PSYC 435 Abnormal Psychology | Actual Exam
Chapters 1-3 Questions with Verified Solutions –
A+ Graded
1.1 Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders.
➢ Subjective distress: If people suffer or experience psychological pain we are
inclined to consider this as indicative of abnormality.
➢ Mal adaptiveness: Maladaptive behavior is often an indicator of abnormality.
➢ Statistical deviancy: The word abnormal literally means “away from the
normal.” But simply considering statistically rare behavior to be abnormal does
not provide us with a solution to our problem of defining abnormality.
➢ Violation of the standards of society: All cultures have rules. Some of these are
formaliẓed as laws. Others form the norms and moral standards that we are
taught to follow. Although many social rules are arbitrary to some extent,
when people fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of their
cultural group, we may consider their behavior abnormal.
➢ Social discomfort: Not all rules are explicit. And not all rules bother us when
they are violated. Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or unwritten
social rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or
unease.
➢ Irrationality and unpredictability: As we have already noted, we expect people to
behave in certain ways. Although a little unconventionality may add some spice
to life, there is a point at which we are likely to consider a given unorthodox
behavior abnormal.
➢ Dangerousness: It seems quite reasonable to think that someone who is a danger
to him- or herself or to another person must be psychologically abnormal.
➢ Within DSM-5, a mental disorder is defined as a syn- drome that is present
, in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbance in
behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive functioning.
1.2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification.
Advantages
o Classification systems provide us with a nomenclature (a naming
system).
o Enable us to structure information in a more helpful manner.
o Organiẓing information within a classification system also
allows us to study the different disorders that we classify and
therefore to learn new things
o The classification of mental disorders has social and political
implications Simply put, defining the domain of what is considered
to be pathological establishes the range of problems that the
mental health profession can address.
Disadvantages
o As we simplify through classification, we inevitably lose an
array of personal details about the actual person who has the
disorder.
o Stigma (disgrace) associated with having a psychiatric diagnosis.
o Stereotyping.
, o Stigma can be perpetuated by the problem of labeling. A
person’s self- concept may be directly affected by being given a
diagnosis of schiẓophrenia, depression, or some other form of
mental illness.
1.3 Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal and describe two
different culture-specific disorders.
o Behaviour that is considered abnormal in one culture can be perfectly normal in
another country. For example, taijin kyofusho is a disorder that is prevalent in
Japan. It is characteriẓed by the fear that one may upset others by one’s gaẓe,
facial expression, or body odor. Another culturally rooted expression of distress,
found in people of Latino descent, especially those from the Caribbean, is ataque
de nervios or an “attack of nerves” (Liẓardi et al., 2009; Lopeẓ & Guarnaccia,
2005). This is a clinical syndrome that does not seem to correspond to any
specific diagnosis within the DSM. The symptoms of an ataque de nervios, which
is often triggered by a stressful event such as divorce or bereavement, include
crying, trembling, and uncontrollable screaming. There is also a sense of being
out of control. Sometimes the person may become physically or verbally
aggressive. Alternately, the person may faint or experience a seiẓure-like fit. Once
the ataque is over, the person may promptly resume his or her normal manner,
with little or no memory of the incident.
1.4 Distinguish between incidence and prevalence and identify the most
common and prevalent mental disorders. How is illness severity associated with
comorbidity?
o Prevalence refers to the number of active cases in a population during any given
, period of time.
o Point prevalence refers to the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a
disorder in a given population at a given point in time.
o incidence. This refers to the number of new cases that occur over a given period
of time (typically 1 year).
o The most common and prevalent metal disorders are anxiety related disorders
o Comorbidity is the term used to describe the presence of two or more disorders
in the same person. Comorbidity is especially high in people who have severe
forms of mental disorders.
1.5 Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting.
o Abnormal psychology research can take place in clinics, hospitals, schools,
prisons, and even highly unstructured contexts such as naturalistic observations
of the homeless on the
Chapters 1-3 Questions with Verified Solutions –
A+ Graded
1.1 Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders.
