PSYC 435 / ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY/TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PSYC 435 / ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY/TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS




QUESTION: What is abnormal psychology concerned with? - ANSWER-understanding the nature, causes
and treatment of mental disorders




QUESTION: What is family aggregation - ANSWER-whether a disorder runs in families




QUESTION: 7 indicators of abnormailty - ANSWER-1. subjective distress

2. maladaptiveness

3. statistical delivery

4. violation of the standards of society

5. social discomfort

6. irrationality and unpredictability

7. dangerousness




QUESTION: DSM definition of a mental disorder - ANSWER-A syndrome that is present in an individual
and that involves clinically significant disturbance in behaviour, emotional regulation or cognitive
functioning

,QUESTION: Advantages of classification - ANSWER-Provides us with nomenclature and enable us to
structure information in a more helpful manner




QUESTION: Disadvantages of classification - ANSWER-Use of shorthand leads to a loss of information,
there can be some stigma associated with a having a psychiatric diagnosis, and stereotyping




QUESTION: What is epidemiology - ANSWER-the study of the distribution of diseases, disorders or
health related behaviours in a given population




QUESTION: Difference between prevalence and incidence - ANSWER-prevalence refers to the number of
active cases in a population, incidence refers to the number of new cases that occur over a given period
of time




QUESTION: What is external validity - ANSWER-The extent to which we can generalize results of a study




QUESTION: What is internal validity - ANSWER-The degree of confidence we can have in the results of a
particular study




QUESTION: What is a correlation coefficient? - ANSWER-the strength of a correlation




QUESTION: What is statistical significance? - ANSWER-probability that results are due to chance

,QUESTION: What is a meta analysis? - ANSWER-Statistical approach which calculates and then combines
the effect sizes from studies




QUESTION: what is a longitudinal design? - ANSWER-a study that follows people over time and tries to
identify factors that predate the onset of a disorder




QUESTION: what is an experimental research approach? - ANSWER-A study where researchers control
all factors except one




QUESTION: What is an ABAB design? - ANSWER-A design that starts with controlled conditions,
introduces treatment, removes the treatment, and then reintroduces the treatment. Recommended
form of practice. Has more comparisons which allows for greater confidence in findings.




QUESTION: 3 general categories of mental disorders according to hippocrates - ANSWER-1. mania

2. melancholia

3. phrenitis (brain fever)




QUESTION: hippocrates belief on mental disorders - ANSWER-Denied that demons intervened, instead
insisted that mental disorders had natural causes. Believed that mental disorders were due to brain
pathology.




QUESTION: Mahers four element theory - ANSWER-Four elements:

, 1. blood (sanguis)

2. phlem

3. bile (choler)

4. black bile (melancholia)

These fluids combined in different proportions in different individuals, and determines a person's
temperament




QUESTION: plato's opinion on mental illness - ANSWER-Responses of the whole organism, reflecting its
internal state. Such persons were not responsible for their acts and should not receive normal
punishment.




QUESTION: aristotle's opinion on mental illness - ANSWER-agreed with aristotles theory of the bile, and
thought very hot bile generated amorous desires, verbal fluency, and suicidal impulses




QUESTION: what country was the earliest civilization to attend to mental disorders - ANSWER-china, but
then regressed to a belief in supernatural forces as causal agents




QUESTION: what is mass madness - ANSWER-the widespread occurrence of group behaviour disorders
that were apparently cases of hysteria




QUESTION: what is tarantism - ANSWER-groups of people would suddenly start to jump, dance, and go
into convulsions