Abnormal Psychology Exam 1
A psychologist constructs a comprehensive view of what is causing and maintaining a person's abnormal behavior. This is referred to as:
the clinical picture.
Which of the following exemplify secondary prevention?
Providing routine mental health screenings, followed by immediate intervention as needed
In DSM-5, gambling disorder is considered a(n):
addictive disorder.
Which of the following is the phobia MOST often associated with panic disorder?
agoraphobia
A woman constantly avoids crowded streets and buildings, and she is very reluctant to leave home, even with a friend. Recently, she has started experiencing sudden, extreme fear every time she enters a crowded street. MOST likely, this woman would be diagnosed with:
agoraphobia and panic disorder.
Cognitive-behavioral theorists have found that people who develop obsessive-compulsive disorder also:
believe their thoughts are capable of causing harm to themselves or others.
Hippocrates believed that treatment for mental disorders should involve:
bringing the four body humors back into balance.
The history, values, institutions, technology, and arts of a society make up that society's: a) laws b) norms c) culture d) conventions
c) culture
A mental health practitioner attempts to learn about the behavior and emotional state of each client. This approach to abnormal psychology is called:
idiographic.
What is interrater reliability?
if different judges independently agree on how to score and interpret it
What is a weakness of the evolutionary perspective?
impossible to research
Evidence that supports the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapies has come from:
individual case studies.
Which feature is NOT common in managed care programs?
patient choice in number of therapy sessions
Studies of diagnostic conclusions made by clinicians show that clinicians:
pay too much attention to certain sources of information.
A significant change in the type of care offered now compared to the era when Sigmund Freud was practicing is that:
people are more likely to receive treatment for problems in living.
An initial negative consequence of the somatogenic perspective on abnormality was that:
people used the perspective as a foundation for eugenic sterilization.
The proper conclusion from research studies that show a relationship between devout religious people who see God as warm and caring and psychological health is that:
people who are more devout are also psychologically healthier.
What is a primary assumption behind the use of projective tests?
people will unconsciously "project" aspects of their personality onto the task
During a session, Willow is given several sheets of paper. The questions describe a variety of situations to gauge how she thinks and what she would do in different situations. Willow must then go through and check "True," "False," or "Cannot say" for each question. Willow is MOST likely taking a:
personality inventory.
Systematic desensitization has been shown to be especially effective in the treatment of:
phobias.
Nicholas has an intense fear of dogs that won't go away. He avoids looking at pictures of dogs, and sometimes he can't even leave the house when neighbors are walking their dogs. This kind of fear would be classified as which kind of disorder?
phobic disorder
A "fake" pill used as the control condition in a drug study is a:
placebo
Use of projective tests has decreased in the past few decades because projective tests often have:
poor validity
A psychologist focuses on optimism, wisdom, happiness, and interpersonal skills. This psychologist is MOST likely a:
positive psychologist.
Providing treatment as soon as it is needed so problems that are moderate or worse do not become long-term issues is called:
tertiary prevention.
During a session, a client views several photos that depict people in different social scenarios. As the client views the pictures, the clinician asks the client to fabricate a story to explain what is happening in each picture. The patient is taking:
the Thematic Apperception Test.
Which theoretical position explains the origin of phobias as due to classical conditioning?
the behavioral position
Which explanation of phobias states the belief that human beings, as a species, have a predisposition to develop certain fears?
the behavioral-evolutionary explanation
Which of the following is a major similarity between the work of Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck?
the belief that maladaptive thoughts cause anxiety
Which of the following is a particular strength of the clinical interview process?
the chance to get a general sense of the client
The three MOST common factors that contribute to a positive treatment outcome are client factors, therapist factors, and:
the client-therapist relationship.
When clinicians assign a diagnosis, they are saying that the pattern of dysfunction is basically the same as one that has been displayed by many other people. This is MOST important because it means:
the clinician can better predict which treatments will be effective.
The clinical interview can be used as an assessment tool, but it is limited by:
the clinician's possible overreliance on first impressions.
A clinical interviewer is interested in stimuli that trigger abnormal responses, the resultant consequences, and the client's assumptions and interpretation. This is MOST indicative of which psychological orientation?
the cognitive-behavioral orientation
According to the psychodynamic perspective, if someone keeps obsessing about immoral sexual behavior and repeatedly scrubs his or her face and hands in response to those thoughts:
the immoral images represent id impulses.
As part of desensitization training, a phobic person is taken to a snake-handling convention to confront snakes. This is an example of what kind of technique?
the in vivo technique
A patient has social anxiety disorder. Which is an example of a biological treatment for this condition?
Prescribing an antidepressant medication such as paroxetine
A theorist who believes that the multicultural perspective is the correct way to think about abnormality comes from which paradigm?
Sociocultural
A theorist who views therapists as teachers of more functional behavior and thought is MOST likely to view abnormality as a(n):
a problem in living.
When treating religious patients, it is recommended that mental health professionals:
encourage clients to use spiritual resources that aid with coping.
If a mother seems excessively involved in her child's life such that the two do not seem to be independent people, their relationship is said to be:
enmeshed
Studies that determine the incidence and prevalence of a disorder in a particular population are called:
epidemiological studies.
Therapies that have received clear research support are called:
evidence-based therapies.
A clinical psychologist says that she selects the best treatment for a client based on the current recommendations outlined in research studies. This clinical psychologist believes in using:
evidence-based treatment.
A clinician asks a client to interpret inkblots for a personality assessment. A possible reason for the clinician to do this is to:
learn about unconscious conflicts in the client.
A person experiencing a panic disorder is MOST likely to also have a fear of:
leaving home
With its emphasis on abstract human values and responsibility, the humanistic-existential model does all of the following EXCEPT:
lend itself easily to research.
With mindfulness-based therapy techniques, clients would MOST likely be encouraged to:
let their thoughts flow, without judgment.
A researcher finds a strong positive correlation between ratings of life stress and symptoms of depression. The researcher may therefore be confident that:
life stress and depression are related.
In science, the perspectives used to explain phenomena are known as:
paradigms.
Natural experiments are considered quasi-experiments because:
participants are selected by accident rather than based on the researcher's design.
The sociocultural model of abnormality focuses on all of these factors EXCEPT:
past traumatic experiences.
The antenna-like extensions located at one end of the neuron are called:
dendrites
The model of abnormality that examines the effects of society and culture is the _____ model.
sociocultural
The model of abnormality that examines the effects of society and culture is the:
sociocultural model.
A clinician is particularly interested in a client's family background and community influences. The clinician's orientation is MOST likely:
sociocultural.
The most appropriate motto for someone with generalized anxiety disorder is:
"Better safe than sorry."
What is Thomas Szasz's interpretation of what causes "mental illness"?
"Problems of living"
Which phrase would one be MOST likely to hear in a self-help group? "You'll figure this out on your own." "The therapist will tell us what to do." "Try this. It worked for me." "Let's talk about our dreams."
"Try this. It worked for me."
Which statement would a family systems theorist MOST likely agree with?
"What an individual views as abnormal behavior in public may be the only way to effectively interact with family members."
Which correlation coefficient is of the highest magnitude?
-.85
Which statement about distress is TRUE?
Distress is a subjective experience.
Describe the principle of equifinality.
Same problem, different reasons
The model of abnormality that focuses on learning is the:
behavioral model.
The model of abnormality that concentrates on thinking is the:
cognitive model.
Psychoanalysis was developed as a form of:
outpatient therapy
What is anxiety sensitivity?
the inability to assess bodily sensations accurately
What are the three categories of clinical assessment techniques?
clinical interviews, tests, and observations
GABA has been implicated in the etiology of:
generalized anxiety disorder.
A therapist videoconferences a client to conduct a session. This is an example of what kind of care?
telemental health
According to Jerome Frank, what are the three essential features of all therapies?
1. A sufferer who seeks relief from the healer. 2. A trained, socially accepted healer 3. A series of contacts between them
Which statement about deviant behavior is TRUE? 1. What is defined as deviant can change over time. 2. What is considered deviant behavior is the same across all cultures. 3.Deviant behavior is a precursor to psychologically abnormal behavior. 4. People who engage in deviant behavior are always unaware that their behavior is deviant.
1. What is defined as deviant can change over time.
Which is NOT a concern associated with DSM-5? 1. lack of input from clinical advisors 2. weak field research 3. gender bias 4. racial bias
1. lack of input from clinical advisors
Which statement about clinical interviews is TRUE? 1. Research shows that most clients speak objectively about their own behavior. 2. Clinicians' biases can influence how they interpret the information obtained from clinical interviews. 3. Clinicians agree that the clinical interview is the most useful clinical assessment tool. 4. Clients share more details with clinicians who are viewed as cool and distant.
2. Clinicians' biases can influence how they interpret the information obtained from clinical interviews
Which test is NOT a projective test? 1. Rorschach test 2. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) 3. Draw-a-Person test 4. Thematic Apperception Test
2. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
Which is the BEST example of a broad social anxiety? 1. unwillingness to eat in front of others 2. fear of public speaking 3. apprehension about being evaluated by others 4. anxiety about walking in front of others
3. apprehension about being evaluated by others
Which statement is MOST accurate? 1. Anxiety is caused by deficient levels of GABA throughout the brain. 2. Long-term anxiety contributes to poor GABA reception. 3. High GABA reception causes long-term anxiety. 4. Low GABA levels can increase activity in the fear circuit, leading to increased anxiety.
