Psychology Chapter 4: Abnormal Behavior
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Which of the following is NOT one of the Four D’s commonly used to define abnormal behavior?

  • Dysfunction
  • Disillusionment (correct)
  • Danger
  • Deviance

    • What is a significant critique of diagnosing psychological disorders using the DSM?

  • It provides an outdated description of mental illnesses.
  • It defines a clear boundary between normal behavior and disorders.
  • It may label individuals as disordered too liberally. (correct)
  • It considers cultural context too rigidly.

    • In the context of psychological disorders, what does the term 'dysfunction' refer to?

  • A risk of harm to others
  • Extreme emotional upheaval
  • Interference with daily functioning (correct)
  • Behaviors that align with cultural norms

    • Which of the following statements about psychological disorders is accurate?

    <p>Diagnosis can impact the individual's perception and treatment of their condition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the DSM-V classify mental disorders?

    <p>Through five axes that consider various aspects of the individual’s life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor is linked with impulsivity and aggression in individuals with antisocial personality disorder?

    <p>Lower serotonin levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about antisocial personality disorder is true?

    <p>Many people with antisocial personality disorder do not engage in criminal activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is specifically linked to borderline personality disorder?

    <p>Intense emotional fluctuations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of therapy focuses on understanding and changing behavior, thinking, relationships, and emotions?

    <p>Cognitive-behavioral therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common reason that people do not seek psychological help despite needing it?

    <p>Stigma surrounding mental health issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What medication is commonly used as an anti-anxiety drug?

    <p>Valium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of antidepressants is known to increase serotonin levels?

    <p>Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential side effect of drug therapy for bipolar disorder?

    <p>Serious side effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which therapy aims to uncover the unconscious thoughts and inner conflicts of the patient?

    <p>Psychodynamic therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of 'free association' in psychodynamic therapy?

    <p>To encourage spontaneous verbal expression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which procedure is a noninvasive method used to treat depression by stimulating the brain?

    <p>Transcranial magnetic stimulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of biological therapy?

    <p>To reduce symptoms of mental disorders through physical interventions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a strong criticism of biological treatments?

    <p>They can ignore environmental and social factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of therapy assists clients in releasing repressed emotions?

    <p>Psychodynamic therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary biological factor associated with PTSD?

    <p>Increased cortisol and norepinephrine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

    <p>Hallucinations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

    <p>Separation of identity into distinct personalities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about antisocial personality disorder?

    <p>It is synonymous with criminal behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cognitive symptom is associated with schizophrenia?

    <p>Loss of volition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of somatic symptom disorder involves excessive concern without any physical symptoms?

    <p>Illness anxiety disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining feature of conversion disorder?

    <p>Sudden neurological symptoms with no medical cause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which personality disorder is characterized primarily by dramatic and impulsive behaviors?

    <p>Narcissistic personality disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What neurological factor is commonly associated with schizophrenia?

    <p>Smaller temporal and frontal lobes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following disorders involves the absence of healthy behaviors?

    <p>Negative symptoms of schizophrenia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the amygdala play in OCD?

    <p>Drives fear and anxiety responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which explanation best describes the origin of somatic symptom disorders?

    <p>Cultural transformation of distress into symptoms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of excessive health-related anxiety in somatic symptom disorders?

    <p>It causes physical symptoms to worsen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the neuroscience model attribute abnormal functioning to?

    <p>Structural or biochemical malfunctions in the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic symptom of major depressive disorder?

    <p>Pessimism and self-blame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common explanation for generalized anxiety disorder according to cognitive-behavioral theorists?

    <p>Assumption of being in danger</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Bipolar disorder is characterized by which primary mood states?

    <p>Depression and mania</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What risk factor contributes to the developmental psychopathology approach?

    <p>Early environmental influences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

    <p>Euphoria during social events</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for when children can begin from different backgrounds but end up with the same outcome in developmental psychopathology?

    <p>Equifinality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which explanation is commonly associated with the onset of phobias?

    <p>Classically conditioned fears</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of cognitive-behavioral approaches in treating abnormal behavior?

    <p>Conditioning and cognitive processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated prevalence of major depressive disorder in Canadians per year?

    <p>8%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes a panic disorder?

    <p>Sudden and unpredictable intense dread or terror</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What cognitive distortion is commonly associated with depression according to cognitive-behavioral theorists?

    <p>Overgeneralization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a typical duration pattern for bipolar disorder mood episodes?

    <p>3-7 weeks of depression followed by 3-7 days of mania</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following conditions is classified under anxiety disorders?

    <p>Obsessive-compulsive disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of behavior therapies?

    <p>Unlearning maladaptive behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of conditioning does systematic desensitization primarily utilize?

    <p>Classical conditioning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which therapy is characterized by identifying irrational behaviors and their emotional consequences?

