Test Bank for Abnormal Psychology,
17th Edition
1|Page
,Test Bank for Abnormal Psychology, 17th Edition by Hooley
Book: Abnormal Psychology, 17th Edition
Authors: Jill M. Hooley, James N. Butcher, Matthew K. Nock, Susan Mineka
Publisher: Pearson
Total Chapters: 17
Total Questions: 450
CHAPTER 1: Abnormal Psychology: Overview and Research Approaches
Questions 1–38 (38 questions)
Q1. What is the primary focus of abnormal psychology as a field of study?
A. The study of normal developmental milestones across the lifespan
B. Understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders
C. The philosophical analysis of consciousness and free will
D. The examination of cultural variations in personality traits
Correct Answer: B. Understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders
Rationale: Abnormal psychology is specifically concerned with understanding the nature, causes,
and treatment of mental disorders. Unlike other branches of psychology that focus on normal
development or general cognitive processes, abnormal psychology centers on psychopathology and
its assessment, treatment, and prevention.
Q2. A researcher studying whether depression runs in families would be investigating which
concept?
A. Comorbidity
B. Incidence
C. Family aggregation
D. Prevalence
Correct Answer: C. Family aggregation
Rationale: Family aggregation refers to the clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders
within a given family. This clustering may arise because of genetic or environmental similarities.
When a researcher examines whether a disorder runs in families, they are investigating family
aggregation.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the DSM-5 definition of a mental disorder?
A. Any behavior that deviates from cultural norms
B. A syndrome involving clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or
cognitive functioning
C. A condition that always involves dangerousness to self or others
D. Any pattern of behavior that causes subjective distress to the individual
2|Page
, Correct Answer: B. A syndrome involving clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion
regulation, or cognitive functioning
Rationale: According to DSM-5, a mental disorder is a syndrome that is present in an individual
and involves clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive
functioning. This definition is broader than just distress or dangerousness and encompasses the full
range of psychopathology.
Q4. The term "nomenclature" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A. The study of cultural variations in mental disorders
B. A formalized naming system
C. The process of removing stigma from mental illness
D. The statistical analysis of disorder prevalence
Correct Answer: B. A formalized naming system
Rationale: Nomenclature refers to a formalized naming system. In abnormal psychology, this is
essential for communication among clinicians, researchers, and other professionals who need to
discuss and classify mental disorders consistently.
Q5. A researcher finds that the number of active cases of schizophrenia in a population at a
specific point in time is 1.1%. This statistic represents:
A. Incidence
B. Lifetime prevalence
C. Point prevalence
D. One-year prevalence
Correct Answer: C. Point prevalence
Rationale: Point prevalence is the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a
given population at a given point in time. The researcher measured cases at a specific moment (a
"point"), making this point prevalence rather than incidence (new cases) or lifetime prevalence (ever
had the disorder).
Q6. Which of the following is NOT one of the indicators of abnormality discussed in the text?
A. Subjective distress
B. Maladaptiveness
C. Financial success
D. Statistical deviancy
Correct Answer: C. Financial success
Rationale: The indicators of abnormality include subjective distress, maladaptiveness, statistical
deviancy, violation of the standards of society, social discomfort, irrationality and unpredictability,
3|Page
, and dangerousness. Financial success is not considered an indicator of abnormality and would not be
used to identify psychopathology.
Q7. A clinical researcher wants to study a new therapy for depression using a design where a
baseline period (A) is followed by treatment (B), then treatment is withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B).
This is an example of:
A. ABAB design
B. Correlational design
C. Longitudinal design
D. Case study design
Correct Answer: A. ABAB design
Rationale: An ABAB design is an experimental design, often involving a single subject, wherein a
baseline period (A) is followed by a treatment (B). To confirm that the treatment resulted in a
change in behavior, the treatment is then withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B). This design allows
researchers to verify that changes in behavior are attributable to the treatment rather than to other
variables.
Q8. Dr. Martinez observes that as the number of adverse childhood experiences increases, the
likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder also increases. This relationship is an example of:
A. Negative correlation
B. Zero correlation
C. Positive correlation
D. Causal relationship
Correct Answer: C. Positive correlation
Rationale: A positive correlation exists when high scores on one variable are associated with high
scores on another variable. Here, more adverse experiences are associated with more anxiety
disorders, which is a positive correlation. Correlation does not, however, establish causation.
Q9. The concept of "comorbidity" refers to:
A. The number of new cases of a disorder in a population
B. The presence of two or more disorders in the same person
C. The tendency of a disorder to run in families
D. The cultural variation in the expression of symptoms
Correct Answer: B. The presence of two or more disorders in the same person
Rationale: Comorbidity is the occurrence of two or more identified disorders in the same
psychologically disordered individual. This is an important concept because many people with one
mental disorder also meet criteria for another, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment.
