PSY 318 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Definition of mental illness - (ANSWER)Shapes what counts as 'illness,' what tools we use to assess it,
and which treatments are considered appropriate.
Influence of mental illness definition on stigma - (ANSWER)Definitions that focus on personal weakness
or choice increase stigma; medical or biopsychosocial models reduce blame and stigma.
Role of science in evidence-based assessments & care - (ANSWER)Provides data-driven methods to
choose effective, reliable, and valid assessment and treatment tools.
Szasz's position on mental illness - (ANSWER)Mental illness is a 'myth'; behaviors labeled as illness are
actually moral or social problems, not diseases.
Szasz's assumptions - (ANSWER)Mental illness isn't caused by biological dysfunction; medical labels are
used to control deviance; psychiatry pathologizes normal behavior.
Ausubel's counterarguments to Szasz - (ANSWER)Mental disorders can have biological causes; labels
help, not harm, when used properly; rejecting psychiatry ignores real suffering.
Supernatural model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Illness caused by spirits, curses, or demons; example:
exorcism or witch trials.
Somatogenic model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Caused by biological factors (e.g., brain injury, genetics,
infection); example: syphilis causing psychosis.
Psychogenic model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Caused by psychological processes (e.g., trauma, stress,
maladaptive thoughts).
, Biopsychosocial model - (ANSWER)Mental illness results from interaction of biological, psychological,
and social factors.
Disease model - (ANSWER)Mental illness is a medical disease with biological origins treatable by
medicine.
Diathesis-stress model - (ANSWER)A biological or psychological vulnerability (diathesis) interacts with
stress to cause illness.
Four components of current APA definition of mental illness - (ANSWER)(1) Clinically significant
disturbance, (2) internal dysfunction, (3) distress or impairment, (4) not an expected response to
common stressors.
Conceptualizing mental illness and stigma - (ANSWER)Biological and biopsychosocial models reduce
blame but can increase perceptions of permanence; moral models increase stigma.
Belief that mental illness is a myth and stigma - (ANSWER)Can decrease stigma by normalizing behavior,
or increase it by denying real suffering and help needs.
Effect of models on stigma - (ANSWER)Disease model reduces blame but can imply permanence;
biopsychosocial shows complexity and personal recovery.
Categorical classification - (ANSWER)Disorders are distinct types or categories (e.g., DSM diagnoses).
Dimensional classification - (ANSWER)Disorders exist on a continuum of severity (e.g., personality traits).
Example of categorical approach - (ANSWER)DSM-5 uses yes/no diagnoses.
Example of dimensional approach - (ANSWER)Five Factor Model measures personality on continuous
scales.
Definition of mental illness - (ANSWER)Shapes what counts as 'illness,' what tools we use to assess it,
and which treatments are considered appropriate.
Influence of mental illness definition on stigma - (ANSWER)Definitions that focus on personal weakness
or choice increase stigma; medical or biopsychosocial models reduce blame and stigma.
Role of science in evidence-based assessments & care - (ANSWER)Provides data-driven methods to
choose effective, reliable, and valid assessment and treatment tools.
Szasz's position on mental illness - (ANSWER)Mental illness is a 'myth'; behaviors labeled as illness are
actually moral or social problems, not diseases.
Szasz's assumptions - (ANSWER)Mental illness isn't caused by biological dysfunction; medical labels are
used to control deviance; psychiatry pathologizes normal behavior.
Ausubel's counterarguments to Szasz - (ANSWER)Mental disorders can have biological causes; labels
help, not harm, when used properly; rejecting psychiatry ignores real suffering.
Supernatural model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Illness caused by spirits, curses, or demons; example:
exorcism or witch trials.
Somatogenic model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Caused by biological factors (e.g., brain injury, genetics,
infection); example: syphilis causing psychosis.
Psychogenic model of mental illness - (ANSWER)Caused by psychological processes (e.g., trauma, stress,
maladaptive thoughts).
, Biopsychosocial model - (ANSWER)Mental illness results from interaction of biological, psychological,
and social factors.
Disease model - (ANSWER)Mental illness is a medical disease with biological origins treatable by
medicine.
Diathesis-stress model - (ANSWER)A biological or psychological vulnerability (diathesis) interacts with
stress to cause illness.
Four components of current APA definition of mental illness - (ANSWER)(1) Clinically significant
disturbance, (2) internal dysfunction, (3) distress or impairment, (4) not an expected response to
common stressors.
Conceptualizing mental illness and stigma - (ANSWER)Biological and biopsychosocial models reduce
blame but can increase perceptions of permanence; moral models increase stigma.
Belief that mental illness is a myth and stigma - (ANSWER)Can decrease stigma by normalizing behavior,
or increase it by denying real suffering and help needs.
Effect of models on stigma - (ANSWER)Disease model reduces blame but can imply permanence;
biopsychosocial shows complexity and personal recovery.
Categorical classification - (ANSWER)Disorders are distinct types or categories (e.g., DSM diagnoses).
Dimensional classification - (ANSWER)Disorders exist on a continuum of severity (e.g., personality traits).
Example of categorical approach - (ANSWER)DSM-5 uses yes/no diagnoses.
Example of dimensional approach - (ANSWER)Five Factor Model measures personality on continuous
scales.
