Psychopathol Exam
Questions and
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,What is psychopathology? - Correct Answer: The field devoted to the scientific study of abnormal
behavior to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning (aka
treatment/psychological intervention)
What are the 4 D's? What does it define? - Correct Answer: Deviance
Distress
Dysfunction
Danger
Defines psychopathology/abnormality
What is deviance? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Deviance from behaviors, thoughts, and
emotions that differ from society's ideas about proper functioning (social norms); statistical rarity
explains deviance as if it's really rare for people to experience abnormality
It assumes that everyone has the ability to do something; there is no universal standard fro social
norms; statistical rarity mis includes common disorders that still create difficulties in people's lives; not
all things that are rare are bad, and some problematic/harmful behaviors are NOT rare (e.g., alcoholism)
What is distress? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Behaviors, ideas, or emotions have to cause
distress before they can be labeled abnormal
Symptoms of mental illness do not always cause distress; also, some forms of suffering are so normative
that a LACK of suffering can sometimes be indicative of pathology
What is dysfunction? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Abnormal behaviors tend to be dysfunctional
(it interferes with daily functioning)
Mental illness can sometimes be seen as functional (e.g., PTSD and avoidance); also, the definition of
"functional" is subjective
What is danger? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Abnormal behavior may become dangerous to
oneself or others (careless, hostile, confused behavior)
, Not all mental disorders cause danger to the individual or those around them
What is treatment? - Correct Answer: Systematic procedures used to improve mental health
What is trepination? - Correct Answer: Involves the use of a stone instrument to cut away a circular
section of the skull (which allows the spirit to leave)
What did ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Hebrew cultures tend to attribute abnormal
behavior/psychopathology to? - Correct Answer: Possession by demons (some supernatural
explanation) and used exorcism as treatment
What explanation did Hippocrates propose for psychopathology? - Correct Answer: Believed that illness
has natural causes
Looked to an unbalance of the four fluids, or humors
What are the four humors? How did these attribute to health, according to Hippocrates? - Correct
Answer: Yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm
Believed that all of the humors had to be balanced in order to remain healthy; if unbalanced, it could
lead to psychological problems
How did Hippocrates treat the imbalance of the humors? - Correct Answer: Recommended lifestyle
changes
Believed depression, specifically, to be an excess of black bile. So, have to exercise more frequently,
abstain from sex and alcohol, get more sleep, and eat a better diet
What were conditions like in asylums during the Renaissance? - Correct Answer: Virtual prisons due to
overcrowding
People had no autonomy, poorly treated, couldn't leave their cells
Questions and
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,What is psychopathology? - Correct Answer: The field devoted to the scientific study of abnormal
behavior to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning (aka
treatment/psychological intervention)
What are the 4 D's? What does it define? - Correct Answer: Deviance
Distress
Dysfunction
Danger
Defines psychopathology/abnormality
What is deviance? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Deviance from behaviors, thoughts, and
emotions that differ from society's ideas about proper functioning (social norms); statistical rarity
explains deviance as if it's really rare for people to experience abnormality
It assumes that everyone has the ability to do something; there is no universal standard fro social
norms; statistical rarity mis includes common disorders that still create difficulties in people's lives; not
all things that are rare are bad, and some problematic/harmful behaviors are NOT rare (e.g., alcoholism)
What is distress? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Behaviors, ideas, or emotions have to cause
distress before they can be labeled abnormal
Symptoms of mental illness do not always cause distress; also, some forms of suffering are so normative
that a LACK of suffering can sometimes be indicative of pathology
What is dysfunction? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Abnormal behaviors tend to be dysfunctional
(it interferes with daily functioning)
Mental illness can sometimes be seen as functional (e.g., PTSD and avoidance); also, the definition of
"functional" is subjective
What is danger? Limitations/flaws? - Correct Answer: Abnormal behavior may become dangerous to
oneself or others (careless, hostile, confused behavior)
, Not all mental disorders cause danger to the individual or those around them
What is treatment? - Correct Answer: Systematic procedures used to improve mental health
What is trepination? - Correct Answer: Involves the use of a stone instrument to cut away a circular
section of the skull (which allows the spirit to leave)
What did ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Hebrew cultures tend to attribute abnormal
behavior/psychopathology to? - Correct Answer: Possession by demons (some supernatural
explanation) and used exorcism as treatment
What explanation did Hippocrates propose for psychopathology? - Correct Answer: Believed that illness
has natural causes
Looked to an unbalance of the four fluids, or humors
What are the four humors? How did these attribute to health, according to Hippocrates? - Correct
Answer: Yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm
Believed that all of the humors had to be balanced in order to remain healthy; if unbalanced, it could
lead to psychological problems
How did Hippocrates treat the imbalance of the humors? - Correct Answer: Recommended lifestyle
changes
Believed depression, specifically, to be an excess of black bile. So, have to exercise more frequently,
abstain from sex and alcohol, get more sleep, and eat a better diet
What were conditions like in asylums during the Renaissance? - Correct Answer: Virtual prisons due to
overcrowding
People had no autonomy, poorly treated, couldn't leave their cells
