personality disorder
62. The fact that children may learn antisocial behavior by modeling parental conflict and aggressiveness provides support for:
b. behavioral theory.
117. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant personality disorder focuses on:
b. changing distressing thoughts and increasing the client's tolerance of emotional discomfort.
101. Dr. Samsa is a therapist who works with people diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder. His approach is to help patients develop the belief they are not helpless, and to teach them better thinking skills. Dr. Samsa is likely a _____ therapist.
b. cognitive-behavioral
135. According to the DSM-5, a pattern diagnosed as a personality disorder must deviate substantially from the norms and expectations of the individual's:
b. culture.
88. Dr. Marsha Linehan was the developer of which type of therapy?
b. dialectical behavior therapy
46. Characteristics of the Virginia Tech shooter reveal that he:
b. displayed a combination of features from many personality disorders.
43. Schizotypal personality disorder seems to be MOST closely related to which other disorder?
b. schizophrenia
139. Research has found that borderline personality disorder is more common among:
a. Hispanic Americans.
48. A patient who has schizotypal personality disorder asks their therapist about drug treatments. What might the therapist say about the use of drug treatments?
a. In low doses, they seem to help some clients
70. Which statement is accurate regarding antisocial personality disorder?
a. Most who have it are not treated, and most who are treated are not helped much.
7. What is a key assumption of the categorical approach to personality disorders?
a. Problematic personality traits are either present or absent.
141. Which is NOT a problem in the use of the DSM-5 to diagnose personality disorders?
a. The criteria are so restrictive that several categories rarely, if ever, are used.
74. Jasmine always feels like she's on an emotional rollercoaster. She goes between feeling depressed, anxious, and angry. Jasmine's feelings are MOST similar to those of someone with which personality disorder?
c. borderline personality disorder
26. Which statement regarding the treatment of paranoid personality disorder is accurate?
d. Most therapies are of limited effectiveness and progress slowly.
94. A client is searching for the BEST treatment for borderline personality disorder. Will drug treatment be effective if it is the only intervention the client receives?
d. No. Drugs should be used along with psychotherapy, if used at all.
92. Which does dialectical behavior therapy NOT emphasize?
d. the use of antipsychotic medications in an outpatient setting
18. An individual with a diagnosis of an odd personality disorder is MOST likely to have a parent or sibling who has:
b. schizophrenia.
66. Which is characteristic of MOST mass murderers?
c. feelings of persecution and desire for revenge
72. Carla says "I get really mad sometimes, but I often feel empty and weird. So, I have to go do something exhilarating and spur-of-the-moment to feel good and interesting." She likely has which personality disorder?
a. borderline personality disorder
107. You might suspect an "era of narcissism" is approaching for a country when:
a. there is increasing emphasis on self-expression and competitiveness.
39. A belief that unrelated events pertain to oneself in some important way is known as:
b. ideas of reference.
136. Some researchers note that the majority of those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are female and that many of these women experienced emotional trauma, victimization, violence, and various forms of abuse as children. As a result, these researchers view the disorder as a special form of:
d. posttraumatic stress disorder.
61. Some _____ therapists believe that people who are emotionally detached and who use power to form relationships may do so because of a lack of parental love.
d. psychodynamic
145. Which is NOT one of the Big Five supertraits?
a. anger
148. Currently, the Big Five approach to personality disorders is:
a. being recognized, with a great amount of research being done on it.
85. "I can't work with that client!" says your friend, the psychotherapist. "As soon as I show any empathy at all, it becomes almost impossible to challenge him, and he keeps calling me at all hours of the day." MOST likely, this is a client with:
a. borderline personality disorder.
16. The _____ approach to personality disorders assumes that personality disorders should be classified by the severity of personality traits rather than by the presence or absence of specific traits.
a. dimensional
118. People with avoidant personality disorder have difficulty _____ relationships, whereas people with dependent personality disorder have difficulty _____ relationships.
a. initiating; ending
122. What percentage of the population has dependent personality disorder?
a. less than one percent
55. Which trait is common in people with antisocial personality disorder?
a. recklessness
106. Cognitive-behavioral theorists propose that people who develop narcissistic personality disorder may have been treated:
a. too positively in early life.
