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PSY 341 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM 1 PRACTICE
EXAMINATION Questions With Answers and Rationales Updated
for 2026/2027
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
(Questions)
1. The "four Ds" of abnormal behavior include all EXCEPT:
A) Deviance
B) Distress
C) Dysfunction
D) Development
Answer: D
Rationale: The four Ds are Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and
Danger.
2. "Deviance" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A) Only criminal behavior
B) Behavior that deviates from cultural norms
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C) Only statistical rarity
D) Only dangerous behavior
Answer: B
Rationale: Deviance = departure from cultural/social norms.
3. "Distress" as a criterion for abnormality refers to:
A) Only physical pain
B) Significant emotional suffering experienced by the individual
C) Only danger to others
D) Only dysfunction
Answer: B
Rationale: Distress = personal suffering.
4. "Dysfunction" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A) Only physical disability
B) Interference with daily functioning (work, relationships, self-
care)
C) Only cognitive impairment
D) Only emotional distress
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Answer: B
Rationale: Dysfunction = impaired daily functioning.
5. The "medical model" of mental illness views psychological
disorders as:
A) Only moral failings
B) Diseases with biological causes that can be diagnosed and
treated
C) Only social constructs
D) Only spiritual problems
Answer: B
Rationale: The medical model treats mental illness as disease.
6. The "biopsychosocial model" integrates:
A) Only biological factors
B) Biological, psychological, and social factors
C) Only psychological factors
D) Only social factors
Answer: B
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model considers all three
domains.
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7. "Cultural relativism" in abnormal psychology means:
A) All behaviors are universal
B) Behavior must be understood within its cultural context
C) Culture is irrelevant
D) Only Western norms matter
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural relativism considers cultural context.
8. The "DSM-5" is published by:
A) World Health Organization
B) American Psychiatric Association
C) National Institute of Mental Health
D) American Psychological Association
Answer: B
Rationale: The APA publishes the DSM-5.
9. The DSM-5 uses which approach to classification?
A) Purely categorical
B) Dimensional and categorical (hybrid)
C) Only dimensional
D) No classification system
PSY 341 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM 1 PRACTICE
EXAMINATION Questions With Answers and Rationales Updated
for 2026/2027
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
(Questions)
1. The "four Ds" of abnormal behavior include all EXCEPT:
A) Deviance
B) Distress
C) Dysfunction
D) Development
Answer: D
Rationale: The four Ds are Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and
Danger.
2. "Deviance" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A) Only criminal behavior
B) Behavior that deviates from cultural norms
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) Only statistical rarity
D) Only dangerous behavior
Answer: B
Rationale: Deviance = departure from cultural/social norms.
3. "Distress" as a criterion for abnormality refers to:
A) Only physical pain
B) Significant emotional suffering experienced by the individual
C) Only danger to others
D) Only dysfunction
Answer: B
Rationale: Distress = personal suffering.
4. "Dysfunction" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A) Only physical disability
B) Interference with daily functioning (work, relationships, self-
care)
C) Only cognitive impairment
D) Only emotional distress
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysfunction = impaired daily functioning.
5. The "medical model" of mental illness views psychological
disorders as:
A) Only moral failings
B) Diseases with biological causes that can be diagnosed and
treated
C) Only social constructs
D) Only spiritual problems
Answer: B
Rationale: The medical model treats mental illness as disease.
6. The "biopsychosocial model" integrates:
A) Only biological factors
B) Biological, psychological, and social factors
C) Only psychological factors
D) Only social factors
Answer: B
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model considers all three
domains.
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
7. "Cultural relativism" in abnormal psychology means:
A) All behaviors are universal
B) Behavior must be understood within its cultural context
C) Culture is irrelevant
D) Only Western norms matter
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural relativism considers cultural context.
8. The "DSM-5" is published by:
A) World Health Organization
B) American Psychiatric Association
C) National Institute of Mental Health
D) American Psychological Association
Answer: B
Rationale: The APA publishes the DSM-5.
9. The DSM-5 uses which approach to classification?
A) Purely categorical
B) Dimensional and categorical (hybrid)
C) Only dimensional
D) No classification system
