Abnormal Psych | Assessment Questions and Answers with
100% Correct Answers | Latest Version
Question 1.
What is abnormal psychology?
Correct Answer: the scientific study of the symptoms and causes of behavioral
and mental disorders whose objectives are to describe explain predict and
modify behaviors associated with mental disorders o Explain: etiology o
Describe behavior: diagnosis o Modify Behavior: treatment/psychotherapy o
Predict: risk assessment, civil commitment
Question 2.
How do we differentiate between normal and abnormal behaviors?
Correct Answer: Significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation, or
behavior caused by a dysfunction in the basic psychological biological or
developmental processes involved in normal behavior Causes significant
distress or difficulty in day to day functioning
Question 3.
what societal factors affect definitions of abnormality?
Correct Answer: Abnormal behavior is labeled because it is different •Defining
symptoms of mental illness can be extremely subjective; decisions about what is
normal or abnormal are influenced by the background of the mental health
professional evaluating the symptoms and the cultural context in which the
behavior or symptom occur What is normal anyway?
- Our Culture affects this
Question 4.
How common are mental disorders?
Correct Answer: Very common in all ages, and widespread - however a lot of
people are not receiving treatment because of the stigma involved.
Question 5.
What is the difference between cultural relativism and
Correct Answer: Cultural relativism: the belief that lifestyles, cultural values,
and worldviews affect the expression and definition of mental disorders.
Cultural Universality: the assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists
whose manifestations and symptoms are similar across cultures
Question 6.
Why is it important to confront the stigma and stereo- typing associated with mental
illness?
, Correct Answer: Because people who need the help are not receiving it because
of the stigma involved. There is public stigma as well as private stigma with the
self So important because help seeking can allow feelings of empowerment,
better quality of life, and lower self stigma - we need to shift our orientation and
break code of silence
Question 7.
How have explanations of abnormal behavior changed over time? (Key contributors to
these changes: Hippocrates, Galen, Pinel & Kraeplin)
Correct Answer: Prehistoric/Ancient Beliefs: Abnormal behavior was evil spirits
trying to get out Roman thoughts: Hippocrates had more of a rational and
scientific explanation believed that bad behavior caused disease of brain, also
heredity and environment influences, and gave three classes of mental illness
mania, melancholia (sadness), and phrenitis (brain fever) o Plato: said people
with mental illness were responsibility of their families and should NOT be
punished. o Galen- examined the nervous system and brain and role in mental
functioning
• 18th and 19th century- Moral treatment movement - no more asulums but
replaced with hospitals o Pinel- took control of a hospital - removed the chains
and gave sunny rooms- much improvement
• Often was influenced from social and intellectual atmosphere of the time-
revolutionary war Kraeplin: Observed symptoms tend to cluster- DSM
Question 8.
What were early explanations regarding the causes of mental disorders?
Correct Answer: Evil spirits- witch craft Syndromes (Kraeplin - observed that
certain symptoms tend to occur in clusters called syndromes) - each cluster was
a disorder
• Her textbook - (textbook of Psychiatry)- helped classify mental illness based
on physiological causes (early DSM) - DSM will not give causes or cures just
classify
• Pasteur - Germ theory - germs cause mental disorders o Mesmer- Hypnotism =
cured hysteria by miracles - illuminated the power of suggestion o Cathartic
method- therapeutic use of verbal expression to release emotion Breuer - later
influenced Freud o Behaviorism: assumes that external conditions determine
behaviors
Question 9.
What are the contemporary trends in abnormal psychology?
Correct Answer: Multicultural Psychology oBranch that focuses on culture, race,
gender, ethnicity, age, SES, - help to understand behavior •Recovery
psychology- Philosophy that with appropriate treatment and support those with
mental illness can improve and live satisfying lives even with any limitations
caused by there illness - focused on optimism and collaborative support •The
drug revolution - used to be that someone with mental illness would be
institutionalized now because of drugs- and better therapy no more
100% Correct Answers | Latest Version
Question 1.
