1. What is the primary focus of abnormal psychology?
a) Studying normal behavior
b) Understanding mental disorders and deviations from normal behavior
c) Examining the structure of the brain
d) Assessing intelligence
Answer: b) Understanding mental disorders and deviations from normal behavior
Explanation: Abnormal psychology focuses on studying abnormal behavior, psychological disorders, and deviations from social norms, helping professionals diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
2. Which of the following is NOT typically considered an abnormal behavior in abnormal psychology?
a) Severe anxiety
b) Persistent sadness
c) Atypical behavior within a cultural context
d) A minor preference for a specific food
Answer: d) A minor preference for a specific food
Explanation: Minor preferences like liking a specific food are considered normal. Abnormal behaviors are those that disrupt normal functioning and deviate from social and cultural norms significantly.
3. What is a defining characteristic of abnormal behavior?
a) It is always harmful
b) It deviates significantly from societal norms
c) It is visible only in certain cultures
d) It is temporary
Answer: b) It deviates significantly from societal norms
Explanation: Abnormal behavior typically deviates from the cultural, societal, or statistical norms. However, it is not always harmful, and its duration can vary.
4. Which of the following is a key criterion in determining whether a behavior is considered abnormal?
a) Age of the individual
b) The degree to which it deviates from societal norms
c) The individual’s intelligence level
d) Whether the behavior is visible to others
Answer: b) The degree to which it deviates from societal norms
Explanation: The degree of deviation from societal or cultural norms is a critical factor in defining abnormal behavior. This helps distinguish between what is considered normal and abnormal.
5. Which of the following is NOT a factor considered in the definition of abnormal behavior?
a) Statistical rarity
b) Social deviance
c) Personal distress
d) Emotional stability
Answer: d) Emotional stability
Explanation: Emotional stability is not a factor used to define abnormal behavior. The primary factors include statistical rarity, social deviance, and personal distress.
6. Which of the following is a symptom of abnormal behavior in psychological terms?
a) Excessive happiness
b) Dysfunctional or maladaptive behavior
c) Interest in a wide range of topics
d) High levels of sociability
Answer: b) Dysfunctional or maladaptive behavior
Explanation: Abnormal behavior is often defined by its dysfunctionality or maladaptiveness, meaning it interferes with the individual’s ability to function in daily life.
7. Which theory in abnormal psychology suggests that abnormal behavior is a result of biological abnormalities?
a) Behavioral theory
b) Psychodynamic theory
c) Cognitive theory
d) Biological theory
Answer: d) Biological theory
Explanation: The biological theory of abnormal psychology posits that mental disorders and abnormal behavior arise from biological factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, and other physiological conditions.
8. What is the term for the observable symptoms and behaviors that occur in an individual with a mental disorder?
a) Diagnosis
b) Syndrome
c) Etiology
d) Prognosis
Answer: b) Syndrome
Explanation: A syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that consistently occur together, indicating the presence of a mental disorder or abnormal psychological condition.
9. Which of the following is an example of a psychological disorder that is characterized by an inability to function normally in daily life?
a) Depression
b) Euphoria
c) Intelligence
d) Attention
Answer: a) Depression
Explanation: Depression can significantly impair a person’s ability to function in daily life, affecting their relationships, work, and other activities.
10. What does the term “psychopathology” refer to in abnormal psychology?
a) The study of the brain
b) The study of the physical structure of the body
c) The study of mental disorders
d) The study of behavioral patterns in children
Answer: c) The study of mental disorders
Explanation: Psychopathology is the study of mental disorders, their causes, symptoms, and effects, and how these conditions affect the behavior of individuals.
11. Which of the following is an example of a projective test used in abnormal psychology?
a) Rorschach Inkblot Test
b) MMPI
c) Beck Depression Inventory
d) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Answer: a) Rorschach Inkblot Test
Explanation: The Rorschach Inkblot Test is a projective test used in abnormal psychology to assess an individual’s unconscious thoughts and feelings based on their interpretation of inkblot images.
12. Which of the following is a limitation of using a statistical definition of abnormal behavior?
a) It does not account for cultural differences
b) It does not distinguish between different types of behavior
c) It is too subjective
d) It focuses only on physical symptoms
Answer: a) It does not account for cultural differences
Explanation: Statistical definitions of abnormal behavior rely on deviation from the norm, but they do not always account for cultural differences, which can lead to misdiagnoses.
13. In abnormal psychology, what is the term “etiology” referring to?
a) The study of the symptoms of a disorder
b) The origin or cause of a disorder
c) The prognosis of a disorder
d) The treatments for a disorder
Answer: b) The origin or cause of a disorder
Explanation: Etiology refers to the study of the causes or origins of psychological disorders, exploring factors such as genetics, environment, and life experiences.
14. Which classification system is most commonly used for diagnosing mental disorders?
a) DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
b) ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases)
c) WHO-ICD
d) APGAR
Answer: a) DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
Explanation: The DSM-5 is the most widely used classification system in the U.S. for diagnosing mental disorders, providing criteria for diagnosis and distinguishing between various conditions.