4. Low GABA levels can increase activity in the fear circuit, leading to increased anxiety.
Which individual would be MOST likely to be classified as exhibiting dysfunctional behavior? 1. a person who experiences grief immediately after losing her job and then her house 2. a person who is nervous about shopping alone for weeks after being attacked by a mugger 3. a person who always washes his hands immediately after returning home from grocery shopping 4. a person who engages in multiple checking rituals each day and consequently is unable to hold down a job
4. a person who engages in multiple checking rituals each day and consequently is unable to hold down a job
Approximately how many mental disorders does the DSM-5 list?
500
A client has been experiencing uncontrolled anxiety. His symptoms include edginess, sleep changes, fatigue, and significant distress. To meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, these symptoms must be present for at least how many months?
6 months
Researchers have shown that in a typical year in the United States, approximately _____ percent of people with psychological disorders receive clinical treatment.
60%
On average, patients receiving therapy for a psychological problem improve more than do what percent of people with similar problems who do not receive treatment?
75 percent
Which example BEST describes conditions of worth?
A boy believes that he is deserving of love only when he earns good grades.
What is anxiety sensitivity?
A tendency to focus on one's bodily sensations, assess them illogically, and interpret them as harmful.
Which behavior pattern is NOT listed in DSM-5 as an obsessive-compulsive-related disorder?
Agoraphobia
What is the theory on how abnormal behavior may have been conceptualized in prehistoric times?
Evil spirits
Distinguish between agoraphobia and panic attacks.
Agoraphobia- afraid of being in public places or situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, should they experience panic or become incapacitated Panic attacks- periodic, short bouts of panic that occur suddenly, reach a peak within minutes, and gradually pass
Give an example of a behavior that could be considered deviant in one culture, but not another.
Along the Niger River, men of the Wodaabe tribe put on elaborate makeup and costumes to attract women. In Western society, the same behavior would break behavioral norms and probably be judged abnormal.
Which statement is the BEST response about a scientific opinion on the use of polygraphic evidence?
Although they are used widely, polygraph results are not particularly reliable.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (presently DSM-5) was developed by the:
American Psychiatric Association.
Which is NOT a goal of group therapy?
Analyzing dreams
What does deviance refer to?
Any behavior, belief, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs
A researcher is considering whether to gather online data from Facebook users without informing the users that their data are being used. In terms of research ethics, which question is the MOST relevant?
Are Facebook postings considered "public behavior"?
If stress levels and physical health are negatively correlated, which of the following can the researcher conclude?
As stress increases, health decreases.
How long must symptoms go on to be considered generalized anxiety disorder?
At least 6 months
Mindfulness has been shown to be associated with improvements in which of the following?
Autonomic nervous system functioning
Some researchers have manipulated the behaviors and thoughts of study participants to create clinical-like symptoms. Which conclusion can be drawn from this finding?
Behaviors and thoughts may influence the development of psychological disorders.
What type of drug is alprazolam (Xanax)?
Benzodiazepine
Which model of abnormality most lends itself to laboratory testing?
CBT
Which statement best represents the evidence supporting the usefulness of client-centered therapy for those with generalized anxiety disorder versus for those with the same condition who receive placebo therapy?
Client-centered therapy is only sometimes superior to placebo therapy.
Which statement is TRUE about drug and cognitive treatments for panic disorder?
Cognitive treatments have proved to be at least as effective as medications, if not more so.
According to a 2018 report (Prochaska & Norcross), the dominant approach used by clinical psychologists is:
Cognitive-behavioral
When I was a child, I loved to go swimming in a lake near my house. However, one afternoon I was bitten on the foot by something in the water. Since that time, I've never been able to swim in a lake. A therapist who assumes this describes a phobia acquired from classical conditioning MOST likely favors which model of abnormality?
Cognitive-behavioral
Which model emphasizes the importance of conditioning in determining human actions?
Cognitive-behavioral
With regard to assessing the effectiveness of the various models of abnormality, which model BEST lends itself to laboratory testing?
Cognitive-behavioral
_____ theory focuses on observable and conscious behaviors, whereas _____ theory focuses on unconscious processes.
Cognitive-behavioral; psychodynamic
Ashley is a pole-vaulter who is ready for her event. Nevertheless, just before the track meet begins, she thinks, "I can't do this! I'm going to mess up and then it won't be a perfect run!" Which type of theorist would focus on the athlete's illogical thinking process as a key factor in her subsequent poor performance?
Cognitive-focused
What is one important way obsessions and compulsions are related?
Compulsions are often a response to obsessions.
What is a concern that affects the reliability and validity of the DSM-5 diagnostic categories?
Cultural bias built in to the categories
What is the most concerning criticism of intelligence tests?
Cultural bias/fairness
Which statement is NOT an appropriate criticism of the sociocultural model?
Cultural factors might create a climate favorable for the development of certain disorders.
What are the commonly accepted features of abnormality?
Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger
What does the evolutionary perspective suggest about abnormality?
Deviant and dysfunctional behaviors may have been useful in our ancestors
During a session, a clinician asks the patient to illustrate something; the clinician then focuses on where on the page the drawing is placed, the size of the drawing, and the parts the patient omitted. What test did the patient likely just take?
Draw-a-Person
Marie comes from a supportive, loving family and has a stable socio-economic background. She has developed depression due to a serotonin deficiency. Anne has distant parents, failing grades, and insufficient funds for basic necessities and also develops depression. These two cases demonstrate what principle of developmental psychopathology?
Equifinality
Gambling disorder is a manifestation of the previously desirable behavior of being a risk taker. This statement aligns MOST closely with the beliefs of which type of theorist?
Evolutionary theorist
What is the major ethical concern with research on Facebook users?
Facebook users don't always know they are being studied.
How does fear differ from anxiety?
Fear is a response to a specific threat, whereas anxiety is more general.
What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
Fear- central nervous system's physiological and emotional response to a serious threat to one's well-being Anxiety- Possibility of vague sense of danger/dread
In addition to intense fear, what other symptom would be necessary for the diagnosis of a phobia?
Fears interfere with daily life
Benzodiazepines are believed to be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder because they mimic the effect of what neurotransmitter at certain receptor sites in the brain?
GABA
What neurotransmitter is thought to be impacted by benzodiazepines?
GABA
What is a strength of the clinical interview?
General sense of the client
Toward the end of the Middle Ages, cities began to flourish. How did this help foster a shift away from demonology?
Government officials took over care of the mentally ill.
What are some drawbacks to benzodiazepines?
Highly addictive, withdrawls can kill you
Which question does the use of statistical analyses in research help answer?
How likely is it that the study's findings occurred by chance?
A therapist who describes her client as someone who has yet to fulfill his or her full potential, rather than as someone with a disorder, is MOST likely what kind of theorist?
Humanistic
When we try to establish how abnormality develops, we need to consider how individuals deal with the meaning of life and with the value they find in living. A psychologist from which background would agree MOST strongly with this statement?
Humanistic-existential
Which model of abnormality MOST closely aligns with positive psychology?
Humanistic-existential
Which thought is consistent with the thinking of someone who has social anxiety disorder?
I can't go on that business lunch with my boss. I'd spill food on myself and look like an idiot.
What are some examples of irrational assumptions?
I do not deserve positive attention from others. I should never burden others with my problems or fears. I am junk. I am uncreative, nonproductive, ineffective, and untalented. I am worthless.
Which statement reflects the MOST common obsessive thought?
If I touch that doorknob, I will be dirty and contaminated.
A student says, "The problem with single-subject experiments is that there is no control group, so you don't know if the treatment is effective." The BEST reply is:
If you use a reversal design, then participants serve as their own controls.
According to cognition-focused therapists, which is a factor in abnormal behavior?
Illogical thinking
Which group BEST reflects those who may benefit from couple therapy?
Individuals who are in a long-term relationship
According to the text, intelligence must be measured indirectly. What might be a reason for this?
Intelligence is an inferred quality.
Which category of clinical tests has the best standardization, reliability, and validity?
Intelligence tests
What does dysfunctional mean?
Interferes with daily tasks
What is a weakness of the clinical interview?
Interviewers focus too much on first impressions
What does the sociocultural view suggest about abnormality?
Irregularities in relations, social/cultural
Which statement about the use of antidepressants to treat panic disorders is MOST accurate?
It appears that all antidepressant drugs that restore norepinephrine help prevent or reduce panic symptoms.
Which statement describes a limitation of the case study?
It does not provide a basis for generalization.
Which statement is TRUE regarding the use of mindfulness-based therapy?
It has been used to treat a wide range of disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder.
Which statement BEST defines treatment?
It is a procedure designed to change abnormal behavior into more normal behavior.
Which of the following is an argument of critics of the evolutionary perspective?
It is difficult to research this perspective.
How does an MRI make a picture of the brain?
It relies on the magnetic properties of the atoms in the cells scanned.
Which statement is TRUE regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
It sends brief electrical currents through the brain, stimulating a seizure.
Give an example of a behavior that used to be considered deviant in this culture, but is now considered normal.
