PSYC 210 — Module 3 Abnormal Psychology actual 2026/2027 exam verified with
correct answers and rationales
1. Which statement best describes abnormal behavior?
A. Any behavior that is unusual
B. Behavior that significantly deviates from cultural expectations and causes distress or
impairment
C. Any behavior that another person dislikes
D. Behavior that occurs only in psychiatric hospitals
Answer: B. Behavior that significantly deviates from cultural expectations and causes
distress or impairment
Rationale: Abnormality is evaluated using factors such as distress, dysfunction, deviance, and
context rather than simply being unusual.
2. Which criterion refers to behavior that interferes substantially with a person's ability to
function in daily life?
A. Deviance
B. Dysfunction
C. Creativity
D. Intelligence
Answer: B. Dysfunction
Rationale: Dysfunction occurs when thoughts, emotions, or behaviors interfere significantly with
occupational, social, or other important areas of functioning.
3. Why is cultural context important when diagnosing psychological disorders?
A. Culture has no influence on behavior
B. Behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be acceptable in another
C. All cultures define mental illness identically
D. Cultural beliefs should always be ignored
Answer: B. Behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be acceptable in another
Rationale: Cultural norms influence how symptoms and behaviors are interpreted, so clinicians
must consider cultural context during assessment.
,4. Which professional is generally a medical doctor specializing in mental disorders and
able to prescribe medication?
A. Psychiatrist
B. Social worker
C. Psychiatric technician
D. Counselor without prescribing authority
Answer: A. Psychiatrist
Rationale: Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in mental health and can prescribe
medications.
5. What is the primary purpose of the DSM?
A. Provide standardized criteria for classifying mental disorders
B. Prescribe medications
C. Determine criminal punishment
D. Replace clinical judgment
Answer: A. Provide standardized criteria for classifying mental disorders
Rationale: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders provides standardized
diagnostic criteria used by mental health professionals.
6. Which approach emphasizes unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences?
A. Psychodynamic
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Humanistic
Answer: A. Psychodynamic
Rationale: Psychodynamic theories emphasize unconscious processes, internal conflicts, and the
influence of early experiences.
7. Which approach focuses primarily on observable behaviors and how they are learned?
,A. Behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Biological
D. Existential
Answer: A. Behavioral
Rationale: Behavioral approaches emphasize learning through conditioning, reinforcement,
punishment, and environmental influences.
8. Which approach emphasizes how thoughts influence emotions and behavior?
A. Cognitive
B. Biological
C. Psychodynamic
D. Sociocultural
Answer: A. Cognitive
Rationale: Cognitive theories focus on patterns of thinking, beliefs, interpretations, and their
effects on emotional and behavioral responses.
9. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines which two major approaches?
A. Cognitive and behavioral
B. Biological and psychodynamic
C. Humanistic and biological
D. Sociocultural and biological
Answer: A. Cognitive and behavioral
Rationale: CBT addresses maladaptive thoughts while also using behavioral techniques to
promote healthier behaviors.
10. Which approach emphasizes personal growth, free will, and achieving one's potential?
A. Humanistic
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Psychodynamic
, Answer: A. Humanistic
Rationale: Humanistic theories emphasize self-awareness, personal choice, growth, and self-
actualization.
11. Which perspective attributes psychological disorders partly to genetic, neurological,
and biochemical factors?
A. Biological
B. Behavioral
C. Humanistic
D. Psychodynamic
Answer: A. Biological
Rationale: The biological perspective examines genetic, brain, neurotransmitter, hormonal, and
physiological influences on behavior.
12. What is the biopsychosocial model?
A. A model that considers biological, psychological, and social influences on health and illness
B. A model based only on genetics
C. A model based only on childhood experiences
D. A model used exclusively for physical illness
Answer: A. A model that considers biological, psychological, and social influences on health
and illness
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model recognizes that multiple interacting factors can contribute
to psychological disorders.
