Question 1

Describe four serious problems with the effort to diagnose and label mental disorders.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 2

Because of the DSM's powerful influence, it is important to be aware of its limitations. Analyze the four limitations discussed in the textbook:
- the danger of overdiagnosis;
- the power of diagnostic labels;
- the confusion of serious mental disorders with normal problems; and
- the illusion of objectivity.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 3

Explain the ways in which addiction patterns vary according to cultural practices and the social environment.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 4

An old saying says: "If you give a small boy a hammer, it will turn out that everything he runs into needs pounding." Using the example of ADHD, explain how this quote relates to the dangers of overdiagnosis.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 5

The legal system is based on the assumption of personal responsibility, but a dilemma exists when considering the possibility of psychological problems. Explore this dilemma and then explain your position on this issue.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 6

People with high alcohol sensitivity are:

Accepted Answer

A)  more likely to drink to excess. 
B)  more likely to experience tremendous withdrawal symptoms. 
C)  less likely than others to drink to excess. 
D)  less likely to have low activity of an enzyme involved in metabolism of alcohol. 
A)  more likely to drink to excess. 
B)  more likely to experience tremendous withdrawal symptoms. 
C)  less likely than others to drink to excess. 
D)  less likely to have low activity of an enzyme involved in metabolism of alcohol.

Question 7

Everyone experiences occasional shyness and social anxiety, but a person with a social phobia has intense reactions of fear. What are some of the common social phobias?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the

Question 8

Describe the vulnerability-stress explanation of depression. Provide examples of upsetting events that could trigger a depression.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 9

Why do most researchers consider schizophrenia a brain disorder? Explain the genetic predispositions, prenatal problems and aspects of adolescent biology that influence schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 10

How might the hippocampal volume be related to posttraumatic stress disorder?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 11

________ refers to the fear of heights.

Accepted Answer

A)  Claustrophobia 
B)  Acrophobia 
C)  Triskaidekaphobia 
D)  Agoraphobia 
A)  Claustrophobia 
B)  Acrophobia 
C)  Triskaidekaphobia 
D)  Agoraphobia

Question 12

A nineteenth century physician's diagnosis of drapetomania, which purported to explain why slaves sought freedom, exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

A)  the recognition of the intolerable conditions of slavery and the need to escape those conditions. 
B)  how notions of mental disorder can serve the interests of those who are in power by putting a veneer of science on a subjective process. 
C)  how great suffering elicits the "fight-or-flight" response, which is a normal human reaction. 
D)  recognition of panic disorder as far back as the early years of the nineteenth century. 
A)  the recognition of the intolerable conditions of slavery and the need to escape those conditions. 
B)  how notions of mental disorder can serve the interests of those who are in power by putting a veneer of science on a subjective process. 
C)  how great suffering elicits the "fight-or-flight" response, which is a normal human reaction. 
D)  recognition of panic disorder as far back as the early years of the nineteenth century.

Question 13

________ is a disorder in which a person feels trapped in repetitive, persistent thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviours.

Accepted Answer

A)  Obsessive-compulsive disorder 
B)  Generalized anxiety disorder 
C)  Posttraumatic stress disorder 
D)  Borderline personality disorder 
A)  Obsessive-compulsive disorder 
B)  Generalized anxiety disorder 
C)  Posttraumatic stress disorder 
D)  Borderline personality disorder

Question 14

Discuss the biological events of adolescence that may lead to schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 15

Describe two conditions in which anxiety would be an ordinary and adaptive response rather than a disorder.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 16

________ is the fear of being trapped in enclosed places.

Accepted Answer

A)  Claustrophobia 
B)  Brontophobia 
C)  Triskaidekaphobia 
D)  Agoraphobia 
A)  Claustrophobia 
B)  Brontophobia 
C)  Triskaidekaphobia 
D)  Agoraphobia

Question 17

The two dominant approaches to understanding addiction and drug abuse are:

Accepted Answer

A)  the biological model and the learning model. 
B)  the cultural model and the psychodynamic model. 
C)  the humanist model and the biological model. 
D)  the objective model and the psychodynamic model. 
A)  the biological model and the learning model. 
B)  the cultural model and the psychodynamic model. 
C)  the humanist model and the biological model. 
D)  the objective model and the psychodynamic model.

Question 18

Rachel is completely exhausted after a long day's work. She comes home and makes herself a drink and finds it soothing after a tiring day. Rachel is unlikely to become addicted to alcohol because:

Accepted Answer

A)  she is drinking to relax herself after a rough day at work. 
B)  she is drinking to suppress her anxieties. 
C)  she is drinking to drown her worries and sorrows. 
D)  she is drinking to abandon inhibitions. 
A)  she is drinking to relax herself after a rough day at work. 
B)  she is drinking to suppress her anxieties. 
C)  she is drinking to drown her worries and sorrows. 
D)  she is drinking to abandon inhibitions.