9. Why are personality disorders difficult to treat?
b. Individuals are often unaware that they have a problem.
65. What is a pseudocommando mass murderer?
b. a person who expects to be killed while committing mass murder
44. A person who does poorly on a task called backward masking is MOST likely to be experiencing:
d. schizotypal personality disorder.
29. The schizoid personality disorder differs from paranoid personality disorder in that:
d. those with schizoid personality disorder desire to be alone; those with paranoid personality are alone because of suspiciousness.
130. Which statement is TRUE regarding the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (an anxiety disorder) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?
b. Some people with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder also experience obsessive-compulsive disorder.
67. Which statement BEST represents current knowledge about mass murderers?
b. We really don't know what causes mass murderers to act or how to treat them.
124. A child who is severely criticized for acting independently and is praised for doing exactly what parents say to do, later develops dependent personality disorder. The therapist who would be LEAST surprised by this outcome would have which theoretical orientation?
b. a cognitive-behavioral orientation
131. Psychodynamic theorists explain obsessive-compulsive personality disorder as a fixation at the:
b. anal stage.
50. Which personality disorder is marked by a general pattern of disregard for, and violation of, other people's rights?
b. antisocial
22. Reese is distrustful of others and reacts quickly to perceived threats. Even though he has no evidence, he is sure his wife is unfaithful. He finds it almost impossible to forgive those he thinks have wronged him. Reese displays the characteristics of:
b. paranoid personality disorder.
59. If you wanted to write a book about a fictional character who is a typical example of antisocial personality disorder, you might have the character exhibit all of these EXCEPT:
b. periods of very high anxiety.
96. "Beatlemania" gripped the United States in the 1960s. When the Beatles, a British rock group, performed, adoring fans screamed, sometimes fainted, and shouted exaggerated, emotional praise at the group. These behaviors MOST closely resemble the characteristics of:
a. histrionic personality disorder.
28. One similarity between those experiencing paranoid personality disorder and those experiencing schizoid personality disorder is that they both tend to:
a. lack close ties to others.
35. Cognitive-behavioral theorists believe that because those with schizoid personalities have difficulty scanning the environment, perceiving accurately, and picking up emotional cues, they develop _____ very slowly.
a. language and motor skills
147. If instruments such as the Big Five are used to describe personality, rather than relying on DSM-5, then diagnoses of psychological disorder would become:
a. more categorical as well as more a matter of degree.
105. The millennial generation is thought to be extremely self-centered, often posting photos of themselves online for others to admire. If this is true, a sociocultural theorist would predict a larger-than-usual percentage of which kind of personality disorder among this generation?
a. narcissistic personality disorder
81. Which of these have sociocultural theorists suggested as a cause for the emergence of borderline personality disorder?
a. rapid social change
30. Axl has always been a loner. He has never much cared for being with other people and does not form relationships easily. He appears to be without emotion. Axl may be exhibiting:
a. schizoid personality disorder.
146. "The client scores low on extroversion and agreeableness but high on neuroticism. Looks like schizoid personality disorder to me." The therapist being quoted is using what instrument to make his diagnosis?
a. the Big Five personality test
150. The authors of DSM-5 have designed their own dimensional approach in diagnosing personality disorders for possible inclusion in future revisions of the DSM. The idea is that individuals whose traits significantly impair their functioning should receive a diagnosis of:
b. personality disorder—trait specified
33. Andy is not affected when others criticize him or when other people praise him.What does he most likely suffer from?
b. schizoid personality disorder
113. Avoidant personality disorder seems MOST closely related to:
b. social anxiety.
138. Some multicultural theorists believe that borderline personality disorder is actually a person's reaction to persistent feelings of marginality, powerlessness, and social failure. If they are correct, then the disorder is a result of:
b. social inequalities.