➢ Subjective distress: If people suffer or experience psychological pain we are
inclined to consider this as indicative of abnormality.
➢ Mal adaptiveness: Maladaptive behavior is often an indicator of abnormality.
➢ Statistical deviancy: The word abnormal literally means “away from the
normal.” But simply considering statistically rare behavior to be abnormal does
not provide us with a solution to our problem of defining abnormality.
➢ Violation of the standards of society: All cultures have rules. Some of these are
formaliẓed as laws. Others form the norms and moral standards that we are
taught to follow. Although many social rules are arbitrary to some extent,
when people fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of their
cultural group, we may consider their behavior abnormal.
➢ Social discomfort: Not all rules are explicit. And not all rules bother us when
they are violated. Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or unwritten
social rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or
unease.
➢ Irrationality and unpredictability: As we have already noted, we expect people to
behave in certain ways. Although a little unconventionality may add some spice
to life, there is a point at which we are likely to consider a given unorthodox
behavior abnormal.
➢ Dangerousness: It seems quite reasonable to think that someone who is a danger
to him- or herself or to another person must be psychologically abnormal.
➢ Within DSM-5, a mental disorder is defined as a syn- drome that is present
, in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbance in
behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive functioning.
1.2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification.
Advantages
o Classification systems provide us with a nomenclature (a naming
system).
o Enable us to structure information in a more helpful manner.
o Organiẓing information within a classification system also
allows us to study the different disorders that we classify and
therefore to learn new things
o The classification of mental disorders has social and political
implications Simply put, defining the domain of what is considered
to be pathological establishes the range of problems that the
mental health profession can address.
Disadvantages
o As we simplify through classification, we inevitably lose an
array of personal details about the actual person who has the
disorder.
o Stigma (disgrace) associated with having a psychiatric diagnosis.
o Stereotyping.
, o Stigma can be perpetuated by the problem of labeling. A
person’s self- concept may be directly affected by being given a
diagnosis of schiẓophrenia, depression, or some other form of
mental illness.
1.3 Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal and describe two
different culture-specific disorders.
o Behaviour that is considered abnormal in one culture can be perfectly normal in
another country. For example, taijin kyofusho is a disorder that is prevalent in
Japan. It is characteriẓed by the fear that one may upset others by one’s gaẓe,
facial expression, or body odor. Another culturally rooted expression of distress,
found in people of Latino descent, especially those from the Caribbean, is ataque
de nervios or an “attack of nerves” (Liẓardi et al., 2009; Lopeẓ & Guarnaccia,
2005). This is a clinical syndrome that does not seem to correspond to any
specific diagnosis within the DSM. The symptoms of an ataque de nervios, which
is often triggered by a stressful event such as divorce or bereavement, include
crying, trembling, and uncontrollable screaming. There is also a sense of being
out of control. Sometimes the person may become physically or verbally
aggressive. Alternately, the person may faint or experience a seiẓure-like fit. Once
the ataque is over, the person may promptly resume his or her normal manner,
with little or no memory of the incident.
1.4 Distinguish between incidence and prevalence and identify the most
common and prevalent mental disorders. How is illness severity associated with
comorbidity?
o Prevalence refers to the number of active cases in a population during any given
, period of time.
o Point prevalence refers to the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a
disorder in a given population at a given point in time.
o incidence. This refers to the number of new cases that occur over a given period
of time (typically 1 year).
o The most common and prevalent metal disorders are anxiety related disorders
o Comorbidity is the term used to describe the presence of two or more disorders
in the same person. Comorbidity is especially high in people who have severe
forms of mental disorders.
1.5 Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting.
o Abnormal psychology research can take place in clinics, hospitals, schools,
prisons, and even highly unstructured contexts such as naturalistic observations
of the homeless on the
