Chapter 1
Introduction
Discussion Questions
1. Imagine that you are a psychologist and an individual seeking treatment for general
anxiety disorder has just entered your office. How might you assess his or her condition
from the behavioral and experimental, neuroscience, and evolutionary perspectives?
2. As discussed in the chapter, typical behaviors in one society may be seen as “crazy”
in another. One example is the report of hearing voices. How might this behavior be
viewed by members of a secular society as opposed to members of a culture that is
deeply religious? What implications does this have with regards to psychopathology as a
whole?
3. Explain the experiential perspective of psychopathology. How does it contribute to a
more complete understanding of mental illness? Do you feel that this perspective is of
greater, lesser, or equal value to the field of psychopathology than some of the others
mentioned in the text?
Chapter 2
Historical and Current Considerations
Discussion Questions
1. Review the history of psychopathology. How does our knowledge of older, even
discredited theories contribute to our understanding of psychopathology as it exists
today?
, 2. Consider the past theories of psychopathology reviewed in the chapter. List which
ideas have been discredited, which have been upheld, and which have been altered or
expanded upon. Why did you place each in its respective category? In general, what has
brought about these changes?
3. Imagine that you live in a time prior to the 1800s, and you have just learned about the
inhumane treatment of institutionalized individuals. What are your biggest concerns?
What points might you highlight in order to convince someone to advocate for improved
conditions?
Chapter 3
Neuroscience Approaches to Understanding Psychopathology
Discussion Questions
1. The text reviews endophenotypes, genes, and neural networks as they relate to the
neuroscience perspectives of psychopathology. What does each contribute to the field?
In other words, how does each enhance our understanding of mental illness?
2. There are several methods available that allow researchers to observe and study
brain activity. Why is it necessary to have a number of different techniques? Support
your explanation with specific reasons and/or examples.
3. Suppose a friend of yours expresses concern with the prevalence of a particular
mental disorder in her family history. She worries that she, too, might suffer from the
illness in the future due to her genetic make up. Are her concerns valid? What other
information might you tell your friend to consider?
Introduction
Discussion Questions
1. Imagine that you are a psychologist and an individual seeking treatment for general
anxiety disorder has just entered your office. How might you assess his or her condition
from the behavioral and experimental, neuroscience, and evolutionary perspectives?
2. As discussed in the chapter, typical behaviors in one society may be seen as “crazy”
in another. One example is the report of hearing voices. How might this behavior be
viewed by members of a secular society as opposed to members of a culture that is
deeply religious? What implications does this have with regards to psychopathology as a
whole?
3. Explain the experiential perspective of psychopathology. How does it contribute to a
more complete understanding of mental illness? Do you feel that this perspective is of
greater, lesser, or equal value to the field of psychopathology than some of the others
mentioned in the text?
Chapter 2
Historical and Current Considerations
Discussion Questions
1. Review the history of psychopathology. How does our knowledge of older, even
discredited theories contribute to our understanding of psychopathology as it exists
today?
, 2. Consider the past theories of psychopathology reviewed in the chapter. List which
ideas have been discredited, which have been upheld, and which have been altered or
expanded upon. Why did you place each in its respective category? In general, what has
brought about these changes?
3. Imagine that you live in a time prior to the 1800s, and you have just learned about the
inhumane treatment of institutionalized individuals. What are your biggest concerns?
What points might you highlight in order to convince someone to advocate for improved
conditions?
Chapter 3
Neuroscience Approaches to Understanding Psychopathology
Discussion Questions
1. The text reviews endophenotypes, genes, and neural networks as they relate to the
neuroscience perspectives of psychopathology. What does each contribute to the field?
In other words, how does each enhance our understanding of mental illness?
2. There are several methods available that allow researchers to observe and study
brain activity. Why is it necessary to have a number of different techniques? Support
your explanation with specific reasons and/or examples.
3. Suppose a friend of yours expresses concern with the prevalence of a particular
mental disorder in her family history. She worries that she, too, might suffer from the
illness in the future due to her genetic make up. Are her concerns valid? What other
information might you tell your friend to consider?