Just decades ago, a woman's love for race car driving would have been considered strange, perhaps even abnormal. Today, Danica Patrick (right) is one of America's finest race car drivers. The size difference between her first place trophy at the Indy Japan 300 auto race and that of second-place male driver Hélio Castroneves symbolizes just how far women have come in this sport.
A person wonders how likely he is to qualify for a DSM diagnosis in his lifetime. Assuming that this person is "typical," the MOST accurate answer (based on survey results) would be:
Likely; almost half of all people will at some point qualify for a DSM diagnosis.
When Logan was 5 years old, he was playing with a stuffed bunny when a burglar broke into his home. Now, as an adult, Logan is terrified of rabbits. Why do cognitive-behavioral theorists believe Logan dreads rabbits, even though he should know they are harmless?
Logan never got close enough to rabbits to learn they are actually harmless.
A therapist identifies a biological factor in a patient with depression. What is that factor?
Low activity of serotonin
Which of the following tests is a personality inventory?
MMPI-2
What does the cognitive-behavioral view emphasize in the understanding of abnormality?
Maladaptive learning- mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Which statement BEST describes why treatment outcomes vary in clients?
Many factors, both on the client side and on the clinician side, can affect therapy outcomes.
Which statement BEST reflects the impact of deinstitutionalization?
Many people with severe disturbances are in jail or on the street.
The test that reports the person's results on clinical scales such as "hypochondriasis" and "psychopathic deviate" is the:
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
What is a factor that might inhibit the use of effective assessment tools?
Most assessment tools are expensive to administer and evaluate.
Which statement is NOT usually true of those persons with body dysmorphic disorder?
Most disorder-specific behaviors would be considered normal for a teenager.
What happens when an electrical impulse reaches a neuron's ending?
Neurotransmitters are released.
Do all four features of abnormality have to be present when considering diagnosis?
No
Is the DSM-5 used internationally?
No
Is there a single definition of abnormality or a single cause of mental illness?
No
What is the most famous characteristic of Bethlehem Hospital, founded in London in 1547?
Popularly called "Bedlam," it came to represent deplorable conditions for patients.
Arvind is feeling overwhelmed at work and has been having anxiety episodes for a few weeks. Acting on the advice of a friend, Arvind takes a vacation and subsequently feels less distress. Is this an example of therapy?
No, there is no trained healer in this scenario.
A client has body dysmorphic disorder and is considering plastic surgery. Is this a recommended treatment for this client?
No. Often, people who have plastic surgery for body dysmorphic disorder actually feel worse afterward.
Which statement is TRUE regarding the models of abnormality?
None of the models are complete within themselves.
Which model is the true and correct model that fully explains abnormality?
None of them
Which statement is NOT a reason that demonology dominated views of abnormality in Europe in the Middle Ages?
Overall health during this period was slowly improving.
In science, the perspectives used to explain phenomena are known as which of the following?
Paradigms
What is an important characteristic of group therapy?
Participants have similar issues.
Which of these was Philippe Pinel's argument for his asylum reform?
Patients were people with illnesses that should be treated with sympathy.
Which has better reliability, projective tests or personality inventories?
Personality inventories
Which behavioral assumption has the LEAST amount of research to support it?
Phobias are primarily acquired through classical conditioning in humans.
What does the biological view suggest about abnormality?
Physical structure and chemical
Which statement BEST reflects the current care for people with less severe disturbances?
Private insurance companies are likely to cover outpatient treatment.
Which statement about the current use of projective techniques by clinicians is TRUE?
Projective tests, when used, serve as a secondary source of insight about clients.
Resistance and transference are terms most likely used by which model?
Psychodynamic
Understanding a person's unconscious processes is critical in explaining abnormality. Which model of abnormality does this quote MOST closely represent?
Psychodynamic
ChaeWoo has been participating in weekly therapy for several years. Over time, he begins to understand how events in his early life have impacted how he functions now. What form of psychotherapy is ChaeWoo receiving?
Psychodynamic therapy
What is the proper term for drugs that affect the brain and alleviate the symptoms of psychological problems?
Psychotropic medications
Drugs that alleviate the symptoms of mental dysfunction by affecting the brain are called:
Psychotropics
Which statement is NOT true regarding specific phobias?
Repeated exposure to the object causes a gradual fear response.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) designed a new neuroscience-focused classification tool as an alternative to DSM-5. This tool is called the:
Research Domain Criteria (RDoC).
A psychologist believes that her client has a generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of unconditional positive regard as a child and as a result has developed conditions of worth. The psychologist is following which theory?
Rogers' client-centered theory
What does the humanistic-existential view emphasize in the understanding of abnormality?
Role of values and choices
What does humanistic therapy say is a central human motivation?
Self-actualization
What does the psychodynamic view suggest about abnormality?
Unconscious processes, internal conflicts
Which statement is TRUE regarding the reliability of DSM-5? 1. Research studies have consistently shown very high reliability across all diagnoses. 2. Reliability is highest for newer diagnoses that were not included in DSM-I. 3. Reliability is highest for diagnoses that have been included since DSM-I. 4. Some research studies have reported better reliability with DSM-5 over earlier versions, but other studies have not.
Some research studies have reported better reliability with DSM-5 over earlier versions, but other studies have not.
Suicide prevention, substance abuse treatment, and eating disorder clinics are MOST similar to which kind of market?
Sweet Cupcakes, a store that specializes in only one type of food
Which statement BEST describes the effect of technology on mental health?
Technology provides new triggers for abnormal behaviors.
Failure to treat many people with severe disturbances appropriately is MOST often a problem with which level of prevention?
Tertiary
A person asks, "What's the MOST effective treatment for social anxiety disorder?" What is the BEST research-based answer?
The best psychotherapy eliminates symptoms as fast as, and longer than, the best drug therapy.
A health care provider prescribes disulfiram (Antabuse) for a client with alcoholism. The drug causes severe vomiting if a person drinks alcohol while taking the drug. Why might this treatment be effective in preventing alcohol use even after the client stops taking the drug?
The client is classically conditioned to associate drinking with the negative experience of vomiting.
What does the client do when the modeling approach is used to treat a phobia?
The client observes the therapist confronting the feared object.
Which of the following is NOT influenced by the paradigm to which an investigator subscribes?
The definition of abnormal behavior
Which of the following is NOT a weakness of the biological model of abnormal behavior?
The effectiveness of biological treatments cannot be objectively evaluated.
What is standardization?
The process in which a test is administered to a large group of people whose performance then serves as a standard or norm against which any individual's score can be measured.
Why is the psychodynamic model difficult to research?
The processes described in this model occur at an unconscious level.
Which statement is TRUE about the participation of women in the mental health professions?
The profession with the highest percentage of women practitioners is social work.
Which statement distinguishes a quasi-experimental study from a "pure experiment"?
The quasi-experiment does not allow for manipulation of the independent variable.
What is libido?
The sexual energy of the id
What is the relationship between the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and DSM-5?
The two publications do not include identical lists of psychological disorders; for those disorders listed in both, the DSM-5 descriptions and diagnostic criteria are often more detailed.
How can therapists use correlational research findings in their practice?
Therapists can determine which related conditions are likely and assess for early signs of their presence.
What is an evidence-based therapy?
Therapy that has scientific research that backs it up
Which statement is the MOST accurate conclusion about the current state of abnormal psychology in the United States?
There is no single definition of abnormality or theoretical understanding of mental illness causes.
Which of the following is a valid critique of the use of response inventories?
They are not well tested.
According to psychoanalysis, which statement is TRUE of psychological conflicts?
They are only a problem when they reach consciousness.
According to psychoanalytic theory, which statement is TRUE about dreams?
They are tied to experiences early in life.
According to psychoanalytic theory, which of the following is true regarding dreams?
They reflect our unconscious desires and needs.
What was the driving idea behind the eugenic sterilization of the mentally ill?
They should not be allowed to pass on their defective genes.
How did the perception of patients with psychological problems change during the spread of moral treatment?
They were seen as potentially productive human beings who deserved care.
Which is a goal of acceptance and commitment therapy?
To lessen the power of thoughts
What is the biggest difference between treatment outcomes for persons with agoraphobia and persons with specific phobias?
Treatment of agoraphobia brings less relief to individuals than do the highly successful treatments for specific phobias,
In what way did the experiments performed by Bernheim and Liébault provide support for the psychogenic perspective of abnormality?
Using hypnosis, they could produce artificial symptoms such as blindness in healthy subjects.
Which statement about the various viewpoints of clinical psychology is TRUE?
Various perspectives coexist, and they often conflict and compete with one another.
Which is NOT a question that therapy outcome studies seek to answer?
Which therapies are effective for all clients?
How might conditions of worth manifest in an adult client seeking therapy?
Worrying about performance activities
What is meta-worrying?
Worrying about worrying too much
Which procedure is NOT a form of neuroimaging?
a DEXA scan
A clinical diagnostician is dissatisfied with tests that cannot specify the type of brain damage or brain impairment that clients have. The BEST suggestion for that diagnostician would be to use:
a battery of neuropsychological tests
Samuel cannot leave for work without going back into his house and making sure that he has taken all of his writing materials. He does this several times before he allows himself to start the car and drive to work. He is frequently late for work because he is so unsure about remembering everything. Samuel is displaying:
a checking compulsion.
