Abnormal Psychology and Life 3rd
Edition Kearney Test Bank
EXAM
Chapter 1: Abnormal Psychology and Life
1. A group of emotional, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms
that cause significant distress or significant problems is called
a(n):
a. mental disorder.
b. deviation.
c. stressor.
d. abnormal concept.
Answer: a
Rationale: A mental disorder is defined as a group of emotional,
cognitive, or behavioral symptoms that cause significant distress
or problems in functioning. The other options are related but do
not capture the full definition.
2. Abnormal psychology is:
a. the scientific study of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and
behaviors associated with mental disorders.
b. assertions about what might be abnormal emotional experience
based on sociocultural norms.
c. a scientific study of how and why people become unique in
ways that are potentially maladaptive.
d. focused on intrapsychic causes rather than biologic influences.
Answer: a
Rationale: Abnormal psychology is defined as the scientific study
,of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with
mental disorders. It is an empirical field, not just based on
assertions or focused solely on one type of cause.
3. Amanda has been severely depressed. She is constantly sad,
ruminates on her failures, and has difficulty getting out of
bed. Which symptom is an example of a cognitive symptom?
a. constant sadness
b. feeling numb
c. ruminating on her failures
d. difficulty getting out of bed
Answer: c
Rationale: Cognitive symptoms involve thoughts and thinking
patterns. Ruminating on her failures is a cognitive symptom.
Sadness and numbness are emotional symptoms, and difficulty
getting out of bed is a behavioral symptom.
4. Michael is experiencing intrusive thoughts that make it
difficult to focus. Although he can still work, he is very upset
by these thoughts. He may be classified as having a mental
disorder based on:
a. the distress he is causing his coworkers.
b. feelings of rejection.
c. his own distress at his cognitive symptoms.
d. the number of negative thoughts.
Answer: c
Rationale: A key criterion for a mental disorder is personal
distress. Michael's own distress at his symptoms, even though he
can still function, is what indicates a potential disorder.
,5. Dr. Elliot is teaching a course on scientific thought about
problematic feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, including
strategies for evaluation, causes, prevention, and treatment.
The course title is most likely:
a. Abnormal Psychology.
b. Testing and Assessment.
c. Counseling Psychology.
d. Community Psychology.
Answer: a
Rationale: This description matches the scope of abnormal
psychology, which includes the scientific study of mental
disorders, their causes, assessment, and treatment.
6. A student reads online posts by people with mental
disorders and tells a friend he is studying psychopathology.
What is missing from his definition?
a. the fact that scientific study is involved
b. examining troublesome feelings associated with mental
disorders
c. studying behavior that is considered abnormal
d. applying the techniques of psychology to psychopathology
Answer: a
Rationale: Psychopathology is a scientific field. Simply reading
personal accounts does not constitute scientific study.
7. Deviance, adaptation difficulties, and personal distress are
concepts used to describe:
a. intellectual impairment.
b. students on probation from college.
c. behavior that deviates from the norm.
d. psychological adjustment.
, Answer: c
Rationale: These three criteria—deviance, adaptation difficulties
(dysfunction), and personal distress—are commonly used to
define behavior that deviates from the norm and may indicate a
mental disorder.
8. Stigma can be fought by:
a. distributing flyers to increase awareness and knowledge.
b. sending people with mental illnesses to institutions.
c. refraining from talking about mental disorders.
d. avoiding people who are mentally ill.
Answer: a
Rationale: Education and awareness are key to reducing stigma.
The other options would likely increase stigma or discrimination.
9. The text attempts to fight stigma by:
a. isolated reports, sympathy building, and repetition.
b. giving factual information to dispel myths.
c. providing positive information and omitting negative
information.
d. appealing to emotions.
Answer: b
Rationale: Providing factual information to dispel myths about
mental disorders is a direct way to combat stigma.
10. How does the Einstein example illustrate a drawback of
the statistical deviance approach?
a. Deviance is always a disorder.
b. The measurement accuracy is limited.
c. Too many people have high intelligence.
d. Statistical deviance is not necessarily a disorder.
