Multiple Choice
1. According to the authors of your textbook, the definition of a psychological disorder is
associated with
a. stress.
b. impaired functioning.
c. culturally expected responses.
d. psychotic symptoms.
ANSWER: b
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
2. A psychological dysfunction refers to
a. a breakdown in cognitive functioning.
b. a breakdown in emotional functioning.
c. a breakdown in behavioral functioning.
d. any of these
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
NOTES: NEW
,3. Regarding the definition of abnormality, it is correct to state that
a. it is difficult to define “normal” and “abnormal.”
b. abnormality depends solely on subjective distress.
c. the definition is universal across cultures.
d. the criteria differ depending on whether the individual has a psychological disorder or
a psychological dysfunction.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
4. The criterion that a particular behavior be atypical or not culturally expected is insufficient to
define abnormality because
a. behavior that occurs infrequently is considered abnormal in every culture.
b. the atypical behavior must also cause harm or impairment to be considered abnormal.
c. behaviors vary very little from one individual to another within each culture.
d. many people behave in ways that deviate from the average, but this doesn’t mean that
they have a disorder.
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
5. A male college student begins feeling sad and lonely. Although still able to go to classes and
work at his job, he finds himself feeling down much of the time and worries about what is
happening to him. Which part of the definition of abnormality applies to his situation?
, a. Personal distress
b. Cultural factors
c. Impaired functioning
d. Violation of societal norms
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Applied
6. Which of the following degrees is earned by a psychiatrist?
a. Ph.D.
b. Ed.D.
c. M.D.
d. Psy.D.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
7. Rocky Starr is a male rocker who wears outlandishmakeup and women’s clothing when
performing on stage. This behavior is considered
a. more abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because rockstars are
supposed to be very masculine.
b. less abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because it is consistent
with his professional success.
, c. less abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because its more common
to see a rockstar in makeup.
d. just as abnormal as that of an accountant who starts to do so because abnormality is
defined by the individual himself.
ANSWER: b
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Applied
NOTES: NEW
8. The prototype of a disorder reflects ________ as described in DSM-5.
a. its history and prognosis
b. its biological underpinnings
c. The causes of pathology
d. the “typical” profile and diagnostic criteria
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
9. The scientific study of psychological disorders is called
a. psychopathology.
1. According to the authors of your textbook, the definition of a psychological disorder is
associated with
a. stress.
b. impaired functioning.
c. culturally expected responses.
d. psychotic symptoms.
ANSWER: b
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
2. A psychological dysfunction refers to
a. a breakdown in cognitive functioning.
b. a breakdown in emotional functioning.
c. a breakdown in behavioral functioning.
d. any of these
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
NOTES: NEW
,3. Regarding the definition of abnormality, it is correct to state that
a. it is difficult to define “normal” and “abnormal.”
b. abnormality depends solely on subjective distress.
c. the definition is universal across cultures.
d. the criteria differ depending on whether the individual has a psychological disorder or
a psychological dysfunction.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
4. The criterion that a particular behavior be atypical or not culturally expected is insufficient to
define abnormality because
a. behavior that occurs infrequently is considered abnormal in every culture.
b. the atypical behavior must also cause harm or impairment to be considered abnormal.
c. behaviors vary very little from one individual to another within each culture.
d. many people behave in ways that deviate from the average, but this doesn’t mean that
they have a disorder.
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
5. A male college student begins feeling sad and lonely. Although still able to go to classes and
work at his job, he finds himself feeling down much of the time and worries about what is
happening to him. Which part of the definition of abnormality applies to his situation?
, a. Personal distress
b. Cultural factors
c. Impaired functioning
d. Violation of societal norms
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Applied
6. Which of the following degrees is earned by a psychiatrist?
a. Ph.D.
b. Ed.D.
c. M.D.
d. Psy.D.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: Easy
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
OTHER: TYPE: Factual
7. Rocky Starr is a male rocker who wears outlandishmakeup and women’s clothing when
performing on stage. This behavior is considered
a. more abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because rockstars are
supposed to be very masculine.
b. less abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because it is consistent
with his professional success.
, c. less abnormal than that of an accountant who starts to do so because its more common
to see a rockstar in makeup.
d. just as abnormal as that of an accountant who starts to do so because abnormality is
defined by the individual himself.
ANSWER: b
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Applied
NOTES: NEW
8. The prototype of a disorder reflects ________ as described in DSM-5.
a. its history and prognosis
b. its biological underpinnings
c. The causes of pathology
d. the “typical” profile and diagnostic criteria
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
REFERENCES: Understanding Psychopathology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ABNO.DURA.16.APA1.1a - Identify basic biological,
psychological, and social components of behavioral explanations
(e.g., inferences, observations, operational definitions, interpretation)
OTHER: TYPE: Conceptual
9. The scientific study of psychological disorders is called
a. psychopathology.
