Essentials of Abnormal
Psychology Exam 1
Exam Prep
Exam Questions with 100% Correct
Answers and Rationales | Latest
Update | Grade A+ | 2026/2027
, abnormal behavior actions that are unexpected and often evaluated negatively because they differ
from typical or usual bx
o DSM-IVTR
psychological disorder •A psychological disorder is a psychological dysfunction associated with distress
or impairment in fx and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
behavior therapy • considers specific bxs rather than inferred conflicts as legitimate targets for
change
behavioral model • the explanation for human bx, including human's dysfunction, is based on
principles of learning and adaptation derived from experimental psychology
catharsis • rapid or sudden release of emotional tension thought to be an important factor
in psychoanalytic therapy
• therapeutic to recall emotional trauma that has been made unconscious and to
release the accompanying tension
classical conditioning • Pavlov, fundamental learning process. An event automatically elicits a response
is paired with another stimulus even that does not (a neutral stimulus). After
repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus become s a conditioned stimulus that by
itself can elicit the desired response
clinical description • the unique combination of behaviors, thoughts and feelings that make up a
specific disorder
course (of disorder) • pattern of development and change of a disorder over time
• chronic-last long time, episodic-likely to recover in a few months, time-limited-
improve w/o tx in short period of time
defense mechanisms • common pattern of bx, often an adaptive coping style when it occurs in
moderation, observed in response to a particular situation. Psychoanalytic theory
suggests tat defense mechanisms are unconscious processes originating in the
ego.
Ego • part of our mind that ensure we act realistically
• characterized by logic and reason
• secondary processes
Etiology • cause or source of a disorder
Extinction • learning process in which a response maintained by reinforcement in operant
conditioning or pairing in classical conditioning decreases when the
reinforcement/pairing is removed
free association • patients are instructed to say whatever comes to mind
• therapy technique intended to explore threatening material
ID • animal within us-source of our strong sexual/aggressive energies
• present at birth-basic drives-primary processes
Incidence • number of new cases of a disorder appearing during a specific period
Psychology Exam 1
Exam Prep
Exam Questions with 100% Correct
Answers and Rationales | Latest
Update | Grade A+ | 2026/2027
, abnormal behavior actions that are unexpected and often evaluated negatively because they differ
from typical or usual bx
o DSM-IVTR
psychological disorder •A psychological disorder is a psychological dysfunction associated with distress
or impairment in fx and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
behavior therapy • considers specific bxs rather than inferred conflicts as legitimate targets for
change
behavioral model • the explanation for human bx, including human's dysfunction, is based on
principles of learning and adaptation derived from experimental psychology
catharsis • rapid or sudden release of emotional tension thought to be an important factor
in psychoanalytic therapy
• therapeutic to recall emotional trauma that has been made unconscious and to
release the accompanying tension
classical conditioning • Pavlov, fundamental learning process. An event automatically elicits a response
is paired with another stimulus even that does not (a neutral stimulus). After
repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus become s a conditioned stimulus that by
itself can elicit the desired response
clinical description • the unique combination of behaviors, thoughts and feelings that make up a
specific disorder
course (of disorder) • pattern of development and change of a disorder over time
• chronic-last long time, episodic-likely to recover in a few months, time-limited-
improve w/o tx in short period of time
defense mechanisms • common pattern of bx, often an adaptive coping style when it occurs in
moderation, observed in response to a particular situation. Psychoanalytic theory
suggests tat defense mechanisms are unconscious processes originating in the
ego.
Ego • part of our mind that ensure we act realistically
• characterized by logic and reason
• secondary processes
Etiology • cause or source of a disorder
Extinction • learning process in which a response maintained by reinforcement in operant
conditioning or pairing in classical conditioning decreases when the
reinforcement/pairing is removed
free association • patients are instructed to say whatever comes to mind
• therapy technique intended to explore threatening material
ID • animal within us-source of our strong sexual/aggressive energies
• present at birth-basic drives-primary processes
Incidence • number of new cases of a disorder appearing during a specific period