13. Which neurotransmitter is commonly associated with mood regulation and depression?
A. Serotonin
B. Insulin
C. Hemoglobin
D. Calcium
Answer: A. Serotonin
correct answers and rationales
1. Which statement best describes abnormal behavior?
A. Any behavior that is unusual
B. Behavior that significantly deviates from cultural expectations and causes distress or
impairment
C. Any behavior that another person dislikes
D. Behavior that occurs only in psychiatric hospitals
Answer: B. Behavior that significantly deviates from cultural expectations and causes
distress or impairment
Rationale: Abnormality is evaluated using factors such as distress, dysfunction, deviance, and
context rather than simply being unusual.
2. Which criterion refers to behavior that interferes substantially with a person's ability to
function in daily life?
A. Deviance
B. Dysfunction
C. Creativity
D. Intelligence
Answer: B. Dysfunction
Rationale: Dysfunction occurs when thoughts, emotions, or behaviors interfere significantly with
occupational, social, or other important areas of functioning.
3. Why is cultural context important when diagnosing psychological disorders?
A. Culture has no influence on behavior
B. Behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be acceptable in another
C. All cultures define mental illness identically
D. Cultural beliefs should always be ignored
Answer: B. Behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be acceptable in another
Rationale: Cultural norms influence how symptoms and behaviors are interpreted, so clinicians
must consider cultural context during assessment.
,4. Which professional is generally a medical doctor specializing in mental disorders and
able to prescribe medication?
A. Psychiatrist
B. Social worker
C. Psychiatric technician
D. Counselor without prescribing authority
Answer: A. Psychiatrist
Rationale: Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in mental health and can prescribe
medications.
5. What is the primary purpose of the DSM?
A. Provide standardized criteria for classifying mental disorders
B. Prescribe medications
C. Determine criminal punishment
D. Replace clinical judgment
Answer: A. Provide standardized criteria for classifying mental disorders
Rationale: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders provides standardized
diagnostic criteria used by mental health professionals.
6. Which approach emphasizes unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences?
A. Psychodynamic
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Humanistic
Answer: A. Psychodynamic
Rationale: Psychodynamic theories emphasize unconscious processes, internal conflicts, and the
influence of early experiences.
7. Which approach focuses primarily on observable behaviors and how they are learned?
,A. Behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Biological
D. Existential
Answer: A. Behavioral
Rationale: Behavioral approaches emphasize learning through conditioning, reinforcement,
punishment, and environmental influences.
8. Which approach emphasizes how thoughts influence emotions and behavior?
A. Cognitive
B. Biological
C. Psychodynamic
D. Sociocultural
Answer: A. Cognitive
Rationale: Cognitive theories focus on patterns of thinking, beliefs, interpretations, and their
effects on emotional and behavioral responses.
9. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines which two major approaches?
A. Cognitive and behavioral
B. Biological and psychodynamic
C. Humanistic and biological
D. Sociocultural and biological
Answer: A. Cognitive and behavioral
Rationale: CBT addresses maladaptive thoughts while also using behavioral techniques to
promote healthier behaviors.
10. Which approach emphasizes personal growth, free will, and achieving one's potential?
A. Humanistic
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Psychodynamic
, Answer: A. Humanistic
Rationale: Humanistic theories emphasize self-awareness, personal choice, growth, and self-
actualization.
11. Which perspective attributes psychological disorders partly to genetic, neurological,
and biochemical factors?
A. Biological
B. Behavioral
C. Humanistic
D. Psychodynamic
Answer: A. Biological
Rationale: The biological perspective examines genetic, brain, neurotransmitter, hormonal, and
physiological influences on behavior.
12. What is the biopsychosocial model?
A. A model that considers biological, psychological, and social influences on health and illness
B. A model based only on genetics
C. A model based only on childhood experiences
D. A model used exclusively for physical illness
Answer: A. A model that considers biological, psychological, and social influences on health
and illness
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model recognizes that multiple interacting factors can contribute
to psychological disorders.
13. Which neurotransmitter is commonly associated with mood regulation and depression?
A. Serotonin
B. Insulin
C. Hemoglobin
D. Calcium
Answer: A. Serotonin