126. Group therapy is a good option for those with dependent personality disorder; they'll be able to observe others' coping skills and model them. This statement would MOST likely be made by a therapist having which theoretical perspective?
b. the cognitive-behavioral perspective
11. Personality disorders are separated into how many clusters?
b. three
20. Which is NOT considered an odd personality disorder?
d. antisocial personality disorder
51. Dudley has been jailed for the third time; his crimes have ranged from defrauding the elderly, committing identity theft, and persuading investors to put money into a fake business. If he receives a DSM-5 diagnosis, it is MOST likely either:
d. antisocial personality disorder or a substance-related disorder.
76. After a suicide attempt, Trevor is transported to the hospital where he is eventually admitted to the psychiatric wing. In the past, he often displayed impulsive, self-destructive behaviors, such as reckless driving and self-mutilation. If Trevor is diagnosed with a personality disorder, it will MOST likely be:
d. borderline personality disorder.
79. Siobhan's parents did not expect nor want any children. After she was born, her parents were distant and neglectful. It was clear early on in school that Siobhan had a low opinion of herself and did not know how to interact with other children. Now she cuts herself and has been to the ER several times. This is a description of the possible development route of:
d. borderline personality disorder.
80. Damage to the prefrontal cortex would likely cause which symptom to be observed?
d. deficits in planning, self-control, and decision making
125. "Be loyal to your family" was what the child heard all the time while growing up, along with, "You shouldn't and can't do it on your own, so don't even try." A cognitive-behaviorist would say this kind of upbringing would be MOST likely to produce which of the personality disorders in the child when he or she reaches adulthood?
d. dependent personality disorder
87. What is the name of the comprehensive treatment approach applied particularly in cases of borderline personality disorder and/or suicidal intent?
d. dialectical behavioral training
17. The category of odd personality disorders includes the traits of:
d. extreme suspiciousness, social withdrawal, and cognitive and perceptual peculiarities.
24. According to current research, who do people distrust most?
d. members of Congress
128. People with _____ are so preoccupied with order, perfection, and control that they lose all flexibility, openness, and efficiency.
d. obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
47. As part of their therapy, clients learn to evaluate their unusual thoughts, track the accuracy of magical predictions, and reconnect with the world and with their limitations. The diagnoses of these clients would MOST likely be in which broad category of personality disorder?
d. odd
21. People with _____ personality disorder deeply distrust other people and are suspicious of the motives of others?
d. paranoid
3. A person's _____ refers to a lasting pattern of inner experience and outward behavior that affects his or her sense of self, emotional experiences, goals, capacity for empathy, and/or capacity for intimacy.
d. personality disorder
27. People with _____ personality disorder persistently avoid and are removed from social relationships, and they demonstrate little in the way of emotion.
d. schizoid
42. Selina always feels mysterious forces that she believes she can use to control others and which guide her through life. When she sees a news report of a store robbery in another city, she thinks that it is a warning that her house will be broken into that evening. If she has a diagnosable personality disorder, it is MOST likely:
d. schizotypal personality disorder.
69. Assume that a study of prison inmates diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder shows that they generally experience less anxiety than other people when they lie or when they con others. This outcome would MOST strongly support which theoretical position?
d. the biological position
86. What is mentalization?
d. the capacity to understand one's own mental states and those of other people
23. It is clear that very demanding parents caused this person to develop paranoid personality disorder. This statement MOST likely would be made by someone from which theoretical perspective?
d. the psychodynamic perspective
129. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is MOST common among:
d. men with jobs.
142. Which statement MOST accurately reflects up-to-date research on DSM-5 categories of personality disorder?
c. Individuals do not necessarily have to have very similar personalities to receive the same diagnosis.
10. Comorbidity describes a situation in which:
C. two disorders occur together in an individual
40. Digressive and vague language with loose associations accompanied by attention and concentration problems are characteristic of:
d. schizotypal personality disorder.
31. The theorist who describes schizoid personality disorder as developing from coping with parental rejection by avoiding relationships represents the:
d. psychodynamic perspective.
58. A friend says to you, "He must have antisocial personality disorder; look how careful he is about his own well-being but how careless he is about others' safety." Your MOST accurate reply would be:
c. "You're partly right; most people with antisocial personality disorder are careless about their own safety as well as the safety of others."
