Question 1

_____ are defined as psychological disorders characterized by frequent fearful thoughts about what might happen in the future.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are defined as psychological disorders characterized by frequent fearful thoughts about what might happen in the future, and include disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mood disorders involve disturbances in a person's emotional state or mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Psychotic disorders involve a detachment from reality, such as schizophrenia. Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in a person's memory, consciousness, or sense of identity, such as dissociative amnesia or dissociative identity disorder.

Question 2

Katie has an anxiety disorder and recently sought treatment for it. The therapist explained that the anxiety stemmed from her early childhood experiences. When Katie was young, her parents divorced. Her anxiety increased when her dad abandoned Katie, and when her mom decided to start another family with her new husband. According to Katie's therapist, Katie has unresolved unconscious conflicts involving fear of abandonment in addition to aggression toward her father. From which psychological perspective is this explanation?

Accepted Answer

Katie's therapist views abnormal behavior as arising from her early childhood experiences and unresolved, unconscious conflicts.

Question 3

_____ is characterized by an intense fear of being in a situation from which escape is not possible or in which help would not be available if one experienced overwhelming anxiety or a panic attack.

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia is characterized by an intense fear of being in a situation from which escape is not possible or in which help would not be available if one experienced overwhelming anxiety or a panic attack. This fear often leads to avoidance of certain situations, such as crowded spaces or being alone in public places.

Question 4

Becky was the successful manager of a busy flower shop when she began to have panic attacks. At first, she only had them while out with her friends, so she stopped going out with her friends. Then she began having them in her car, so she stopped driving and had her roommate drive her to work every day. Eventually, though, Becky began having panic attacks while at work. Because the fear and anxiety was so overwhelming, she stopped going to work and eventually got fired. Over the last month, Becky has been unable to leave her house because of the intense fear that another panic attack will surface. Becky likely suffers from _____

Accepted Answer

Becky not only meets the criteria for panic disorder, she also has developed agoraphobia.

Question 5

The _____ perspective views abnormal behavior as arising from faulty thinking or distorted perceptions.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective focuses on how faulty thinking and distorted perceptions can lead to abnormal behavior. This perspective suggests that changing negative thought patterns can lead to improvements in mental health.

Question 6

The _____ perspective agrees that physical/biological causes are of central importance but also recognizes the influence of psychological and social factors in the study, identification, and treatment of psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

The biopsychosocial perspective takes into account biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to the development and treatment of psychological disorders, placing an emphasis on the interplay of these factors. This perspective acknowledges the importance of physical/biological causes while recognizing the influence of psychological and social factors as well. The other options (learning, psychodynamic, cognitive) focus more narrowly on specific psychological processes or theoretical frameworks and do not account for the full range of factors that impact the development and treatment of psychological disorders.

Question 7

Sarah has an eating disorder and is currently in treatment for it. Her therapist is trying to get Sarah to see that her views about what her body should look like are much too perfectionistic and unrealistic. Through therapy, the therapist is working on getting Sarah to realize that her thoughts and perceptions are out of line. From which psychological perspective is this explanation?

Accepted Answer

Sarah has faulty thinking, and distorted perceptions are the root of her disorder.

Question 8

Jim has been breaking the law for some time now and has been arrested several times for hurting other people. The court has ordered that he undergo psychological therapy, in addition to jail time, to eliminate these behaviors. The therapist working with him feels strongly that Jim engages in these behaviors because he grew up watching his parents engage in a life of crime. In fact, Jim was often rewarded when he was young for stealing from the neighbors. Unfortunately, Jim never had the chance to learn appropriate ways of thinking and acting. Which psychological perspective best describes the cause Jim's psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Jim failed to learn the appropriate patterns of thinking and acting. He watched other people in his environment engage in inappropriate behaviors and modeled what they did. He was even rewarded for it, which strengthened his misbehaviors.

Question 9

When anxiety occurs in brief but intense episodes that usually consist of a pounding heart, sensations of choking, shaking, and feelings of impending death, a diagnosis of _____ may potentially be made.

Accepted Answer

Panic attacks are central to the diagnosis of panic disorder.