What kind of response inventory asks individuals to provide detailed information about their typical thoughts and assumptions?
a cognitive inventory
A clinician can include three kinds of information in making a diagnosis: a diagnostic category, a severity rating for the disorder, and additional information about possibly relevant psychosocial factors. According to DSM-5, a clinician is required to include:
a diagnostic category and a severity rating but not additional information.
An assessor misinterprets a cultural response about spiritualism as pathological delusion. Who is MOST at risk for making this misinterpretation?
a dominant-culture assessor
Phobic and generalized anxiety disorders arise when people stop looking at themselves honestly and with acceptance and instead deny and distort their true thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Which kind of theorist would offer the preceding explanation for anxiety disorders?
a humanistic theorist
Which is an example of a case study?
a long-term study of a clinical client
What do you call a person who primarily prescribes medication but does not conduct psychotherapy?
a psychopharmacologist
Which of these describes a compulsion?
a repetitive and rigid behavior or mental act that people feel they must perform
Beatrice is prescribed a medication for her anxiety. When she takes a small dose, she feels calmer. When she takes a larger dose, she can fall asleep without tossing and turning. This type of drug is called:
a sedative-hypnotic drug.
The biological treatment known as psychosurgery would MOST likely be used in the treatment of a patient with:
a severe disorder and who has not responded to any other therapies over years of treatment.
What kind of response inventory asks about how one would act with others in a variety of situations?
a social skills inventory
Which of the following would NOT fit Jerome Frank's theory of what constitutes therapy? a) a self-help group for grieving widows run by other grieving widows b) the sort of therapy that Freud practiced c) psychotherapy that involves a psychiatrist who prescribes medication for a disorder d) therapy provided by a social worker for a dysfunctional family
a) a self-help group for grieving widows run by other grieving widows
A researcher spends 15 or more hours per day conducting experiments or doing library reading and records observations on color-coded index cards. This person lives alone in the country but doesn't interfere with others' lives. The best description of the researcher's behavior is that it is: a) eccentric b) abnormal c) dangerous d) dysfunctional
a) eccentric
People who engage in frenetic, manic activity may not experience distress. They are: a) nevertheless considered to be abnormal b) not abnormal because abnormality requires distress c) doing something illegal, not abnormal d) no longer considered abnormal, but were in the past.
a) nevertheless considered to be abnormal
The stated and unstated rules for proper conduct that a society establishes are referred to as: a) norms b) culture c) morality d) conventions
a) norms
Which of the following pairs of words BEST describes the current emphasis in mental health? a) prevention and positive psychology b) promotion and public psychology c) perfection and primary psychology d) people and professional psychology
a) prevention and positive psychology
An otherwise "normal" person during hypnotic suggestion is made to bark, sit, and fetch like a dog. The occurrence of these abnormal behaviors lends support to which explanation for abnormality? a) psychogenic b) somatogenic c) parthenogenic d) schizophrenegenic
a) psychogenic
Which of the following is the MOST accurate conclusion about the state of abnormal psychology in the United States currently? a) there is no single definition of abnormality, no one theoretical understanding of the causes of mental illness, and no single best treatment b) we do know what mental illness is, but we don't understand what causes it, or the best way to treat it c) we haven't advanced much beyond the demonology era d) now we understand what causes mental illness and how best to treat it; plus, we can define it
a) there is no single definition of abnormality, no one theoretical understanding of the causes of mental illness, and no single best treatment
Which of the following BEST fits Jerome Frank's theory about what constitutes therapy? a) traditional outpatient therapy for depression b) traditional AA treatment for alcoholism c) a one-time crisis intervention following a disaster d) a prevention program set up in a community
a) traditional outpatient therapy for depression
A person who works in a mental hospital analyzing various treatment protocols to see how multicultural factors impact success rates is MOST likely to be a:
clinical researcher.
The so-called new wave of cognitive therapy differs from traditional cognitive therapy in that it emphasizes:
accepting problematic thoughts.
Under a psychologist's instruction, Grace's mother records the number of times Grace hits her brother at home, and what happens immediately before the hitting. In this situation, Grace's mother is:
acting as a participant observer.
Cognitive-behavioral approaches used to treat social anxiety disorder aim to:
alter illogical thinking patterns and reduce avoidance behaviors.
What kind of response inventory asks about one's level of anxiety, depression, or anger?
an affective inventory
If a person's primary symptom was excessive worry, the psychotropic drug MOST likely to be prescribed for that person would be an:
antianxiety medication.
The drug treatment that is MOST effective in treating panic disorders is a(n):
antidepressant drug
Jena is experiencing sadness, lack of energy, and low self-worth. The condition is chronic and severe. If her psychiatrist prescribed medication, it would likely be a(n):
antidepressant drug.
Tanner is confused and usually thinks that he is a superhero. If his psychiatrist ordered medication, it would MOST likely be a(n):
antipsychotic drug.
Eldon occasionally has a racing heartbeat. When this happens, he panics and thinks he is going to die. Gradually, he has developed panic attacks if he even thinks that his heart is beating strongly. Eldon apparently has a high degree of:
anxiety sensitivity
Psychodynamic therapies as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorders:
appear to work better when used in the short term rather than in traditional ways.
Research on the cognitive explanation for the development of generalized anxiety shows that people with generalized anxiety symptoms:
are more likely to have fast and strong physical reactions to stress.
Graduate school personnel review applying students' test scores, college grades, and relevant experience to determine who will be granted admission. This is similar to a clinician engaging in:
assessment.
A theorist who takes an evolutionary perspective on abnormal behavior would MOST likely agree that:
at one time what is now often labeled abnormal behavior actually helped humans survive.
In DSM-5, Asperger's syndrome is classified under which new category?
autism spectrum disorder
Despite popular misconceptions, most people with psychological problems are not: a) dysfunctional b) dangerous c) distressing d) deviant
b) dangerous
A person who is so miserable that he or she can see no reason for living BEST fits which of the following definitions of abnormality? a) deviance b) distress c) dangerousness d) dysfunction
b) distress
Immigration trends and differences in birth rates among minority groups in the United States have causes psychological treatment to become more: a) hospital focused b) multicultural c) positive d) dependent on the use of medications
b) multicultural
According to Thomas Szasz's views, the deviations that some call mental illness are really: a) mental illness b) problems in living c) causes by one's early childhood experiences d) eccentric behaviors with a biological cause
b) problems in living
R.D. Laing said, "Insanity--a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world." This statement illustrates: a) how dangerous most mentally ill people actually are b) that abnormality is situational c) that everyone is a little eccentric d) that drug use causes people to become mentally ill
b) that abnormality is situational
Lady Gaga and other eccentrics are usually not considered to be experiencing a mental illness because: a) they are not deviant b) they freely choose and enjoy their behavior c) they are only dangerous to others, not to themselves d) while they are distressed by their behavior, others are not
b) they freely choose and enjoy their behavior
The specialty that presently has the largest number of practitioners is:
clinical social work.
Which form of therapy helps clients recognize errors in logic and try out new interpretations of events?
cognitive
A compulsion to keep placing certain items (such as clothing, books, or foods) in perfect order in accordance with strict rules is a:
balance compulsion.
Which medications work primarily by enhancing the effectiveness of GABA?
benzodiazepines
If a clinician is particularly interested in a client's family medical history, that clinician's orientation is MOST likely:
biological
Which model of abnormality cites physical processes as being the key to behavior?
biological
In a research setting, a drug is given to a person. The drug causes that person to hyperventilate and experience a rapid heart rate. This is a(n):
biological challenge test.
The model of abnormality that cites physical processes as being the key to behavior is the:
biological model.
In terms of cognitive theories that explain generalized anxiety disorder, which of these theories has a good deal of research support?
both metacognitive theory and intolerance of uncertainty theory
An individual has a 9-to-5 job. However, this person seldom gets up early enough to be at work on time, and expresses great distress over this fact. This individual's behavior would be considered abnormal because it is: a) dysfunctional b) deviant c) dysfunctional and deviant d) dangerous
c) dysfunctional and deviant
If a person experienced anxiety or depression following a significant natural disaster, we would say that the person was: a) suffering from a mental illness b) deviant but not dangerous c) exhibiting a typical reaction d) statistically deviant
c) exhibiting a typical reaction
Research shows that danger to self or others is found in: a) all cases of abnormal functioning b) most cases of abnormal functioning c) some cases of abnormal functioning d) no cases of abnormal functioning
c) some cases of abnormal functioning
Which of the following examples would NOT be considered abnormal, despite the fact that it is dysfunctional? a) someone who is too confused to drive safely b) someone who parties so much that he or she cannot go to class c) someone who goes on a hunger strike to protest social injustice d) someone who cannot stay alone even for one night
c) someone who goes on a hunger strike to protest social injustice
Clinical theorist Jerome Frank would say that all forms of therapy include all of the following except a: a) series of contacts b) healer c) third-party payer d) sufferer who seeks relief
c) third-party payer
A major limitation of treating generalized anxiety disorder with antipsychotic medication is that these medications:
can produce serious side effects.
A psychologist does a study of an individual that involves history-taking, tests, and interviews of associates. A clear picture is then constructed of this individual so that her behavior is better understood. This study is a(n):
case study
A person is diagnosed as having severe generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder represents which part of the diagnosis?
categorical information
According to psychoanalysts, if a patient relives past repressed feelings, that patient is said to have experienced:
catharsis.
