Spencer A. Rathus 9781305662704 Chapter 1-14 Complete
Guide
Define psychological disorders and describe their prevalence. - ANSWER: Psychological disorders are
behaviors or mental processes that are connected with various kinds of distress or significant
impairment in functioning and meet some combination of the following criteria:
• They are unusual.
• They suggest faulty perception or interpretation of reality.
• They suggest severe personal distress.
• They are self-defeating.
• They are dangerous.
• The individual's behavior is socially unacceptable.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, compiled by the American Psychiatric
Association, classifies psychological disorders.
psychological disorders - ANSWER: patterns of behavior or mental processes that are connected with
emotional distress or significant impairment in functioning
Describe the symptoms and possible origins of anxiety disorders. - ANSWER: Anxiety disorders have
psychological symptoms that include worrying, fear of the worst happening, fear of losing control,
nervousness and inability to relax, and
physical symptoms that reflect arousal of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system:
trembling sweating, a racing heart, elevated blood pressure (a flushed face), and faintness.
• specific phobic disorders
• social anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• generalized anxiety disorders
specific phobia - ANSWER: persistent fear of a specific object or situation.
agoraphobia - ANSWER: fear of open, crowded places
social anxiety disorder - ANSWER: an irrational, excessive fear of public scrutiny
panic disorder - ANSWER: recurrent experiencing of attacks of extreme anxiety in the absence of
external stimuli that usually elicit anxiety
generalized anxiety disorder - ANSWER: feelings of dread and foreboding and sympathetic arousal of
at least six months' duration
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - ANSWER: an anxiety disorder defined by recurrent, anxiety-
provoking thoughts or images that seem irrational and beyond control (obsessions) and seemingly
irresistible urges to engage in thoughts or behaviors that tend to reduce the anxiety (compulsions).
hoarding disorder - ANSWER: feel an overpowering need to accumulate certain kinds of possessions
and have difficulty discarding them.
acute stress disorder - ANSWER: a disorder, like PTSD, that is characterized by feelings of anxiety and
helplessness and caused by a traumatic event; acute stress disorder occurs within a month of the
event and lasts from two days to four weeks
, dissociative identity disorder (DID)
(formerly termed multiple personality disorder) - ANSWER: a disorder in which a person appears to
have two or more distinct identities or personalities that may alternately emerge
bipolar disorder - ANSWER: a disorder in which the mood alternates between two extreme poles
(elation and depression); also referred to as manic depression
major depressive disorder - ANSWER: a serious to severe depressive disorder in which the person may
show loss of appetite, psychomotor retardation, and impaired reality testing
Schizophrenia - ANSWER: is a severe psychological disorder that touches every aspect of a person's
life. It is characterized by disturbances in thought and language, perception and attention, motor
activity, and mood, as well as withdrawal and absorption in daydreams or fantasy. Schizophrenia has
been referred to as the worst psychological disorder affecting human beings.
delusional disorder - ANSWER: a psychotic disorder characterized by persistent false beliefs.
psychotherapy - ANSWER: a systematic interaction between a therapist and a client that brings
psychological principles to bear on influencing the client's thoughts, feelings, or behavior to help the
client overcome psychological disorders, adjust to problems in living, or develop as an individual
antisocial personality disorder - ANSWER: the diagnosis given a person who is in frequent conflict with
society, yet who is undeterred by punishment and experiences little or no guilt and anxiety
asylum - ANSWER: an outmoded institution for the care of the mentally ill 13-2
client-centered therapy - ANSWER: Carl Rogers's method of psychotherapy, which emphasizes the
creation of a warm, therapeutic atmosphere that frees clients to engage in self-exploration and self-
expression
unconditional positive regard, - ANSWER: a persistent expression of esteem for the value of a person,
but not necessarily an unqualified acceptance of all of the person's behaviors.
according to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person.
empathic understanding, and genuineness, client-centered therapists create an atmosphere in which
clients can explore their feelings.
behavior therapy - ANSWER: systematic application of the principles of learning to the direct
modification of a client's problem behaviors
cognitive therapy - ANSWER: a form of therapy that focuses on how clients' cognitions (e.g.,
expectations, attitudes, beliefs) lead to distress and may be modified to relieve distress and promote
adaptive behavior
free association - ANSWER: in psychoanalysis, the uncensored uttering of all thoughts that come to
mind
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) - ANSWER: an approach to therapy that uses cognitive and
behavioral techniques that have been validated by research
Group therapy - ANSWER: is more economical than individual therapy, group members can practice
social skills with one another, and members can learn from the experiences of others.
Identify various types of group therapy and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. - ANSWER:
Group therapy is more economical than individual therapy. Moreover, group members benefit from
the social support and experiences of other members. However, some clients cannot disclose their