134. Which statement is TRUE regarding effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?
c. Affected individuals commonly respond well to either psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy.
152. Which statement BEST reflects research related to personality disorders over the past 25 years?
c. All of the personality disorders have been thoroughly studied.
78. A therapist treating a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder came up with the following analysis: the parents probably did not want children in the first place; as a result, the child just was not accepted; the child then developed low self-esteem, dependency, and an inability to cope with separation. The therapist's theoretical orientation is MOST likely:
c. object relations theory.
1. Behaviors, emotions, thoughts and interactions are influenced by each individual's set of uniquely expressed characteristics. This describes which of the following?
c. personality
2. The consistencies of one's characteristics are called:
c. personality traits.
119. Group therapy is particularly useful in the treatment of avoidant personality disorder, mainly because group therapy:
c. provides practice in social interactions.
38. People with _____ personality disorder display a range of interpersonal problems marked by extreme discomfort in close relationships, very odd patterns of thinking and perceiving, and behavioral eccentricities.
c. schizotypal
100. "The problem is that they assume they can't take care of themselves, so they think others have to meet their needs. This pattern of thinking is not very helpful in trying to deal with histrionic personality disorder." A psychologist from which perspective would agree MOST strongly with this quote?
c. the cognitive-behavioral perspective
127. One especially good reason to use a form of group therapy in the treatment of dependent personality disorder is that:
c. the group members can model appropriate behaviors and the expression of feelings to one another.
60. The strong relationship between antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse means that:
c. there are high rates of substance abuse among those with antisocial personality disorder.
5. The MOST important similarity among the personality disorders listed in the text is that:
c. they are inflexible, maladaptive, and related to impaired functioning or distress.
52. A friend of yours says, "A 15-year-old high school student accused of shooting several classmates received a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder." Your accurate reply would be:
d. "No, the student is too young for that diagnosis."
77. Which statement about individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is TRUE?
d. About 75 percent attempt suicide at least once in their lives
8. Which is NOT a criticism of DSM-5 diagnoses of personality disorders?
d. It incorporates new research into the new edition.
112. Which statement is true regarding gender differences related to avoidant personality disorder?
d. Men and women are affected equally.
108. Which statement BEST describes treatment for narcissistic personality disorder?
d. No form of therapy is clearly better than the others.
12. Which is NOT the name used for a cluster of personality disorders?
d. schizophrenic
93. What is the MOST likely reason that Dr. Hoover seldom prescribes drugs when treating clients with borderline personality disorder?
a. The risk of suicide increases because using drugs may lead to overdoses.
4. How do personality disorders differ from the personality characteristics of typical people?
a. They lead to more maladaptive, distressful, and inflexible behaviors.
75. What is a common reason for the hospitalization of people with borderline personality disorder?
a. They may attempt suicide or otherwise hurt themselves.
14. What is a phrenologist?
a. a person who assessed personality by feeling for bumps and indentations on the head
63. A young boy's parents constantly tell him to "Be a man!" whenever he is in conflict with friends. In turn, his parents themselves often act aggressively toward each other and toward him. The theorist who would BEST be able to explain an adult diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder for this boy would be a _____ theorist.
a. behavioral
71. Emotional instability, impulsiveness, and recklessness are characteristics of what personality disorder?
a. borderline personality disorder
73. A health care provider notes to a new care technician she is working with that, "This patient's personality disorder is becoming very common. Patients often feel like that don't have a stable sense of self-worth or self-esteem. I see someone with this almost every day in the clinic." MOST likely, this doctor is talking about which personality disorder?
a. borderline personality disorder
25. A person experiencing paranoid personality disorder frequently says things like, "You've got to get them before they get you," and "People have been sinners since the Garden of Eden." If these sayings reflect maladaptive assumptions the person has about people in general, the theorist who would be LEAST surprised would have which theoretical position?
a. cognitive-behavioral
90. Vivian has borderline personality disorder. her therapist is considering using dialectical behavior therapy to treat her. Compared with patients receiving other forms of therapy, the therapist knows that patients receiving dialectical behavior therapy make:
a. far fewer suicide attempts and are hospitalized less often.
