Question 1

If a person experienced anxiety or depression following a significant natural disaster,we would say that the person was:

Accepted Answer

Experiencing anxiety or depression following a significant natural disaster is a typical reaction and does not necessarily indicate a mental illness. It is an understandable and expected response to a traumatic event.

Question 2

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:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a double-masked design, also known as a double-blind study, where neither the participants (subjects) nor the experimenters know who is receiving the active treatment versus a placebo, eliminating bias from both parties.

Question 3

A physician who offers psychotherapy is called a:

Accepted Answer

A physician who is trained and licensed to provide both medical and psychological treatments is called a psychiatrist. They can offer both medication and psychotherapy to their patients. Clinical psychologists (B) are licensed professionals who specialize in therapy and diagnosis of mental illness, but they do not have a medical degree. Psychodiagnosticians (C) specialize in conducting psychological testing and evaluations to diagnose mental illness. Psychoanalysts (D) are therapists who specialize in the psychoanalytic approach to therapy, which focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and emotions. Unlike psychiatrists, they do not have a medical degree and cannot prescribe medication.

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

Observer bias is likely to be present because the therapist, who developed the new approach, may have a vested interest in seeing positive results, which could influence their observations and interpretations.

Question 5

In an ABAB design study,a researcher is measuring the level of depression with and without the addition of an exercise program.What is the second B in the study?

Accepted Answer

The second B in an ABAB design refers to the reintroduction of the intervention, which in this case is the exercise program.

Question 6

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:

Accepted Answer

Matched designs involve selecting groups that are similar in relevant characteristics and then assigning them to control or experimental conditions. This is done to control for variables that may affect the outcome of the study. Unlike true experiments, participants are not randomly assigned to groups, but rather are selected based on pre-existing criteria.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

Therapy typically involves a trained professional providing treatment, which is not present in this scenario.

Question 8

A psychologist focuses on optimism,wisdom,happiness,and interpersonal skills.This psychologist is MOST likely a:

Accepted Answer

Positive psychology is a field that emphasizes the study and promotion of positive aspects of human life, such as optimism, wisdom, happiness, and interpersonal skills.

Question 9

In the first half of the 1900s,biological treatments for mental illness:

Accepted Answer

In the first half of the 1900s, biological treatments for mental illness, such as insulin shock therapy and lobotomies, were largely ineffective and often caused harm or worsened patients' conditions. It was not until the later half of the century that more effective medications were developed.

Question 10

An initial negative consequence of the somatogenic perspective on abnormality was that:

Accepted Answer

The somatogenic perspective, which attributes mental disorders to physical causes, was used to justify eugenic sterilization, a practice aimed at preventing those with mental illnesses from reproducing.

Question 11

In a scientific experiment,the variable that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter is called the:

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 12

In the fifteenth century,where would pilgrims in Europe who sought "psychic healing" have been MOST likely to go?

Accepted Answer

Gheel, Belgium, was known for its community-based care for the mentally ill and those seeking "psychic healing" during the fifteenth century. It became a renowned pilgrimage site for those seeking healing for mental and emotional ailments.

Question 13

What was the driving idea behind the eugenic sterilization of the mentally ill?

Accepted Answer

The driving idea behind eugenic sterilization was to prevent individuals deemed "unfit" from passing on their genes, based on the belief that mental illness and other traits were hereditary and could be eliminated from the population through sterilization.

Question 14

A theorist who believes that psychological factors are the primary causes of abnormal functioning adheres to the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The psychogenic perspective emphasizes that psychological factors are the primary causes of abnormal functioning. The Hippocratic perspective focuses on bodily imbalances and the somatogenic perspective considers biological factors as the main causes. The demonologic perspective attributes abnormal behavior to possession by evil spirits.

Question 15

The approach to therapy for mental illness in which a person pays a psychotherapist for services is called:

Accepted Answer

Private psychotherapy involves a person paying a psychotherapist for mental health services on an individual basis. This differs from the community mental health approach, in which services are often provided through government-funded programs or non-profit organizations. The medical approach is a broader term that refers to the use of medication and medical practices, while sociological therapy is not a commonly recognized term for a specific approach to mental health treatment.

Question 16

In an experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of an antidepressant medication,one group of participants receives a sugar pill instead of the true medication.This is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

A placebo study involves giving a group of participants a harmless substance or treatment (such as a sugar pill) instead of the actual treatment under investigation. This is done to assess the effects of the treatment compared to a control group, and to control for placebo effects or other biases. Therefore, the best choice is D - placebo study.

Question 17

Which of these was NOT one of Pinel's reforms at La Bicêtre?

Accepted Answer

Pinel's reforms at La Bicêtre included humane treatment such as allowing free movement, providing better living conditions, and offering support, but there is no historical evidence of weekly feasts tailored to each patient's diet as part of his reforms.

Question 18

The ancient operation in which a stone instrument was used to cut away a circular section of the skull is called:

Accepted Answer

Trephination is an ancient surgical procedure that involves cutting a hole into the skull, often using a stone instrument, believed to treat health issues by releasing evil spirits or relieving pressure.

Question 19

Which was NOT a factor in the decline in the use of moral treatment and the rise in the use of custodial care in mental hospitals at the end of the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

Moral treatment was not completely unsuccessful; rather, its decline was due to factors like funding shortages, prejudice, and unrealistic assumptions about its universal effectiveness.

Question 20

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):

Accepted Answer

A residency is a period of advanced training in a medical specialty that a doctor undergoes after completing medical school, and it typically lasts three to four years for psychiatrists.

Quiz 1: Abnormal Psychology: Past and Present