PSYC 435 - ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
QUIZ 1 CONCEPTS
nWhy is abnormality so difficult to define? - What is considered abnormal by one may be considered
normal by another
What characteristics help us recognize abnormality? - 1. subjective distress
2. maladaptiveness
3. statistical deviancy
4. violation of the standards of society
5. social discomfort
6. irrationality and unpredictability
7. dangerousness
What is stigma? How common is it? - Preconceived negative attitudes about a particular subject that are
extremely common
What challenges are involved in reducing stigma toward people with mental illness? - Knowledge alone is
not enough to remove stigmas
A person's self-concept may be directly affected by being given a diagnosis - perpetuating stigma
Fear of individuals who exhibit dangerous or unpredictable behavior perpetuates stigma
What is epidemiology? - involves the study of the distribution and frequency of disorders
What is the difference between prevalence and incidence? - Incidence is the number of new cases in a
population within a certain period. Prevalence is the total number of cases in a population in a certain
period - including both new and existing cases
What are the most common mental disorders? - Mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders
How is illness severity associated with comorbidity? - Comorbidity is positively correlated with illness
severity
What are the strengths and limitations of case studies? - new ideas and stimulus for research. insight
into rare clinical conditions
Studying and drawing inferences from past case studies alone often leads to erroneous thinking as we
often focus on data that confirm our ideas of how things are.
, Why is it desirable not to rely solely on self-report data as a source of information? - Because people will
occasionally lie, misinterpret the question, or desire to present themselves in a particularly favorable (or
unfavorable) light
What is the difference between self-report and observational data? - Self-report data is the individual's
personal subjective experience, whereas observational data is what is observable to everyone as it
currently is
What range of measures could be considered to reflect observational data? - Direct observation,
biological, laboratory, technological, clinical
Explain what the term representative sample means - A group that is as indicative of what the entire
population is as possible
What is a sample of convenience? - A sample of what is most readily available, though not necessarily
most indicative of the entire population
What is the difference between internal and external validity? How can external validity be maximized? -
Internal: how confident we are in the results of that study
External: the extent to which we can generalize the findings of a study
Create a sample that has wide ranges of various factors to represent the most of the population
Why are comparison or control groups so important? - researchers cannot test their hypothesis
adequately. The control group must be comparable in all major respects to the criterion group except for
the fact that they do not exhibit the disorder of interest.
• comparison of the variables of interest shows if there are significant differences.
How is experimental research different from correlational research? - Experimental research manipulates
the variables and environments whereas correlational research observes without interference
In experimental research, which variable (independent or dependent) is manipulated? - Independent
What is a placebo? - A treatment that has no effect.
Explain the process of performing an ABAB design. Why are such designs helpful to clinicians and
researchers? - With/without/with/without treatment - infer causal relationships and determine how well
the treatment works
Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders. - • A precise definition of abnormality
remains elusive. Consider subjective distress, maladaptiveness, statistical deviancy, violation of societal
norms, social discomfort, irrationality and unpredictability, and dangerousness.
• The DSM employs a category type of classification similar to that used in medicine. Disorders are
regarded as discrete clinical entities, though not all clinical disorders may be best considered in this way.
• Even though it is not without problems, the DSM provides us with working criteria that help clinicians
and researchers identify and study specific difficulties that affect the lives of many people. It is far from a
"finished product." However, familiarity with the DSM is essential to significant study of the field.
QUIZ 1 CONCEPTS
nWhy is abnormality so difficult to define? - What is considered abnormal by one may be considered
normal by another
What characteristics help us recognize abnormality? - 1. subjective distress
2. maladaptiveness
3. statistical deviancy
4. violation of the standards of society
5. social discomfort
6. irrationality and unpredictability
7. dangerousness
What is stigma? How common is it? - Preconceived negative attitudes about a particular subject that are
extremely common
What challenges are involved in reducing stigma toward people with mental illness? - Knowledge alone is
not enough to remove stigmas
A person's self-concept may be directly affected by being given a diagnosis - perpetuating stigma
Fear of individuals who exhibit dangerous or unpredictable behavior perpetuates stigma
What is epidemiology? - involves the study of the distribution and frequency of disorders
What is the difference between prevalence and incidence? - Incidence is the number of new cases in a
population within a certain period. Prevalence is the total number of cases in a population in a certain
period - including both new and existing cases
What are the most common mental disorders? - Mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders
How is illness severity associated with comorbidity? - Comorbidity is positively correlated with illness
severity
What are the strengths and limitations of case studies? - new ideas and stimulus for research. insight
into rare clinical conditions
Studying and drawing inferences from past case studies alone often leads to erroneous thinking as we
often focus on data that confirm our ideas of how things are.
, Why is it desirable not to rely solely on self-report data as a source of information? - Because people will
occasionally lie, misinterpret the question, or desire to present themselves in a particularly favorable (or
unfavorable) light
What is the difference between self-report and observational data? - Self-report data is the individual's
personal subjective experience, whereas observational data is what is observable to everyone as it
currently is
What range of measures could be considered to reflect observational data? - Direct observation,
biological, laboratory, technological, clinical
Explain what the term representative sample means - A group that is as indicative of what the entire
population is as possible
What is a sample of convenience? - A sample of what is most readily available, though not necessarily
most indicative of the entire population
What is the difference between internal and external validity? How can external validity be maximized? -
Internal: how confident we are in the results of that study
External: the extent to which we can generalize the findings of a study
Create a sample that has wide ranges of various factors to represent the most of the population
Why are comparison or control groups so important? - researchers cannot test their hypothesis
adequately. The control group must be comparable in all major respects to the criterion group except for
the fact that they do not exhibit the disorder of interest.
• comparison of the variables of interest shows if there are significant differences.
How is experimental research different from correlational research? - Experimental research manipulates
the variables and environments whereas correlational research observes without interference
In experimental research, which variable (independent or dependent) is manipulated? - Independent
What is a placebo? - A treatment that has no effect.
Explain the process of performing an ABAB design. Why are such designs helpful to clinicians and
researchers? - With/without/with/without treatment - infer causal relationships and determine how well
the treatment works
Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders. - • A precise definition of abnormality
remains elusive. Consider subjective distress, maladaptiveness, statistical deviancy, violation of societal
norms, social discomfort, irrationality and unpredictability, and dangerousness.
• The DSM employs a category type of classification similar to that used in medicine. Disorders are
regarded as discrete clinical entities, though not all clinical disorders may be best considered in this way.
• Even though it is not without problems, the DSM provides us with working criteria that help clinicians
and researchers identify and study specific difficulties that affect the lives of many people. It is far from a
"finished product." However, familiarity with the DSM is essential to significant study of the field.