Imagine that a longitudinal study found that children raised by people with schizophrenia are more likely to commit crimes later. This result tells us that:
children of people with schizophrenia are at higher risk for criminal behavior.
The perspective that religious views are defense mechanisms created by people to make life tolerable is MOST characteristic of:
classic Freudian psychotherapy.
Those MOST often in charge of treating abnormality in the Middle Ages in Europe were:
clergy
A client reports having infrequent, but extremely disturbing, tactile hallucinations. What is the MOST useful way to gather information about this person?
client self-monitoring
The term for the form of psychotherapy pioneered by Carl Rogers is:
client-centered.
A theorist who sees abnormality as a problem in living usually refers to those seeking help with problems in living as:
clients
A theorist who sees abnormality as a problem in living usually refers to those seeking help with problems in living as:
clients.
The process of evaluating a person's progress after he or she has been in treatment is called a:
clinical assessment.
If you are being encouraged to see the link between the way you interpret your experiences and the way you feel and to question the accuracy of your interpretations, you are probably receiving:
cognitive therapy.
Which model of abnormality focuses on learning and the thinking that underlies behavior?
cognitive-behavioral
Everyone has intrusive and unwanted thoughts. Most people ignore them. But some people blame themselves and expect terrible consequences, so they act in ways they hope will neutralize the thoughts. The type of theorist who would be MOST likely to agree with this position would be a:
cognitive-behavioral theorist.
Which group emphasizes the beliefs and expectations that lead someone with a social anxiety disorder to overestimate how bad a social interaction went?
cognitive-behavioral theorists
Which therapy is an effective long-term, nonpharmacologic treatment for panic attack that involves teaching patients to interpret their physical sensations accurately?
cognitive-behavioral therapy
The therapy found to be most effective for treating phobias is:
cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Theory focused on the behaviors people exhibit and the thoughts they have is usually described as:
cognitive-behavioral.
A client with autism is being simultaneously treated by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. This represents a:
combined approach
A psychotherapist models appropriate social skills for a client with social anxiety disorder, then uses modeling for another client with a phobia for spiders. What the therapist is doing is:
common; modeling is often used in the treatment of these kinds of disorders.
If a new test for assessing anorexic tendencies produces scores comparable to those of other tests for assessing anorexic tendencies, then the new test has high:
concurrent validity.
When Marianela was a young child and watching TV with her mother, a mouse ran by. Her mother screamed, scaring her. Ever since then, Marianela has been afraid of mice. In this example, the mouse is the:
conditioned stimulus.
Factors other than the independent variable may also act on the dependent variable. If these factors vary systematically with the independent variable, they are called:
confounds.
The group of participants that is NOT exposed to the independent variable under investigation (in an experiment) is called the:
control group.
The degree to which events or characteristics vary with each other is described as:
correlation.
The outer layer of the brain is the:
cortex.
Parity laws for insurance coverage of mental health treatment mandate that:
coverage for mental and physical problems must be reimbursed equally.
A phobic person is taught to imagine the feared items as part of desensitization training. This is an example of the _____ technique.
covert
Gertrude is a college student. Her roommate notices that she frequently displays symptoms of depression at home but seldom does so at work or during class. In this case, clinical observations of this person at work would lack:
cross-situational validity.
The MOST legitimate criticism of intelligence tests concerns their:
cultrual fairness
A society's _____ is(are) comprised of that society's history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts.
culture
College students who drink so much that it interferes with their lives, health, and academic careers are often not diagnosed as engaging in abnormal behavior because: a) the behavior is not illegal b) they are just considered eccentric c) they don't hurt anyone but themselves d) drinking is considered part of the college culture
d) drinking is part of the college culture
Defining abnormal behavior using the four Ds: a) allows us to create diagnoses that are clear-cut and not debatable b) allows us to eliminate those who are merely eccentric c) allows us to include those who experience distress d) is still often vague and subjective
d) is still often vague and subjective
Efforts to address the needs of children who are at risk for developing mental disorders (babies of teenage mothers, children of those with severe mental disorders) are categorized as a) positive psychology b) psychoanalysis c) eco-anxiety treatment d) preventive
d) preventive
Regarding the cause of mental disorders, surveys have found that 43% of people today believe that mental illness is caused by which of the following? a) sinful behavior b) lack of willpower c) lack of self-discipline d) something people bring on themselves
d) something people bring on themselves
In the Middle Ages, the model of mental illness that MOST people believed in was the:
demonology model.
A person who is having suicidal thoughts and can see no reason for living BEST fits which definition of abnormality?
danger
Commonly accepted features of abnormality include deviance, distress, dysfunction, and:
danger
Despite popular misconceptions, most people with psychological problems are not:
dangerous
One way a clinician might try to reduce observer drift would be to:
decrease the lengths of the observation periods.
According to Freud, a generalized anxiety disorder is MOST likely to result when:
defense mechanisms are too weak to cope with anxiety.
Which of the following is NOT a commonly accepted feature of abnormality?
delusions.
The paradigm, or model, adopted by people in the Middle Ages to explain abnormal behavior was the _____ model.
demonological
A patient's initial reaction to being told she has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is to insist that the nurse made a mistake with the test. The defense mechanism that BEST explains this behavior is:
denial
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used MOST often in the treatment of:
depression
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used most often in the treatment of:
depression.
What does Object Relations theory say is a central human motivation?
desire for relationships
A person who is isolated and lacks social support or intimacy is more likely to:
develop depression when under stress.
A clinician administers a test to a group of participants who are typical of a larger population and records their scores. The clinician plans to measure future test results of the larger population against those scores. The clinician is:
developing the norms.
Deciding that a client's psychological problems represent a particular disorder is called:
diagnosis.
A research study on a group of children with autism will compare treatment delivered by parents at home to treatment delivered by teachers at school. If the study finds that the treatment delivered at school is more effective, which item is the BEST example of a confounding variable?
differences between the parents and teachers
Assessment tools such as a depression severity rating scale are used to provide which kind of information for making a diagnosis?
dimensional
Which event in the 1950s led to improvements in biological treatments for mental disorders?
discovery of psychotropic medications
Members of a family operate very independently of one another. In this family, the children are also discouraged from asking for advice or seeking support. According to family systems theory, this family is characterized by:
disengagement
Morgan hears voices that others do not but she is not distressed by them. This illustrates that:
distress does not have to be present for a person's behavior to be considered abnormal.
In preparation for a study of the effectiveness of an antipsychotic drug, an assistant puts all drugs into capsules of the same color and codes them. The assistant will have no part in administering the drug. Neither the subjects nor the experimenter will know who receives which drug. This is an example of a:
double-masked design.
College students who drink so much that it interferes with their lives, health, and academic careers are often not diagnosed as engaging in abnormal behavior because:
drinking is considered part of college culture.
The therapy found to be most effective for treating schizophrenia is:
drug therapy.
Which aspect of the definition of abnormality includes the inability to care for oneself and work productively?
dysfunction
Studies show that errors in diagnosis MOST commonly involve information gathered:
early in the assessment process and in a hospital setting.
A researcher spends 15 hours or more each day conducting experiments or doing library reading and recording observations on color-coded index cards. This person lives alone in the country but doesn't interfere with others' lives. The BEST description of the researcher's behavior is that it is:
eccentric
Studies that seek to avoid the uniformity myth focus on the:
effectiveness of specific treatment approaches.
Greshka spilled iced coffee on her shirt while sitting in the park. She had another shirt with her and wanted to change right then and there. However, she went to the restroom to change instead. The force that is in control in this example is the:
ego
According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, the part of the personality that guides us to know when we can and cannot express our impulses is the:
ego.
Physicians in the early 1900s tried all of the following medical (biological) treatments for mental illness, EXCEPT:
electroconvulsive therapy
If a person had his brain waves recorded to measure electrical activity, he MOST likely had a(n):
electroencephalogram (EEG).
Those who develop standard treatment guidelines for each disorder based on research findings and who then share that information with clinicians are promoting:
empirically supported treatment.
It is thought that people in prehistoric societies believed abnormal behavior resulted from:
evil spirits that invaded the body.
People with _____ keep picking at their skin, resulting in significant sores or wounds.
excoriation disorder
If a person experienced anxiety or depression following a significant natural disaster, we would say that the person was:
exhibiting a typical reaction.
Humans are born with freedom, yet do not 'naturally' strive to reach their full growth potential. The psychologist who would MOST closely agree with this statement would be described as:
existential
A therapist who believes people often hide from their responsibilities and therefore often feel alienated, depressed, and inauthentic would MOST likely be described as:
existential.
A person seeking help for a psychological abnormality is made to drink bitter herbal potions and then submit to a beating, in the hope that "evil spirits" will be driven from the person's body. This form of "therapy" is called:
exorcism
A researcher randomly assigned participants to two groups. Group A received the drug whenever they reported depressive symptoms to the experimenter; group B received no drugs at any point. In this study, group A was the:
experimental group.
The goal of scientific research is BEST described as seeking to:
explain relationships between variables.
