Question 1

Clinical interventions that are not grounded in psychological science can harm children and families. Which of the following is NOT a way identified in the text that scientifically uninformed practice can hurt clients?

Accepted Answer

A) Ineffective treatments can cause parents to lose hope in psychology and treatment in general. 
B) Ineffective interventions can cost parents time and money. 
C) Ineffective treatments can cause parents to become angry or depressed 
D) Ineffective treatments can be physically harmful to children. C

Question 2

Approximately what percentage of children and adolescents in the United States is currently taking a psychotropic medication?

Accepted Answer

A) 0.5% 
B) 5.0% 
C) 15% 
D) 50% B

Question 3

What does "probabilistic epigenesis" mean?

Accepted Answer

A) Biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors cause development to unfold over time in a manner that is not predetermined 
B) Genetics influence children's biological development which, in turn, affects their psychological functioning. 
C) Children's outcomes in adulthood can be traced back to early risk or protective factors in early life. 
D) Genetic and biological factors play the largest role in shaping child development, but psychological and social factors can alter developmental trajectories over time. A

Question 4

Epidemiologists often report the prevalence of a medical or psychological disorder. What is "prevalence?"

Accepted Answer

A) The number of people in a population with a given disorder 
B) The percentage of people in a population with a given disorder 
C) The number of new cases of a disorder in a population 
D) The percentage of new cases of a disorder in a population

Question 5

A psychologist is about to begin therapy with an adolescent and her family. Which of the following is NOT a component of informed consent?

Accepted Answer

A) The therapist should tell the family approximately how long therapy will last. 
B) The therapist should tell the family her theoretical orientation. 
C) The therapist should tell the family how much therapy will cost. 
D) The therapist should tell the family about limitations to confidentiality in therapy.

Question 6

Wakefield's (1992) concept of "harmful dysfunction" …

Accepted Answer

A) Provides criteria for differentiating normal from abnormal behavior. 
B) Requires all mental disorders to have an underlying biological cause. 
C) Asserts that genetic and biological factors play a greater role in psychopathology than social-cultural factors. 
D) Assumes that a biological or medical cause of a person's psychopathology has been ruled out before a psychiatric diagnosis is assigned

Question 7

Which of the following scenarios provides the best description of a "multiple relationship?"

Accepted Answer

A) A psychologist agrees to provide therapy to his best friend's son. 
B) A psychologist works as both a therapist and a researcher at a university. 
C) A therapist works a full-time job on weekdays and also sees clients on weekends and evenings. 
D) A psychologist pays an advertising agency to produce brochures for her new clinic

Question 8

Which of the following is the most common psychiatric disorder among children and adolescents in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) ADHD 
B) Anxiety Disorders 
C) Autism Spectrum Disorder 
D) Conduct Disorder

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an essential component of the DSM-5 definition of a mental disorder?

Accepted Answer

A) A pattern of behavior that occurs within an individual 
B) A behavior that reflects an underlying dysfunction 
C) The consequences of the behavior cause distress or disability 
D) The behavior goes against the standards or norms of the society

Question 10

According to Tolan and Dodge (2005), children and adolescents often have difficulty accessing high quality mental health services. Which of the following is NOT a barrier to mental health treatment identified by these authors?

Accepted Answer

A) Parents are in denial that their children have mental or behavioral problems. 
B) Parents cannot afford mental health services 
C) Parents cannot find professionals training in providing high quality services 
D) Parents are afraid of stigmatizing their children with a mental diagnosis.

Question 11

In which of the following situation is it probably NOT ethical to violate a client's confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

A) A judge orders a therapist to provide information about a client to help him render a decision about a case. 
B) A teacher asks a therapist to provide information about her student so that she can help improve his reading and math skills. 
C) A therapist suspects that her client might be neglected by his parents. 
D) A client threatens to kill her ex-husband during a therapy session.

Question 12

How do developmental psychopathologists differentiate normal and abnormal child behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Behavior that interferes with children's competence and does not meet the demands of the environment 
B) Behavior that leads to psychological distress, impairment, and risk of harm to self or others 
C) Behavior that leads to psychological distress, impairment, or risk of harm to self or others 
D) Behavior that leads children down aberrant developmental pathways

Question 13

What is the main difference between the APA General Ethical Principles and the Ethical Standards?

Accepted Answer

A) Only APA members need to follow the General Principles, but everyone must follow the Standards. 
B) The General Principles outline rules and the Standards give examples of situations in which rules might be applied 
C) The General Principles describe ethical violations whereas the Standards describe violations of the law. 
D) The General Principles are not enforceable rules whereas the Standards are enforceable.

Question 14

Dora, Elaine, and Fatima all had fathers who abused alcohol and other drugs. Dora and Elaine developed depression and anxiety in early adolescence, but Fatima did not. These three girls illustrate the principles of

Accepted Answer

A) incompetence 
B) developmental pathways 
C) equifinality 
D) multifinality

Question 15

What is the scientist-practitioner model approach to understanding and treating child psychopathology?

Accepted Answer

A) Psychological research and clinical practice are important, connected professional activities. 
B) Psychological research and clinical practice require professional training, study and specialization. 
C) Researchers should disseminate their knowledge of psychopathology to clinicians who can use it to help families. 
D) Psychologists should do both psychological research and clinical practice.

Exam 1: The Science and Practice of Abnormal Child Psychology