What is abnormal psychology?
Correct Answer: the scientific study of the symptoms and causes of behavioral
and mental disorders whose objectives are to describe explain predict and
modify behaviors associated with mental disorders o Explain: etiology o
Describe behavior: diagnosis o Modify Behavior: treatment/psychotherapy o
Predict: risk assessment, civil commitment
Question 2.
How do we differentiate between normal and abnormal behaviors?
Correct Answer: Significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation, or
behavior caused by a dysfunction in the basic psychological biological or
developmental processes involved in normal behavior Causes significant
distress or difficulty in day to day functioning
Question 3.
what societal factors affect definitions of abnormality?
Correct Answer: Abnormal behavior is labeled because it is different •Defining
symptoms of mental illness can be extremely subjective; decisions about what is
normal or abnormal are influenced by the background of the mental health
professional evaluating the symptoms and the cultural context in which the
behavior or symptom occur What is normal anyway?
- Our Culture affects this
Question 4.
How common are mental disorders?
Correct Answer: Very common in all ages, and widespread - however a lot of
people are not receiving treatment because of the stigma involved.
Question 5.
What is the difference between cultural relativism and
Correct Answer: Cultural relativism: the belief that lifestyles, cultural values,
and worldviews affect the expression and definition of mental disorders.
Cultural Universality: the assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists
whose manifestations and symptoms are similar across cultures
Question 6.
Why is it important to confront the stigma and stereo- typing associated with mental
illness?
, Correct Answer: Because people who need the help are not receiving it because
of the stigma involved. There is public stigma as well as private stigma with the
self So important because help seeking can allow feelings of empowerment,
better quality of life, and lower self stigma - we need to shift our orientation and
break code of silence
Question 7.
How have explanations of abnormal behavior changed over time? (Key contributors to
these changes: Hippocrates, Galen, Pinel & Kraeplin)
Correct Answer: Prehistoric/Ancient Beliefs: Abnormal behavior was evil spirits
trying to get out Roman thoughts: Hippocrates had more of a rational and
scientific explanation believed that bad behavior caused disease of brain, also
heredity and environment influences, and gave three classes of mental illness
mania, melancholia (sadness), and phrenitis (brain fever) o Plato: said people
with mental illness were responsibility of their families and should NOT be
punished. o Galen- examined the nervous system and brain and role in mental
functioning
• 18th and 19th century- Moral treatment movement - no more asulums but
replaced with hospitals o Pinel- took control of a hospital - removed the chains
and gave sunny rooms- much improvement
• Often was influenced from social and intellectual atmosphere of the time-
revolutionary war Kraeplin: Observed symptoms tend to cluster- DSM
Question 8.
What were early explanations regarding the causes of mental disorders?
Correct Answer: Evil spirits- witch craft Syndromes (Kraeplin - observed that
certain symptoms tend to occur in clusters called syndromes) - each cluster was
a disorder
• Her textbook - (textbook of Psychiatry)- helped classify mental illness based
on physiological causes (early DSM) - DSM will not give causes or cures just
classify
• Pasteur - Germ theory - germs cause mental disorders o Mesmer- Hypnotism =
cured hysteria by miracles - illuminated the power of suggestion o Cathartic
method- therapeutic use of verbal expression to release emotion Breuer - later
influenced Freud o Behaviorism: assumes that external conditions determine
behaviors
Question 9.
What are the contemporary trends in abnormal psychology?
Correct Answer: Multicultural Psychology oBranch that focuses on culture, race,
gender, ethnicity, age, SES, - help to understand behavior •Recovery
psychology- Philosophy that with appropriate treatment and support those with
mental illness can improve and live satisfying lives even with any limitations
caused by there illness - focused on optimism and collaborative support •The
drug revolution - used to be that someone with mental illness would be
institutionalized now because of drugs- and better therapy no more