An obsessive-compulsive person who was told that everyone was required to wear shoes at all times in the house and that they were not to vacuum for a week would be receiving which type of therapy?
exposure and response prevention
What is the BEST combination of treatments to treat obsessive-compulsive-related disorders?
exposure therapies and antidepressant drugs
A procedure used to treat social anxiety disorder that forces the client to face his or her dreaded social situation until the fear subsides is:
exposure therapy.
Subjecting a person to a situation that causes the individual anxiety as a means of eliminating future anxiety is called:
exposure therapy.
To obtain the clearest and most accurate picture of the physical anatomy of the brain to aid in the diagnosis of a psychological disorder, the method of choice would be a(n):
fMRI
What would be the ideal technique to understand the role of brain structures and functioning in the diagnosis of psychological disorders?
fMRI scans
A campus newspaper publishes an Exam Anxiety test that newspaper staffers put together one evening just before their publishing deadline. Despite its hasty construction, the test MOST likely has:
face validity.
Hospitalized patients with mental illness who show symptom improvement while taking medications are likely to be discharged. Studies have shown that many of these patients:
fail to make lasting recoveries.
You know, it really doesn't matter: One kind of psychotherapy is generally just about as good as any other. Someone who agrees with this statement is:
falling victim uniformity myth
If a therapist advised you to pay attention to how you were communicating with family members and to change harmful patterns, the therapist would MOST likely to be practicing:
family therapy.
Critics of managed care programs for mental health services state that these programs:
favor treatments whose results are typically shorter lasting.
Which is an example of a specific social anxiety?
fear of public speaking
According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, ineffective interaction of the id, ego, and superego can lead to entrapment at a developmental level. This is called:
fixation.
To accomplish random assignment, one could assign participants to groups by:
flipping a coin to determine group assignment.
In the 1960s and 1970s, social upheaval and soul-searching in Western society gave rise to humanistic and existential therapies. The BEST explanation for this trend is that these theories:
focused on a positive message and living a meaningful life.
Gestalt therapy is similar to mindfulness techniques in its emphasis on:
focusing on the here and now.
Jie has had a feeling of being on edge for several days now. She can't think of a reason for why she feels this way. This feeling is called:
free-floating anxiety.
A person experiences wide-ranging and persistent feelings of worry and anxiety. This is most likely which disorder?
generalized anxiety disorder
During a therapy session, a client is told to pretend the therapist is her parent and to tell her "parent" why she is angry. This therapist is MOST likely a(n) _____ therapist.
gestalt
Therapists who often deliberately frustrate and challenge their clients, and who often use role-playing and a "here and now" orientation, are _____ therapists.
gestalt
In the early asylums, treatment for mental illness began with the intention to provide:
good care.
A new assessment tool does a good job of differentiating those people who later will be depressed and those people who will not be depressed. It also produces results similar to those of other tools for measuring depression. Therefore, the new assessment tool has:
good predictive validity and good concurrent validity.
According to sociocultural theorists, generalized anxiety disorder is LEAST likely to develop in people who:
have a lot of free time to think about their problems.
What are some cognitive components of social anxiety disorder?
have severe, persistent, and irrational anxiety about social or performance situations in which they may face scrutiny by others and possibly feel embarrassment
Which is NOT a characteristic of eccentrics noted by researchers in the field?
having a diagnosable mental illness
An example of an analogue experiment is:
having human participants live for a week in a simulated mental hospital to see how they respond.
One hundred psychiatric patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A received a new drug in pill form. Group B was given an identical-looking placebo pill. A panel of psychiatrists, who did not know which pill each participant received, evaluated all participants for level of agitation. In this study, experimenter bias was reduced by:
having researchers who didn't know who got which pill.
A new test for anxiety shows consistent levels of anxiety across time for people, but very few people have taken the test and accurate norms do not exist. The test has:
high reliability but inadequate standardization.
A person was recently diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. A BEST guess is that the person is in _____ school and is _____ likely than average to have a close relative with social anxiety disorder.
high; more
A person taking a polygraph test is suspected of lying when measures of physiological variables such as heart rate and perspiration are:
higher for test questions than for control questions.
Abnormal chemical activity in the body's endocrine system relates to the release of:
hormones
For those who hold the somatogenic view of mental illness, the best treatment setting for those with mental disorders would be a:
hospital
People with severe mental illnesses are LESS likely to be _____ than they were 50 years ago.
hospitalized in mental institutions
A feminist therapist would MOST likely focus on:
how prejudice and discrimination impact women.
A feminist therapist would most likely focus on:
how prejudice and discrimination impact women.
"That's all right. You are doing your best. Don't worry. I'm here for you." A therapist who would say this as a primary part of the therapy process would MOST probably be following the _____ tradition.
humanistic
A therapist listens carefully to a client's words and then attempts to show accurate empathy and genuineness. The hope is that the client will engage in self-examination with acceptance and honesty. MOST likely, this therapist is a _____ therapist.
humanistic
Among other questions, a clinical interviewer asks, "How do you feel about yourself today? How do you feel about what's going on in your life?" MOST likely, the clinical interviewer's orientation is:
humanistic
Someone who studies the _____ model of abnormality focuses on how values and choices affect behavior.
humanistic-existential
The _____ model proposes that humans must have an accurate self-awareness and live meaningful lives to be psychologically well adjusted.
humanistic-existential
The self-actualization motive plays an important part in human functioning, according to:
humanists
According to ______, the self-actualization motive plays an important part in human functioning.
humanists.
The idea that children from single-parent families show more depression than those from two-parent families is a(n):
hypothesis.
Nikolai's grandmother has just baked cookies and is placing them on a cooling rack. Nikolai runs past, grabs some of the cookies, and runs away. This action MOST strongly suggests that the _____ is firmly in control of Nikolai.
id
The _____ operates in accord with the pleasure principle.
id
What are primary techniques used in cognitive therapy?
identify, dismantle, and replace. Developing new, more functional ways of thinking
When dealing with a new client, the clinical practitioner's major focus is to gather which type of information?
idiographic information
Research suggests that one negative effect of adolescents using social media sites is that these sites may:
increase peer pressure and social anxiety.
Antidepressants that are effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder:
increase serotonin activity in the brain.
In a scientific experiment, the variable that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter is called the:
independent variable
For people to decide about participating in psychological research, they must be given full knowledge of the nature of the study and of their rights. This principle is called:
informed consent.
GABA acts by:
inhibiting neuronal firing in the brain.
Freud believed that the three central forces that shape the personality were:
instinctual needs, rational thinking, and moral standards.
A couple therapist who focuses on acceptance and positive change where possible is using _____ therapy.
integrative behavioral
Your romantic partner of four years ends the relationship suddenly and cuts off all contact. You immediately focus all of your energy on the financial implications of your partner's departure and ways to save money. The defense mechanism that BEST explains your behavior is:
intellectualization.
Which category of clinical tests tends to have the BEST standardization, reliability, and validity?
intelligence tests
A clinician has developed a new assessment tool. Clients write stories about their problems, and then two different judges independently evaluate the stories in terms of how logically they are written. Which UNIQUE reliability consideration applies to this type of assessment?
interrater reliability
If a panel of experts evaluates test results and clinical interviews with a client and all arrive at the same diagnosis, that diagnosis is said to have high:
interrater reliability
Which is NOT one of the three categories of clinical assessment techniques used by mental health professionals?
interventions
A person who believes that everything is a disaster and nothing good will ever happen again when things are not the way he or she would like them to be is displaying:
irrational assumptions.
In evaluating lie-detection methods, researchers have noted that magnetic resonance imaging:
is better than polygraphs at detecting lies.
A self-help group differs from group therapy in that the self-help group:
is not led by a professional clinician.
A primary prevention approach is expected to be MOST beneficial for mental health issues with:
known risk and protective factors.
David Rosenhan sent pseudopatients to a mental hospital, where they pretended to be disturbed. The results of this study led him to conclude that _____ greatly affects mental illness.
labeling
Which is NOT a disadvantage of taking benzodiazepines?
lack of sleep, increased anxiety, and passivity
A person engages in multiple online discussions with a large number of friends on Facebook. She is very open about herself and shares her thoughts and opinions freely. Based on related research, we would expect this person to have a _____ number of offline friends and to _____ share information with them.
large; openly
According to Freud, another term for the symbolic meaning of dreams is:
latent content.
Exposure and response prevention as treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder:
leads to improvement that often continues indefinitely.
According to the intolerance of uncertainty theory, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder are:
likely to have difficulty tolerating the knowledge that a negative event may occur.
Which approach was LEAST likely to be used by an ancient Greek physician to treat someone believed to be suffering from an imbalance of the humors?
lobotomy
The textbook authors describe the treatment of mental illness in the early 1600s as a forerunner to community mental health programs because:
local residents provided housing, food, and companionship to the mentally ill.
To measure tendencies toward depression, an assessment tool asks individuals to record all the times they feel sad. However, individuals report wide variations in the number of sad episodes from day to day. This assessment tool has:
low test-retest reliability and high face validity.
A belief of many early cognitive-behavioral therapists, and one that continues to be influential today, is that generalized anxiety disorder is induced by:
maladaptive assumptions.
A study of informed consent forms showed that:
many research participants don't understand them.
The objective of the Human Genome Project was to:
map, or sequence, genes.
A researcher's expectations about a study can affect its outcome. The type of research design used specifically to address this problem is a(n):
masked design.
