorder
D) phobic disorder

Question 65

A "John Doe" walked into the police station and reported that he had an unusual problem. He could not remember anything about himself, not where he lived or worked or even his name. The police took him to the local hospital where he was evaluated and found to have no physical injuries. "John Doe's" symptoms are MOST consistent with

A) schizophrenic disorder.
B) dissociative identity disorder.
C) dissociative amnesia.
D) dissociative fugue.

Question 66

Seligman's concept of preparedness best accounts for the development of

A) post-traumatic stress disorder.
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
C) an elevator phobia.
D) a spider phobia.

Question 67

A person is shy, timid and wary of others. Research suggests such a temperament put the person at risk for developing

A) schizophrenia.
B) a mood disorder.
C) a somatoform disorder.
D) an anxiety disorder.

Question 68

The conditioning and learning explanation for the etiology of anxiety disorders best accounts for the development and maintenance of

A) phobic disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) post-traumatic stress disorder.
D) generalised anxiety disorder.

Question 69

If your careless smoking caused your family's home to burn down, you would be MOST likely to develop which of the following psychological disorders?

A) dissociative amnesia
B) dissociative identity disorder
C) dissociative depressive disorder
D) dissociative fugue

Question 70

According to Ohman and Mineka, an evolved module

A) is automatically activated by stimuli relating to survival threats.
B) is not resistant to intentional efforts to suppress a resulting fear.
C) allows a person to eliminate a fear-provoking stimulus in an effective way.
D) are learned through classical and operant forms of conditioning.

Question 71

The class of psychological disorders characterised by people losing contact with portions of their consciousness or memory, which results in disruption in their sense of identity is

A) schizophrenic disorders.
B) somatoform disorders.
C) dissociative disorders.
D) mood disorders.

Question 72

Which temperament is characterised by shyness, timidity and wariness?

A) choleric
B) inhibited
C) sanguine
D) pensive

Question 73

Recent studies have also shown that anxiety disorders may also be related to

A) stress.
B) abusive parenting.
C) inconsistent parenting.
D) personality factors like neuroticism.

Question 74

A type of dissociative disorder characterised by sudden loss of memory concerning a limited period of time, usually after a particularly stressful or traumatic event, is

A) dissociative amnesia.
B) dissociative fugue.
C) dissociative identity disorder.
D) dissociative depressive disorder.

Question 75

Ohman and Mineka's concept of the "evolved module for fear learning" is an update of the notion of

A) reaction range.
B) preparedness.
C) heritability.
D) post-traumatic stress.

Question 76

The psychological disorder that involves the coexistence in one person of two or more largely complete, and usually very different, personalities is

A) schizophrenic disorder.
B) dissociative identity disorder.
C) dissociative fugue.
D) dissociative amnesia.

Question 77

The class of disorders in which people lose contact with portions of their consciousness or memory resulting in disruptions in their sense of identity is known as the

A) somatoform disorders.
B) psychosomatic disorders.
C) anxiety disorders.
D) dissociative disorders.

Question 78

Alexia started a new job on Monday morning. For the first three days she showed up in bright colours and was outgoing and extroverted. However, on Thursday she showed up in a dark suit and appeared shy and introverted. She insisted that her name was Clara, and she couldn't understand why her co-workers kept calling her Alexia. In this example, Alexia is showing symptoms that are consistent with

A) bipolar disorder.
B) dissociative identity disorder.
C) disorganised schizophrenia.
D) antisocial personality disorder.

Question 79

According to Ohman and Mineka, an evolved module

A) is consciously activated.
B) is relatively resistant to intentional efforts to suppress a resulting fear.
C) allows a person to eliminate a fear-provoking stimulus in an effective way.
D) are learned through classical and operant forms of conditioning.

Question 80

Which of the following statements is NOT correct? The separate personalities that coexist in an individual with dissociative identity disorder

A) may differ in age, sex or race.
B) are usually all aware of the existence of the other personalities.
C) may have their own name, personality traits and physical mannerisms.
D) may switch from one personality to another suddenly.