Edition Kearney Test Bank
EXAM
Chapter 1: Abnormal Psychology and Life
1. A group of emotional, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms
that cause significant distress or significant problems is called
a(n):
a. mental disorder.
b. deviation.
c. stressor.
d. abnormal concept.
Answer: a
Rationale: A mental disorder is defined as a group of emotional,
cognitive, or behavioral symptoms that cause significant distress
or problems in functioning. The other options are related but do
not capture the full definition.
2. Abnormal psychology is:
a. the scientific study of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and
behaviors associated with mental disorders.
b. assertions about what might be abnormal emotional experience
based on sociocultural norms.
c. a scientific study of how and why people become unique in
ways that are potentially maladaptive.
d. focused on intrapsychic causes rather than biologic influences.
Answer: a
Rationale: Abnormal psychology is defined as the scientific study
,of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with
mental disorders. It is an empirical field, not just based on
assertions or focused solely on one type of cause.
3. Amanda has been severely depressed. She is constantly sad,
ruminates on her failures, and has difficulty getting out of
bed. Which symptom is an example of a cognitive symptom?
a. constant sadness
b. feeling numb
c. ruminating on her failures
d. difficulty getting out of bed
Answer: c
Rationale: Cognitive symptoms involve thoughts and thinking
patterns. Ruminating on her failures is a cognitive symptom.
Sadness and numbness are emotional symptoms, and difficulty
getting out of bed is a behavioral symptom.
4. Michael is experiencing intrusive thoughts that make it
difficult to focus. Although he can still work, he is very upset
by these thoughts. He may be classified as having a mental
disorder based on:
a. the distress he is causing his coworkers.
b. feelings of rejection.
c. his own distress at his cognitive symptoms.
d. the number of negative thoughts.
Answer: c
Rationale: A key criterion for a mental disorder is personal
distress. Michael's own distress at his symptoms, even though he
can still function, is what indicates a potential disorder.
,5. Dr. Elliot is teaching a course on scientific thought about
problematic feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, including
strategies for evaluation, causes, prevention, and treatment.
The course title is most likely:
a. Abnormal Psychology.
b. Testing and Assessment.
c. Counseling Psychology.
d. Community Psychology.
Answer: a
Rationale: This description matches the scope of abnormal
psychology, which includes the scientific study of mental
disorders, their causes, assessment, and treatment.
6. A student reads online posts by people with mental
disorders and tells a friend he is studying psychopathology.
What is missing from his definition?
a. the fact that scientific study is involved
b. examining troublesome feelings associated with mental
disorders
c. studying behavior that is considered abnormal
d. applying the techniques of psychology to psychopathology
Answer: a
Rationale: Psychopathology is a scientific field. Simply reading
personal accounts does not constitute scientific study.
7. Deviance, adaptation difficulties, and personal distress are
concepts used to describe:
a. intellectual impairment.
b. students on probation from college.
c. behavior that deviates from the norm.
d. psychological adjustment.
, Answer: c
Rationale: These three criteria—deviance, adaptation difficulties
(dysfunction), and personal distress—are commonly used to
define behavior that deviates from the norm and may indicate a
mental disorder.
8. Stigma can be fought by:
a. distributing flyers to increase awareness and knowledge.
b. sending people with mental illnesses to institutions.
c. refraining from talking about mental disorders.
d. avoiding people who are mentally ill.
Answer: a
Rationale: Education and awareness are key to reducing stigma.
The other options would likely increase stigma or discrimination.
9. The text attempts to fight stigma by:
a. isolated reports, sympathy building, and repetition.
b. giving factual information to dispel myths.
c. providing positive information and omitting negative
information.
d. appealing to emotions.
Answer: b
Rationale: Providing factual information to dispel myths about
mental disorders is a direct way to combat stigma.
10. How does the Einstein example illustrate a drawback of
the statistical deviance approach?
a. Deviance is always a disorder.
b. The measurement accuracy is limited.
c. Too many people have high intelligence.
d. Statistical deviance is not necessarily a disorder.