Studies that are structured like experiments but that use groups that already exist instead of randomly assigning participants to control and experimental groups are called:
matched designs.
Surveys of highly successful therapists have reported that these therapists consistently try to promote self-mastery in their clients. From this finding, one can conclude that the technique of promoting self-mastery:
may help promote successful therapy outcomes in clients.
Luther experiences unshakable sadness. His friends have stopped trying to cheer him up because nothing works. An ancient Greek physician would have labeled his condition:
melancholia.
If a university had a first-year program designed to ease the transition from high school to college and to decrease the dropout rates, that program would have elements MOST similar to:
mental health prevention programs.
While treating a client, a clinician asks "Do you know where you are?" and "What is your name?" The clinician is probably conducting a(n):
mental status exam.
Your worries are only thoughts. Don't try to stop them! Recognize that they're thoughts, and don't let them upset you so much. These statements MOST likely would come from someone using which form of therapy for generalized anxiety disorder?
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
The cognitive explanation for panic disorders is that people who have them:
misinterpret bodily sensations.
A person is being treated for a social anxiety disorder. A therapist watches the person act out a social scene, points out what she did correctly and incorrectly, and praises her for what she did well. Which behavioral technique did the therapist NOT use?
modeling
Brooklyn learns to turn on the TV by watching her older brother turn it on. This form of learning is called:
modeling
Drew is terrified of the snakes that his 8-year-old son brings home as pets. During his therapy, his therapist demonstrated how to handle snakes. This is a form of therapy based on:
modeling
Davon watched his father recoil from a snake in fear. Now he is afraid of snakes. This apparent acquisition of fear of snakes is an example of:
modeling.
The goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy is BEST described as:
modifying the client's negative behavior and dysfunctional ways of thinking.
Compared with the original DSM, which was published in 1952, DSM-5 has:
more than five times as many diagnostic categories.
DSM-5 is the classification system for abnormal behaviors that is:
most widely used in the United States.
Immigration trends and differences in birth rates among minority groups in the United States have caused psychological treatment to become more:
multicultural
Hippocrates' contribution to the development of understanding mental illness was the view that such conditions were the result of:
natural causes.
A therapist's preferred method of assessing abnormal behavior is to watch clients in their everyday environments and record their activities and behaviors. This approach is known as:
naturalistic observation.
What are brain circuits?
networks of brain structures that work together
A person attempts to eliminate unwanted thoughts by thinking or behaving in ways that put matters right internally. They are trying to ____ the thoughts.
neutralize
A person says, "I'll try to see only the positive side of things, then everything will be OK." From a cognitive-behavioral perspective, this person is _____ obsessive thoughts.
neutralizing
Panic disorder appears to be related to abnormal activity of which neurotransmitter?
norepinephrine
The stated and unstated rules for proper conduct that a society establishes are referred to as:
norms.
A present-day clinician uses terms like dementia and mental retardation for diagnostic categories. That clinician is using terms:
not used in DSM-5 but used in previous forms of the DSM.
The motivation to form relationships with others is a central theme of:
object relations theory.
Which action would a clinician who is using naturalistic observation be MOST likely to take?
observe parent-child interactions in the family's home
A therapist who has created a new psychotherapy approach initiates this treatment with a client. The therapist conducts a case study and publishes the results. Which factor is MOST likely to be present in this study?
observer bias
A clinician's knowledge that a person about to be interviewed has already been diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder could lead to:
observer bias.
What are the persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses, or images that seem to invade a person's consciousness called?
obsessions
Danique is never sure of the right thing to do. She married Anthony and has wondered for hours every day for years if that was the right decision. She is exhibiting:
obsessive doubts.
A professor's office is a mess; graded tests are in piles on the desk, overflowing bookshelves line the walls, and research materials from years ago occupy boxes on the floor where there is only a narrow pathway to walk. If the professor is experiencing a diagnosable disorder, it would MOST likely be in which category?
obsessive-compulsive-related disorders
Disorders that involve particular patterns of repetitive and excessive behavior that greatly disrupt a person's life and can cause shame are called:
obsessive-compulsive-related disorders.
In the United States today, one is MOST likely to find a severely ill mental patient:
on the street or in jail.
Mason's parents always pay special attention to him when he takes toys from his little sister. As such, he continues to steal her toys. This is an example of:
operant conditioning
When a child yells and threatens others, he or she is placed in a time-out, away from the group. During the time-out, no one interacts with the child. The child learns to interact with others without yelling. This is an example of behavior modification using:
operant conditioning.
When a young child yells and throws toys (i.e., throws a temper tantrum), the parents give the child a good deal of attention. Over time, the temper tantrums become more and more common. A behavioral psychologist would say that the temper tantrums result from:
operant conditioning.
A 13-year-old makes notable errors in accuracy on the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test. This finding suggests:
organic brain impairment.
The finding that syphilis causes general paresis is important because it supports the idea that:
organic factors can cause mental illness.
When Mathias did not get a job for which he applied, he was sure that everything was going wrong, that his life was completely off track. This thought is an example of:
overgeneralization.
A person is sweating, experiencing shortness of breath, choking, feeling dizzy, and afraid of dying. Assuming this event is not a heart attack, but rather an indicator of anxiety disorder, it is MOST likely a:
panic attack
Sebastian was outside the parking garage when, out of nowhere, he suddenly felt overwhelming fear. Sebastian noticed that his fear increased, he started to feel out of control, and the intensity of the feelings seemed to reach a peak and then pass within a few minutes. This is an example of a:
panic attack.
Every once in a while, Ona feels nervous to the point of terror. This feeling seems to come on suddenly and randomly. Her experience is an example of a(n):
panic disorder
A person who experiences unpredictable panic attacks combined with dysfunctional behavior and thoughts is probably experiencing:
panic disorder.
A researcher finds that individuals who report large numbers of "hassles" in their lives usually also report higher levels of stress. Those who report fewer hassles generally report lower levels of stress. The correlation between number of hassles and stress level is:
positive.
If a person wants a career focused on detecting, assessing, and treating abnormal patterns of functioning, that person should consider becoming a clinical:
practitioner
A test is constructed to identify people who will develop schizophrenia. Of the 100 people the test identifies, 93 show signs that they will develop schizophrenia within five years. The test may be said to have high:
predictive validity.
In explaining why women are diagnosed with anxiety disorders and depression twice as often as men, multicultural therapists would focus on:
prejudice and discrimination faced by women.
Apparently, people develop phobias more readily to things such as spiders and the dark than they do to objects such as computers and radios. This observation supports the idea of:
preparedness.
A community program works to lower the poverty rate. What kind of principle of mental health care is exhibited by this approach?
prevention
A primary focus of the community mental health treatment approach to abnormality is:
prevention.
The approach to therapy for mental illness in which a person pays a psychotherapist for services is called:
private psychotherapy.
According to Thomas Szasz's views, the deviations that some call mental illness are really:
problems in living.
During an examination, a clinician administers a test in which clients create narratives after viewing a series of pictures that depict city skylines. This test is most likely a:
projective test.
Ethan is consumed with concern that his house will burn down. Before he leaves, he makes sure that all his appliances are unplugged. He often has to go back home and check to make sure he did not leave any plugged in. Which MMPI-2 scale would he MOST likely score high on?
psychasthenia scale
A physician who offers psychotherapy is called a:
psychiatrist.
A general term used for Freud's, Adler's, and Jung's theories is:
psychodynamic
The theoretical position that explains the origin of anxiety disorders as the overrun of defense mechanisms by neurotic or moral anxiety is the _____ approach.
psychodynamic
Which model is MOST likely to suggest using free association to uncover unconscious processes?
psychodynamic
The model of abnormality that focuses on unconscious internal processes and conflicts in behavior is the:
psychodynamic model.
"Understanding a person's unconscious processes is critical in explaining abnormality." Which model of abnormality does this quote most closely represent?
psychodynamic.
A general term used for theories such as Freud's, Adler's, and Jung's is:
psychodynamic.
A theorist who believes that psychological factors are the primary causes of abnormal functioning adheres to the _____ perspective.
psychogenic
Liam is known by others as a rebellious person who seems to have a complete disregard for rules and laws. He does what he wants, without regard for the consequences and without a sense of guilt. Some accuse him of being emotionally shallow. He would probably score high on the MMPI-2 scale called:
psychopathic deviate.
A client is hooked up to an apparatus that measures galvanic skin response and blood pressure, after which the client verbally answers a series of questions. This is a(n):
psychophysiological test.
A medical researcher develops a drug that decreases symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. This drug would be classified as:
psychotropic
Agoraphobia is the fear of:
public places.
To study the effects of child-rearing styles in children, a researcher matches a group of 10 children raised using one parenting style a group of 10 similar children who have been raised using a different parenting style. All children chosen have similar characteristics, including age, sex, and race. This study design is an example of a(n):
quasi-experimental study.
Not all participants are the same. What do researchers use to reduce the possibility that preexisting differences between groups are responsible for observed differences after experimental manipulation?
random assignment
If a therapist gave a client homework that required the client to challenge faulty assumptions and replace them with healthier ones, the therapist would be using:
rational-emotive therapy.
A man has cheated on his partner and he feels very guilty, but soon he begins to make excuses, saying that his partner has nagged him for years. The defense mechanism that BEST explains his behavior is:
rationalization.