98. Luke constantly strives to be the center of attention, yet the ideas he so eloquently expresses are usually shallow and changeable. If he were diagnosed with a personality disorder, it MOST likely would be:
a. histrionic disorder.
54. Doug runs a "healing" program. He claims he can heal cancer and other serious illnesses simply by petitioning a deity. He charges his patients for sessions, and holds the sessions in front of an audience. While conducting the "healing," Doug constantly solicits donations from the audience, claiming the money is going to various charities and the upkeep of the healing center. However, when Doug's "patients" are seen by health care providers, they are not healed at all. Eventually, he's found to be embezzling the donated money for luxury cars, drugs, and mansions. He is MOST likely suffering from:
b. antisocial personality disorder.
57. Leona doesn't care about any of society's rules and customs, nor does she care about other people. She does not consider the consequences of her actions and sometimes puts others in danger with what she does. She MOST probably is experiencing:
b. antisocial personality disorder.
53. Cruelty to animals and people, destruction of property, and truancy before the age of 15:
b. are characteristic of those later diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
111. Chaeyoung often has difficulty establishing social ties. He feels extremely uncomfortable in social situations, and expresses fear that he will be embarrassed or appear foolish to others. This is most reflective of which personality disorder?
b. avoidant personality disorder
114. If a person primarily fears close social relationships, one would MOST likely conclude that the person is experiencing:
b. avoidant personality disorder.
84. Studies report that approximately 12 percent of adults have trouble controlling their anger. Theorists of which perspective would be MOST interested in this as it relates to borderline personality disorder?
b. biosocial theorists
6. DSM-5, like its predecessor, DSM-IV-TR, identifies 10 personality disorders utilizing a:
b. categorical approach.
36. There is a game called Moods where one acts out the mood listed on a card. Being encouraged to play this game is most like the treatment _____ might use for those with schizoid disorders.
b. cognitive therapists
13. DSM-5 has been described as functioning like a light switch, which can be on or off. In other words, one either does or does not qualify for a personality disorder diagnosis. Some theorists suggest that degree of symptoms, not symptom absence or presence, is more important, and similar to a:
b. dimmer switch, with the light adjustable from all the way off to all the way on.
49. Which category of personality disorder contains the disorders MOST commonly diagnosed?
b. dramatic
37. The type of therapy that generally provides the LEAST amount of help for those with schizoid personality disorder is:
b. drug therapy.
115. According to psychodynamic theorists, an important factor in the development of avoidant personality disorder is:
b. early experiences of shame.
95. Extreme emotions and the need to be the center of attention are characteristics of what kind of disorder?
b. histrionic disorder
41. Schizotypal personality disorders differ from other odd personality disorders in that they are related to schizophrenia and:
b. mood disorders.
103. "I am the greatest!" a famous boxer declared loudly and often. Had he in fact acted throughout his adult life as though he were the greatest, the MOST appropriate diagnosis would be:
b. narcissistic personality disorder.
104. Ty, who thinks that he is the handsomest man in his city, feels superior to everyone around him. He is also sure that everyone knows how inferior they are compared to him. He is MOST likely experiencing:
b. narcissistic personality disorder.
140. A group of diagnostic clinicians can't agree with each other on appropriate personality disorder diagnoses for several clients. In fact, it is obvious that, in many cases, they have made inaccurate diagnoses. Assuming they are competent clinicians, this situation would indicate that the DSM-5 categories for personality disorder are:
b. neither reliable nor valid.
19. Which statement is supported by current research findings?
c. Odd personality disorders and schizophrenia are related to one another.
56. Ginny has antisocial personality disorder. Which statement would NOT describe her?
c. She cares for no one's safety, except for her own and her children's.
