Question 1

The characteristic features of personality disorders tend to develop with

Accepted Answer

A)  rapid onset in late adolescence. 
B)  gradual onset in adulthood. 
C)  rapid onset in adulthood. 
D)  onset in childhood that is difficult to pinpoint.

Question 2

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by

Accepted Answer

A)  preoccupation with other people. 
B)  obsession with keeping things neat and orderly. 
C)  thinking of oneself as deserving of special treatment. 
D)  pathological dishonesty.

Question 3

Vince is extremely impressed with himself.Although he has only achieved a moderate amount of success,he thinks of himself as being uniquely special and deserving of the best of everything.Vince fantasizes frequently about great wealth and fame and does not really pay much attention to other people except to note how they react to him.Vince should be diagnosed with _____________ personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

A)  antisocial 
B)  histrionic 
C)  narcissistic 
D)  dependent

Question 4

When someone has a personality disorder,

Accepted Answer

A)  the person may believe there is nothing wrong. 
B)  the person is always distressed by his/her disorder. 
C)  the disorder may come and go. 
D)  the disorder tends to start very suddenly.

Question 5

Research regarding psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder suggests that ___________ appears to be helpful in improving mood and reducing suicidal and self-injurious behaviors.

Accepted Answer

A)  dialectical behavior therapy 
B)  cognitive therapy 
C)  operant conditioning 
D)  nothing

Question 6

In the CD-ROM "Abnormal Psychology Live," before the age of 15,George had

Accepted Answer

A)  gotten drunk. 
B)  smoked marijuana. 
C)  destroyed property. 
D)  all of these

Question 7

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the treatment of antisocial personality disorder and related antisocial behaviors?

Accepted Answer

A)  Patients are generally willing participants in their therapy. 
B)  Most patients refer themselves for treatment because they recognize that they have a problem. 
C)  There has been greater success in reducing antisocial behavior in young children than adults. 
D)  Therapy is successful in about half of the cases treated.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Recent research is refining the search for genes that cause antisocial personality disorder. 
B)  Recent research on brain damage indicates that brain damage is found in psychopaths. 
C)  Recent research on neuropsychological tests indicates that psychopaths score equally as well as nonpsychopaths. 
D)  None of the above is true

Question 9

Which of the following prevention strategies looks promising for children who are at risk for later antisocial personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

A)  A training program for parents of toddlers (ages 1½ to 2½ years) 
B)  A program for families with a high degree of family dysfunction 
C)  A program for families where at least one parent has a history of antisocial personality disorder 
D)  All of the above

Question 10

A possible brain-based explanation for antisocial personality disorder would be

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced behavioral inhibition and increased reward system activation. 
B)  increased behavioral inhibition and decreased reward system activation. 
C)  the absence of fight or flight responses. 
D)  brain deterioration.

Question 11

All of the following are necessary conditions for the diagnosis of a personality disorder EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  patient feelings of distress. 
B)  pervasive pattern of behavior. 
C)  maladaptive functioning. 
D)  chronic course of behavior.

Question 12

A person with paranoid personality disorder may

Accepted Answer

A)  mistrust other people. 
B)  get into arguments with people. 
C)  be quiet and withdrawn. 
D)  all of the above

Question 13

Many people have fantasies of unlimited power,brilliance,or beauty,but a man who also believes himself grandly unique,entitled to special privileges,is arrogant,and expects to be admired and recognized as superior while envying others who are successful,might find himself with a psychological diagnosis.Which personality disorder would apply?

Accepted Answer

A)  The one named for the Greek word for "uterus" 
B)  Borderline personality disorder 
C)  The one named for the mythological Greek character Narcissus 
D)  Schizotypal personality disorder

Question 14

There is a great controversy regarding the classification issue of the personality disorders.Explain what are seen as problems with the current classification system used in DSM-IV and possible changes to address these issues in DSM-V.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is a great controversy regarding the...

Question 15

When Axel arrives late for class,he walks in and apologizes to the professor and the students in class.He proceeds to tell them he had every intention of being at class on time,but the traffic was terrible and many accident occurred,which delayed him.Axel describes this in much detail before he takes his seat.This commonly happens every time he is late.Axel could be diagnosed with which personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

A)  Histrionic 
B)  Narcissistic 
C)  Borderline 
D)  Dependent

Question 16

Describe the basic features of the antisocial personality disorder.Why is psychotherapy with this population so likely to fail?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the basic features of the antisocial...

Question 17

The most accurate statement with regard to treatment research for narcissistic personality disorder (Groopman & Cooper,2001)is that the research is

Accepted Answer

A)  extremely limited in both number of studies and reports of successes. 
B)  extremely limited in number of studies, though some promising results have been reported. 
C)  extensive, though few positive results are reported. 
D)  extensive, though the studies are not scientific.

Question 18

During the "Abnormal Psychology Live" CD discussion of borderline personality disorder,it was mentioned that it is tough for therapists to treat this disorder because the therapists often feel _____________ toward their patients.

Accepted Answer

A)  anger 
B)  sorrow 
C)  fear 
D)  deep attachment

Question 19

Individuals who have "ideas of reference" but who sense that these beliefs are probably unrealistic are generally diagnosed with ____________ personality disorder.

Accepted Answer

A)  schizotypal 
B)  avoidant 
C)  antisocial 
D)  histrionic

Question 20

Which of the following is not a Cluster B personality disorder?

Accepted Answer

A)  Antisocial personality disorder 
B)  Borderline personality disorder 
C)  Histrionic personality disorder 
D)  Schizoid personality disorder

Exam 12: Personality Disorders