15. The concept of “cultural relativity” in abnormal psychology refers to:
a) The universality of mental disorders
b) The belief that all cultures define abnormal behavior the same way
c) The idea that cultural norms shape the definition of abnormal behavior
d) The medical model of mental disorders
Answer: c) The idea that cultural norms shape the definition of abnormal behavior
Explanation: Cultural relativity suggests that the definition of abnormal behavior varies across cultures, and behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be seen as normal in another.
16. Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of anxiety disorders?
a) Excessive worry
b) Rapid heartbeat
c) A constant feeling of euphoria
d) Restlessness
Answer: c) A constant feeling of euphoria
Explanation: Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry, rapid heartbeat, and restlessness. Euphoria is more commonly associated with manic states, not anxiety.
17. Which of the following terms refers to a mental disorder where an individual experiences extreme mood swings?
a) Depression
b) Bipolar disorder
c) Phobia
d) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Answer: b) Bipolar disorder
Explanation: Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, including episodes of mania and depression, which can significantly impact the individual’s life.
18. Which of the following is NOT a factor in the biopsychosocial model of abnormal behavior?
a) Biological factors
b) Psychological factors
c) Social factors
d) Political factors
Answer: d) Political factors
Explanation: The biopsychosocial model of abnormal behavior includes biological, psychological, and social factors. Political factors are not typically included in this model.
19. Which of the following is a characteristic of a personality disorder?
a) Intense mood swings
b) Persistent patterns of behavior that deviate from societal expectations
c) Sudden changes in appetite
d) Short-term disturbances in thinking
Answer: b) Persistent patterns of behavior that deviate from societal expectations
Explanation: Personality disorders are characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that significantly differ from cultural expectations and cause distress or functional impairment.
20. Which psychological disorder is primarily characterized by persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviors?
a) Generalized anxiety disorder
b) Bipolar disorder
c) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
d) Schizophrenia
Answer: c) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Explanation: OCD is marked by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that the individual feels compelled to perform to reduce anxiety.
21. Which approach in abnormal psychology focuses on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences?
a) Cognitive-behavioral approach
b) Psychodynamic approach
c) Humanistic approach
d) Biological approach
Answer: b) Psychodynamic approach
Explanation: The psychodynamic approach, pioneered by Freud, emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in the development of abnormal behavior.
22. Which of the following is considered a major category of mental disorders in abnormal psychology?
a) Neurodevelopmental disorders
b) Cognitive functioning disorders
c) Brain disorders
d) All of the above
Answer: a) Neurodevelopmental disorders
Explanation: Neurodevelopmental disorders are a major category of mental disorders, involving issues with brain development that affect cognitive and emotional functioning.
23. Which of the following statements about abnormal behavior is true?
a) All abnormal behavior is pathological
b) Abnormal behavior is always harmful
c) Abnormal behavior depends on cultural and social context
d) Abnormal behavior is always easy to diagnose
Answer: c) Abnormal behavior depends on cultural and social context
Explanation: Abnormal behavior must be understood in context, as what is considered abnormal in one culture may be normal in another.
24. What does the medical model of abnormal psychology emphasize?
a) The role of environmental influences
b) The role of unconscious mind
c) The diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as physical diseases
d) The focus on self-actualization
Answer: c) The diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as physical diseases
Explanation: The medical model views mental disorders as diseases that can be diagnosed, treated, and managed with medical interventions like medication or therapy.
25. Which of the following is NOT typically a criterion for diagnosing a mental disorder?
a) Duration of symptoms
b) Social and occupational functioning
c) The individual’s IQ score
d) Personal distress
Answer: c) The individual’s IQ score
Explanation: IQ scores are not typically a criterion for diagnosing mental disorders. Instead, factors like symptom duration, distress, and functional impairment are used.
26. Which of the following is considered a “mood disorder”?
a) Schizophrenia
b) Bipolar disorder
c) Borderline personality disorder
d) Autism spectrum disorder
Answer: b) Bipolar disorder
Explanation: Bipolar disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings, is classified as a mood disorder. Schizophrenia and autism are different types of disorders.
27. Which of the following is an example of a dissociative disorder?
a) Schizophrenia
b) Dissociative identity disorder
c) Post-traumatic stress disorder
d) Panic disorder
Answer: b) Dissociative identity disorder
Explanation: Dissociative identity disorder is a dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personalities within one individual.
28. What does the term “comorbidity” refer to in abnormal psychology?
a) The co-occurrence of multiple symptoms within a disorder
b) The simultaneous presence of more than one disorder in an individual
c) A genetic predisposition to mental disorders
d) The presence of social anxiety in an individual
Answer: b) The simultaneous presence of more than one disorder in an individual
Explanation: Comorbidity refers to the occurrence of two or more mental disorders in an individual at the same time.
29. Which of the following is NOT a common treatment for abnormal psychological disorders?
a) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
b) Medication
c) Surgery
d) Psychoanalysis
Answer: c) Surgery
Explanation: Surgery is not a common treatment for psychological disorders, although certain medical treatments may involve brain surgery in severe cases. Most treatments include therapy and medication.
30. Which of the following is a typical characteristic of psychotic disorders?
a) Persistent mood swings
b) Hallucinations and delusions
c) Intense feelings of sadness
d) Fear of social situations
Answer: b) Hallucinations and delusions
Explanation: Psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia, are marked by hallucinations (false sensory perceptions) and delusions (false beliefs), which are core symptoms of these conditions.