116. As part of his treatment, a client with avoidant personality disorder must increase the number of social contacts he makes per day. The person, at the least, must greet others with the sentence, "Hello, how are you doing?" MOST likely, the therapist has which theoretical background?
c. a cognitive-behavioral background
34. Christopher was diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder. He tells his therapist that he has trouble figuring out how others feel, and that as a child he had problems with learning language. These findings would make the MOST sense to a theorist with which background?
c. a cognitive-behavioral background
144. Who is most likely to display the dark triad?
c. a non-Hispanic white man
110. Like those with paranoid personality disorder, those with avoidant personality disorder usually:
c. are very sensitive to criticism and avoid close relationships.
64. Giving in to a child's refusal to comply with a parental request may inadvertently reinforce stubborn and defiant behavior, setting the scene for the development of antisocial personality disorder. This is most like a _____ view.
c. behavioral
45. A patient has smaller temporal lobes and high activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine. These symptoms are:
c. biological, and the most likely diagnosis is schizotypal personality disorder.
137. The lack of multicultural research is of special concern with regard to:
c. borderline personality disorder.
120. Which disorder is characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of and a fear of separation?
c. dependent personality disorder
123. If parents excessively reinforce clinging and punish attempts at independence, the result might be the development of _____ in their children.
c. dependent personality disorder
91. Nate has borderline personality disorder. He goes to weekly individual and group therapy skills-building sessions that will last for around a year. The sessions place special emphasis on dealing with self-harm and/or suicide. Nate is receiving:
c. dialectical behavior therapy.
97. Darcy is at a friend's dinner party. She's captured the attendees' attention for most of the evening by telling jokes and dramatized stories, but everyone's attention turns away from her when someone else announces her pregnancy. Darcy bursts into dramatic and effusive congratulations to draw back some attention, but she grows angry when the other woman stays the center of attention. Finally, Darcy loudly lies that she had been pregnant and miscarried, and that hearing about someone else's pregnancy is extremely hurtful. Darcy is exhibiting characteristics of:
c. histrionic personality disorder.
99. Histrionic personality disorder was once believed to be more common in women than in men, and clinicians had long described the:
c. hysterical wife.
68. How would a therapist following a biological view treat someone with antisocial personality disorder?
c. increase the individual's anxiety level
15. Based on a structured interview, Diagnostician A classifies an individual's personality disorder to be in the odd cluster. Based on another structured interview of the same type, Diagnostician B classifies an individual's personality disorder to be in the dramatic cluster. If what is described here is typical of what happens when that variety of structured interview is used, one would say the structured interview has:
c. low reliability.
143. What is the dark triad?
c. malicious traits that work together to produce offensive behavior
102. The personality disorder that is characterized by a person's need for undying love and admiration is:
c. narcissistic disorder.
109. A client is initially very resistant to therapy, cannot acknowledge weaknesses, and ignores feedback. MOST likely, the client is experiencing:
c. narcissistic personality disorder and will not make much progress in therapy.
151. The five traits to be included in future revisions of the DSM-5 that utilize a dimensional approach in diagnosing personality disorders are:
c. negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, psychoticism.
121. A high school student asks a guidance counselor, parents, and friends for suggestions before she decides on a college to attend and on an academic major. This student's behavior is:
c. normal for those in high school.
32. The parents of those with schizoid personality disorder are MOST likely to have been:
c. unaccepting.
133. With the help of a therapist, a client with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder has experienced a dramatic decrease in both dichotomous thinking and worrying. The client's behavior is:
c. uncommon. Most clients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder do not seek help; this person is most likely receiving cognitive therapy.
89. Which statement BEST describes an effective therapy for treating borderline personality disorder?
d. Research suggests that dialectical behavior therapy is the most effective.
83. The inability to accurately interpret one's internal biological, emotional, or physiological states is characteristic of both:
d. a borderline personality disorder and eating disorders.
149. "Let's try to figure out where clients fall on several key personality traits, rather than using a dichotomous classification system." Someone saying this would MOST likely favor which approach to classifying personality disorders?
d. a dimensional approach
132. "It is obvious that this case of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder arises from an early childhood fixation." Which type of psychologist would MOST likely have made that statement?
d. a psychodynamic psychologist
82. Which individual would MOST clearly fit into the biosocial theory of the development of borderline personality disorder?
d. an individual who has difficulty controlling internal emotions and parents who mislabel those emotions