Question 19

Psychological scientists who are skeptical about multiple personality disorder provide several reasons for their stance. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thorough consideration of the symptoms reveals that MPD is actually psychogenic amnesia. 
B)  Unreliable techniques, like hypnosis, may be creating the disorder through the power of suggestion. 
C)  Clinicians may be creating the disorder through the power of suggestion. 
D)  Media coverage of sensational cases has played a major role in fostering MPD diagnosis. 
A)  Thorough consideration of the symptoms reveals that MPD is actually psychogenic amnesia. 
B)  Unreliable techniques, like hypnosis, may be creating the disorder through the power of suggestion. 
C)  Clinicians may be creating the disorder through the power of suggestion. 
D)  Media coverage of sensational cases has played a major role in fostering MPD diagnosis.

Question 20

Differentiate unusual behaviour, mental disorder, and insanity.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Describe four serious problems with the effort to diagnose and label mental disorders.

Explain the ways in which addiction patterns vary according to cultural practices and the social environment.

An old saying says: "If you give a small boy a hammer, it will turn out that everything he runs into needs pounding." Using the example of ADHD, explain how this quote relates to the dangers of overdiagnosis.

The legal system is based on the assumption of personal responsibility, but a dilemma exists when considering the possibility of psychological problems. Explore this dilemma and then explain your position on this issue.

People with high alcohol sensitivity are:

Everyone experiences occasional shyness and social anxiety, but a person with a social phobia has intense reactions of fear. What are some of the common social phobias?

Describe the vulnerability-stress explanation of depression. Provide examples of upsetting events that could trigger a depression.

Why do most researchers consider schizophrenia a brain disorder? Explain the genetic predispositions, prenatal problems and aspects of adolescent biology that influence schizophrenia.

How might the hippocampal volume be related to posttraumatic stress disorder?

________ refers to the fear of heights.

A nineteenth century physician's diagnosis of drapetomania, which purported to explain why slaves sought freedom, exemplifies:

________ is a disorder in which a person feels trapped in repetitive, persistent thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviours.

Discuss the biological events of adolescence that may lead to schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

Describe two conditions in which anxiety would be an ordinary and adaptive response rather than a disorder.

________ is the fear of being trapped in enclosed places.

The two dominant approaches to understanding addiction and drug abuse are:

Rachel is completely exhausted after a long day's work. She comes home and makes herself a drink and finds it soothing after a tiring day. Rachel is unlikely to become addicted to alcohol because:

Psychological scientists who are skeptical about multiple personality disorder provide several reasons for their stance. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?

Differentiate unusual behaviour, mental disorder, and insanity.

What Is Psychology

How Psychologists Do Research

Genes, Evolution, and Environment

The Brain and Nervous System

Body Rhythms and Mental States

Sensation and Perception

Learning and Conditioning

Behaviour in Social and Cultural Context

Thinking and Intelligence

Memory

Emotion, Stress, and Health

Motivation

Development Over the Life Span

Theories of Personality

Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

Filters

Exam 15: Psychological Disorders

Describe four serious problems with the effort to diagnose and label mental disorders.

Explain the ways in which addiction patterns vary according to cultural practices and the social environment.

An old saying says: "If you give a small boy a hammer, it will turn out that everything he runs into needs pounding." Using the example of ADHD, explain how this quote relates to the dangers of overdiagnosis.

The legal system is based on the assumption of personal responsibility, but a dilemma exists when considering the possibility of psychological problems. Explore this dilemma and then explain your position on this issue.

People with high alcohol sensitivity are:

Everyone experiences occasional shyness and social anxiety, but a person with a social phobia has intense reactions of fear. What are some of the common social phobias?

Describe the vulnerability-stress explanation of depression. Provide examples of upsetting events that could trigger a depression.

Why do most researchers consider schizophrenia a brain disorder? Explain the genetic predispositions, prenatal problems and aspects of adolescent biology that influence schizophrenia.

How might the hippocampal volume be related to posttraumatic stress disorder?

________ refers to the fear of heights.

A nineteenth century physician's diagnosis of drapetomania, which purported to explain why slaves sought freedom, exemplifies:

________ is a disorder in which a person feels trapped in repetitive, persistent thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviours.

Discuss the biological events of adolescence that may lead to schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

Describe two conditions in which anxiety would be an ordinary and adaptive response rather than a disorder.

________ is the fear of being trapped in enclosed places.

The two dominant approaches to understanding addiction and drug abuse are:

Rachel is completely exhausted after a long day's work. She comes home and makes herself a drink and finds it soothing after a tiring day. Rachel is unlikely to become addicted to alcohol because:

Psychological scientists who are skeptical about multiple personality disorder provide several reasons for their stance. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?

Differentiate unusual behaviour, mental disorder, and insanity.

What Is Psychology

How Psychologists Do Research

Genes, Evolution, and Environment

The Brain and Nervous System

Body Rhythms and Mental States

Sensation and Perception

Learning and Conditioning

Behaviour in Social and Cultural Context

Thinking and Intelligence

Memory

Emotion, Stress, and Health

Motivation

Development Over the Life Span

Theories of Personality

Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

Filters