A person knows he is being observed and changes his behavior to make a good impression. What is this known as?
reactivity
Avery, a 28-year-old woman, tells her therapist that she has an intense fear of snakes. She says she has been afraid of snakes since she was a child. Which additional criterion would suggest that Avery meets the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia?
refusal to go to certain places where she believes snakes could be present, such as the lake
Cognitive-behavioral theorists believe that compulsive behavior is:
reinforced because engaging in it reduces anxiety.
The biological understanding of generalized anxiety is supported by the finding that:
relatives of people with generalized anxiety are more likely to have it than nonrelatives are.
The first step in systematic desensitization treatment is:
relaxation training.
A goal of behavior-focused therapy is to:
replace problematic behaviors with more appropriate ones.
After medical school, a psychiatrist receives three to four years of training in the treatment of abnormal mental functioning; this training is called a(n):
residency
During a meeting, Shonda's manager asks her to free associate about her coworker's performance. Shonda responds by changing the subject. A psychodynamic therapist would consider this an example of:
resistance.
If a clinician wanted to know more detailed information about a person's functioning in a specific area, the clinician would use a:
response inventory.
A person who systematically gathers information so as to describe, predict, and explain abnormality is called a clinical:
scientist.
Humanists would say that an individual who cares about others and who is spontaneous, courageous, and independent is:
self-actualizing.
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia has begun to exhibit new symptoms, often saying, "They tell me I'm crazy, so I must be crazy." This MOST likely is an example of:
self-fulfilling prophecy.
According to Jerome Frank, all forms of therapy have three essential features: a sufferer who seeks relief, a trained and socially accepted healer, and a(n):
series of contacts between the sufferer and the healer.
The avoidance theory of generalized anxiety disorder suggests that worrying:
serves to reduce bodily arousal.
The Middle Ages condition of mass madness referred to a large group of people who:
shared delusions and hallucinations.
Which psychodynamic method has been shown to significantly reduce the levels of anxiety, worry, and social difficulty of patients with generalized anxiety disorder?
short-term psychodynamic therapy
A patient sees a therapist to help her address her eating disorder. The therapist focuses only on issues specifically related to this problem. This therapy is BEST described as:
short-term psychodynamic therapy.
If a client-centered therapist were treating a very anxious woman, the therapist would try to:
show unconditional positive regard for the client's statements.
Research studies evaluating how effective individual therapies are at treating particular disorders have commonly reported:
significant differences among therapies.
Compared with the number of patients hospitalized in U.S. mental hospitals in the 1950s, the number of hospitalized patients today is:
significantly less.
Which disorder is characterized by severe, persistent, and irrational anxiety about social or performance situations in which the person may face scrutiny by others and possibly feel embarrassment?
social anxiety disorder
Manuel is afraid of eating in public because he expects to be judged negatively and to feel humiliated. As a result, he makes up excuses when asked out to eat. His diagnosis would probably be:
social anxiety disorder.
Multicultural theorists would explain the higher levels of mental illness among poor people as MOST likely due to:
social factors leading to stress.
Multicultural theorists would explain the higher levels of mental illness among poor people as most likely due to:
social factors leading to stress.
Several techniques, such as modeling and role-play, are combined to treat social anxiety disorder in:
social skills training
A theorist who believes that someone who is labeled a hard worker will, in fact, become a hard worker is MOST likely a _____ theorist.
sociocultural
The _____ model of abnormality pays particular attention to the client's family structure, societal norms, and the client's roles in society.
sociocultural
The model of abnormality that pays particular attention to a client's family structure, societal norms, and a client's roles in society is:
sociocultural.
Research shows that danger to self or others is found in:
some cases of abnormal functioning.
An important factor to consider when prescribing drugs for the treatment of abnormality would be that:
some people do not benefit from drug treatments.
Which depressed person would be the LEAST likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder because of the specific circumstances present in his or her life?
someone whose community was recently destroyed by a hurricane
Current multicultural perspectives are MOST likely to focus on the:
special external pressures faced by members of a culture.
A clinician follows predetermined steps while administering a clinical assessment tool, then measures the results against a norm. This is an example of:
standardization
What are social norms?
stated and unstated rules for proper conduct in a given culture, changes over time
Case studies are useful for:
studying unusual problems
Nari was taking the bar exam and was concerned that she didn't know the answers to many of the questions. She could see the answers of the person next to her and briefly considered copying his answers. She ultimately decided not to copy, knowing that doing so was wrong. The force that is in control in this example is the:
superego
According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, the part of the personality that operates by the morality principle is the:
superego.
Messages moving from neuron to neuron must cross tiny spaces called:
synapses.
Symptoms such as sadness, loss of appetite, and low energy cluster together to form a:
syndrome
Dylan is suffering from arachnophobia. His therapist first has him go through relaxation training, and then has him construct a fear hierarchy. Finally, the therapist has Dylan go through a phase of graded pairings of spiders and relaxation responses. This approach is called:
systematic desensitization.
Studies report that most therapists are MOST likely to learn about the latest information on the treatment of psychological disorders from:
talking with professional colleagues.
A positive psychologist would MOST likely focus on:
teaching coping skills that can be used to manage stress.
What are conditions of worth?
the internal standards by which a person judges his or her own lovability and acceptability, determined by the standards to which the person was held as a child.
Which is the BEST example of baseline data in a single-subject design?
the level of behavior before treatment begins
A psychologist was interested in the effect of hunger on psychological disturbances. The psychologist deprived half of a group of healthy volunteers of food for one day and fed the other half normally. The next day, all participants took the MMPI-2. What was the independent variable?
the level of food deprivation
Which brain area is rich in neurons and uses norepinephrine?
the locus coeruleus
Correlation coefficients indicate the:
the magnitude and direction of the relationship between variables
Which is an aspect of the experimental approach?
the manipulation of a variable by the researcher
The incidence of HIV-positive cases on campus tells you:
the number of new HIV-positive cases measured in a time period.
Which brain areas have been implicated in obsessive-compulsive symptoms?
the orbitofrontal cortex and the caudate nuclei
What is the movement that has tried to find the common factors and strategies that "good" therapists use?
the rapprochement movement
The assumption behind the use of projective tests as assessment tools is that:
the responses come from the client's unconscious.
Researchers using a longitudinal study design observe:
the same group of individuals on many occasions over a long period of time.
Someone interested in how social change, poverty, and race affect the risk for generalized anxiety disorders probably supports which perspective?
the sociocultural perspective
Lady Gaga and other eccentrics are usually not considered to be experiencing a mental illness because:
they freely choose and enjoy their behavior.
Lucy is considering taking an antidepressant that increases levels of serotonin and improves brain function for symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. She could expect that:
this medication would lead to short-term relief, but relapse would occur if she stopped taking it.
People who experience obsessions have:
thoughts that are intrusive and foreign to them.
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in older men seen at a clinic tells you the:
total number of older men with sexual dysfunction at the clinic.
Before grading papers, a professor puts on rubber gloves. During class and in interactions with students, the professor painstakingly avoids any contact with the hands of students. The professor is exhibiting a(n):
touching compulsion.
The brain stimulation technique that uses an electromagnetic coil placed on or above a person's head to send electrical current into certain areas of the brain is called:
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
A patient with a controlling mother is undergoing therapy. Soon, the patient begins seeking the therapist's approval for all types of decisions, rather than just making the decisions herself. This is an example of:
transference.
The ancient operation in which a stone instrument was used to cut away a circular section of the skull is called:
trephination
The scientific name for hair-pulling disorder is:
trichotillomania.
Compared with men, women are _____ to develop generalized anxiety disorder.
twice as likely
If you recognize your worth as a person, Carl Rogers would say that you have developed:
unconditional self-regard.
Freud believed that all functioning, normal and abnormal, originates from:
unconscious psychological processes.
Which is NOT a component of social anxiety disorder, according to research by cognitive theorists?
underestimating how badly a social event actually went
When beginning to speak with a client, a health care provider says "Do you want to share a bit about yourself and why you are here?" The clinician is MOST likely conducting a(n):
unstructured interview.
A clinical psychologist who is asked how he decides on the best treatment says "Simple: I make sure to read the most recent research studies in therapy and follow their advice." This clinical psychologist is:
unusual; most therapists base therapy decisions on something other than what they can read in research journals.
One strength of intelligence tests is their:
very high reliability and fairly high validity.
Deviant behavior is behavior that:
violates the society's norms.
A phobic person is exposed to computer graphics that simulate real-world situations. This is an example of the _____ technique.
virtual reality
Which of these was NOT one of Philippe Pinel's reforms at La Bicêtre?
weekly feasts tailored to each patient's diet
When would religious rituals and superstitious behavior (such as not stepping on cracks) be considered compulsive behaviors?
when they interfere with daily function and cause distress
Research on the relationship between religious beliefs and psychological health shows that people:
who are devout and see God as caring and helpful are the healthiest.
One limitation of the sociocultural approach to understanding generalized anxiety disorders is that it cannot explain:
why everyone who experiences danger doesn't experience generalized anxiety.
An example of a meta-worry is demonstrated by someone who:
worries about worrying.
A participant observer experiencing overload would MOST likely say, "I simply can't:
write down all the important things I'm seeing."