4|Page
17th Edition
1|Page
,Test Bank for Abnormal Psychology, 17th Edition by Hooley
Book: Abnormal Psychology, 17th Edition
Authors: Jill M. Hooley, James N. Butcher, Matthew K. Nock, Susan Mineka
Publisher: Pearson
Total Chapters: 17
Total Questions: 450
CHAPTER 1: Abnormal Psychology: Overview and Research Approaches
Questions 1–38 (38 questions)
Q1. What is the primary focus of abnormal psychology as a field of study?
A. The study of normal developmental milestones across the lifespan
B. Understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders
C. The philosophical analysis of consciousness and free will
D. The examination of cultural variations in personality traits
Correct Answer: B. Understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders
Rationale: Abnormal psychology is specifically concerned with understanding the nature, causes,
and treatment of mental disorders. Unlike other branches of psychology that focus on normal
development or general cognitive processes, abnormal psychology centers on psychopathology and
its assessment, treatment, and prevention.
Q2. A researcher studying whether depression runs in families would be investigating which
concept?
A. Comorbidity
B. Incidence
C. Family aggregation
D. Prevalence
Correct Answer: C. Family aggregation
Rationale: Family aggregation refers to the clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders
within a given family. This clustering may arise because of genetic or environmental similarities.
When a researcher examines whether a disorder runs in families, they are investigating family
aggregation.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the DSM-5 definition of a mental disorder?
A. Any behavior that deviates from cultural norms
B. A syndrome involving clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or
cognitive functioning
C. A condition that always involves dangerousness to self or others
D. Any pattern of behavior that causes subjective distress to the individual
2|Page
, Correct Answer: B. A syndrome involving clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion
regulation, or cognitive functioning
Rationale: According to DSM-5, a mental disorder is a syndrome that is present in an individual
and involves clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive
functioning. This definition is broader than just distress or dangerousness and encompasses the full
range of psychopathology.
Q4. The term "nomenclature" in abnormal psychology refers to:
A. The study of cultural variations in mental disorders
B. A formalized naming system
C. The process of removing stigma from mental illness
D. The statistical analysis of disorder prevalence
Correct Answer: B. A formalized naming system
Rationale: Nomenclature refers to a formalized naming system. In abnormal psychology, this is
essential for communication among clinicians, researchers, and other professionals who need to
discuss and classify mental disorders consistently.
Q5. A researcher finds that the number of active cases of schizophrenia in a population at a
specific point in time is 1.1%. This statistic represents:
A. Incidence
B. Lifetime prevalence
C. Point prevalence
D. One-year prevalence
Correct Answer: C. Point prevalence
Rationale: Point prevalence is the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a
given population at a given point in time. The researcher measured cases at a specific moment (a
"point"), making this point prevalence rather than incidence (new cases) or lifetime prevalence (ever
had the disorder).
Q6. Which of the following is NOT one of the indicators of abnormality discussed in the text?
A. Subjective distress
B. Maladaptiveness
C. Financial success
D. Statistical deviancy
Correct Answer: C. Financial success
Rationale: The indicators of abnormality include subjective distress, maladaptiveness, statistical
deviancy, violation of the standards of society, social discomfort, irrationality and unpredictability,
3|Page
, and dangerousness. Financial success is not considered an indicator of abnormality and would not be
used to identify psychopathology.
Q7. A clinical researcher wants to study a new therapy for depression using a design where a
baseline period (A) is followed by treatment (B), then treatment is withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B).
This is an example of:
A. ABAB design
B. Correlational design
C. Longitudinal design
D. Case study design
Correct Answer: A. ABAB design
Rationale: An ABAB design is an experimental design, often involving a single subject, wherein a
baseline period (A) is followed by a treatment (B). To confirm that the treatment resulted in a
change in behavior, the treatment is then withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B). This design allows
researchers to verify that changes in behavior are attributable to the treatment rather than to other
variables.
Q8. Dr. Martinez observes that as the number of adverse childhood experiences increases, the
likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder also increases. This relationship is an example of:
A. Negative correlation
B. Zero correlation
C. Positive correlation
D. Causal relationship
Correct Answer: C. Positive correlation
Rationale: A positive correlation exists when high scores on one variable are associated with high
scores on another variable. Here, more adverse experiences are associated with more anxiety
disorders, which is a positive correlation. Correlation does not, however, establish causation.
Q9. The concept of "comorbidity" refers to:
A. The number of new cases of a disorder in a population
B. The presence of two or more disorders in the same person
C. The tendency of a disorder to run in families
D. The cultural variation in the expression of symptoms
Correct Answer: B. The presence of two or more disorders in the same person
Rationale: Comorbidity is the occurrence of two or more identified disorders in the same
psychologically disordered individual. This is an important concept because many people with one
mental disorder also meet criteria for another, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment.
4|Page