Question 10

_____ is an anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurring, unpredictable episodes of overwhelming anxiety, fear, or terror.

Accepted Answer

Panic disorder is the anxiety disorder characterized by recurring, unpredictable panic attacks. Symptoms include sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fear of losing control or dying. Somatoform disorder is a condition in which individuals have physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted, intrusive, and persistent thoughts or repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels they must perform. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression and episodes of mania or hypomania.

Question 11

An episode of overwhelming anxiety, fear, or terror defines _____

Accepted Answer

An episode of overwhelming anxiety, fear or terror that comes on suddenly and unexpectedly can be diagnosed as a panic attack. Panic attacks can occur with or without a trigger and can be a characteristic symptom of panic disorder.

Question 12

Marc was sitting in the lecture hall for his Anatomy 200 class. Seemingly out of the blue, his heart started racing, he began sweating, and his hands started to shake. He also felt like he was choking and that he couldn't breathe correctly. After about ten minutes of waiting it out, all of his symptoms subsided. Knowing Marc has no physical health conditions, which of the following did he likely experience?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms were physical in nature, brief, and sudden, all of which define a panic attack.

Question 13

Based on the research by the National Alliance for Mental Illness, which of the following is thought to be the cause of an uncued panic attack?

Accepted Answer

According to research by the National Alliance for Mental Illness, dysfunction in the fight-or-flight response is thought to be the cause of an uncued panic attack.

Question 14

Tad was driving in his car the other day and started to feel his heart begin to race. Within a minute or two, he began sweating, shaking, and felt like something terrible was going to happen. Because this experience was so intense, Tad pulled off the road until he began to feel better. Within about fifteen to twenty minutes, he returned back to his normal self. While the episode only happened in his car on a few different occasions, he has gotten to the point where he refuses to drive when he goes out, for fear that another episode will occur. Tad seems to have symptoms of _____

Accepted Answer

Tad has the presence of panic attacks and a change in behavior that can interfere with his functioning. Thus, he meets the criteria for panic disorder. He continues to go out, so there is no indication of agoraphobia.

Question 15

Barbara and Jeffrey are both psychologists. Barbara believes that biology is the sole cause for psychological disorders. Jeffrey believes that while biology plays a large role, psychological and social factors should also be considered. Barbara practices from the _____ perspective, whereas Jeffrey practices from the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Barbara views abnormal behavior as arising from biochemical abnormalities or imbalances supporting the biological perspective. Jeffrey believes that physical/biological causes are of central importance, but also recognizes the influence of psychological and social factors, thereby supporting the biopsychosocial perspective.

Question 16

The _____ perspective views abnormal behavior as arising from faulty learning or having failed to learn the appropriate patterns of thinking and acting.

Accepted Answer

The learning perspective focuses on how faulty learning or the lack of appropriate learning can result in abnormal behavior, making it the best choice among the given options for the statement provided. Biopsychosocial perspective considers the combination of genetic, psychological, and social factors in explaining abnormal behavior. Psychodynamic perspective suggests that abnormal behavior arises from unresolved internal conflicts from childhood experiences. The cognitive perspective suggests that abnormal behavior arises from faulty thinking patterns.

Question 17

To which of the following disorders can the addition of agoraphobia be attached?

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia is often attached to panic disorder as individuals with panic disorder have a fear of having a panic attack in public or unfamiliar places and, as a result, develop agoraphobia. Somatoform disorder, major depressive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder do not typically involve agoraphobia as a common feature.

Question 18

_____ are the most common category of mental disorders and account for more than 4 million visits to doctors' offices each year in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety disorders are the most common category of mental disorders and account for more than 4 million visits to doctors' offices each year in the United States. Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

Question 19

A panic attack is _____

Accepted Answer

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort characterized by physical and cognitive symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, sweating, shortness of breath, and fear of losing control, among others. It can occur unexpectedly or be triggered by a specific situation, and it usually subsides within minutes but can leave the person feeling exhausted and anxious.

Question 20

The _____ perspective views abnormal behavior as arising from early childhood experiences and unresolved, unconscious conflicts.

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in the development of abnormal behavior.

Quiz 12: Defining Psychological Disorders