    <p>Rational-emotive behavioral therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary criticism of behavior therapies?

    <p>They may not produce long-lasting changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cognitive-behavioral therapy emphasizes acceptance of thoughts?

    <p>Second-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key attribute is essential in Rogers' client-centered therapy?

    <p>Unconditional positive regard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The method of flooding in behavior therapy involves:

    <p>Extensive exposure to the feared stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one significant advantage of cognitive-behavioral therapies?

    <p>They have a strong empirical research backing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation noted in researching the effectiveness of therapy?

    <p>Spontaneous remission may confuse results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of tokens in token economies?

    <p>To serve as reinforcers for desired behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which psychological approach emphasizes self-acceptance and responsibility for choices?

    <p>Humanistic and existential therapies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one method used in Gestalt therapy?

    <p>Role-playing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common issue is associated with cognitive-behavioral therapy according to its critics?

    <p>The role of cognition is unclear</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor can significantly impact the effectiveness of therapy?

    <p>Client's openness to therapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    What is Abnormal?

    • Abnormal psychology = scientific study of psychological disorders
    • No single agreed-upon definition
    • Most definitions refer to the Four D's:
      • Deviance: thoughts/emotions outside cultural norms
      • Danger: behaviour increasing risk of injury
      • Distress: intense negative emotional reaction
      • Dysfunction: behaviour interfering with daily functioning
    • Diagnosing psychological disorders:
      • Diagnosis aids treatment decision-making and understanding symptom causes.
    • Classifying psychological disorders:
      • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) is the most comprehensive description of mental disorders with diagnostic criteria.
      • Assumes disorders are comparable to physical illnesses.
      • DSM-V uses five axes to describe a person and their life situation.
    • Critiques of diagnosing with DSM:
      • DSM may classify too many people as disordered.
      • The boundaries between diagnoses are often arbitrary.
      • Defining disorders involves subjective value judgments.

    Models of Abnormal Behaviour

    • Neuroscience model:
      • Attributes abnormal functioning to brain structure/biochemical malfunctions
      • Includes genetic inheritance, abnormal neurotransmitter levels, viral infections, hormones, and brain structure abnormalities.
    • Psychodynamic approaches:
      • Attribute abnormal functioning to unconscious conflicts, often from childhood.
      • Emphasizes defense mechanisms and fixations.
    • Cognitive-behavioral approaches:
      • Attribute abnormal functioning to learned conditioning/modeling, and cognitive processes.
      • Includes behavioral perspective (classical and operant conditioning) and cognitive perspective (maladaptive thinking, selective perception, magnification, overgeneralization).
    • Socio-cultural approaches:
      • Attributes abnormal functioning to societal, cultural, social, and family pressures.
      • Relates functioning to factors like social change, socio-economic class, social networks, and family systems.
    • Developmental psychopathology approach:
      • Links abnormal functioning to early risk factors and poor resilience across life stages.
      • Focuses on risk factors (biological and environmental) and resilience (ability to recover from negative circumstances).
      • Emphasizes equifinality (different starting points leading to the same outcome) and multifinality (same starting point leading to different outcomes).

    Mood Disorders

    • Mood disorders involve distinct states:
      • Depression: low, sad state; common in mood disorders. Major depressive disorder is severe than dysthymic disorder.
      • Mania: elated, frenzied state; common in bipolar disorder.
    • Major depressive disorder (MDD):
      • Characterized by a severely disabling depressed mood. Not caused by specific medical conditions or drugs.
    • Bipolar disorder:
      • Alternating periods of depression and mania.
    • Symptoms of MDD: emotional, motivational, behavioural, cognitive, and physical. Examples include depressed mood, loss of interest, reduced activity/productivity, negative self-evaluation, thoughts of suicide, sleep/eating disturbances.
    • Explanations for MDD:
      • Genetics, brain activity and structure, and brain chemistry (e.g., reduced serotonin).
    • Explanations for Bipolar Disorder include genetics, neural function irregularities, stress, and life events.

    Anxiety Disorders

    • Anxiety disorders involve intense fear/nervousness disproportionate to the situation. Six types:
      • Generalized anxiety disorder
      • Social anxiety disorder
      • Phobias
      • Panic disorder
      • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
      • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Generalized anxiety disorder:
      • Persistent, free-floating worry affecting daily functioning.
      • Explanations involve cognitive behavioral theories (assumption of danger, intolerance of uncertainty) and neuroscientific theories (malfunctioning GABA system, emotional circuits).
    • Social anxiety disorder:
      • Intense fear of social embarrassment.
      • Often begins in childhood/adolescence, more prevalent in women and lower socio-economic groups.
    • Phobias:
      • Strong, irrational fears of objects/situations.
      • Commonly develop in childhood/adolescence, often involve avoidance behaviours.
    • Panic disorder:
      • Sudden, intense anxiety attacks.
      • Explanations involve brain circuitry, excess norepinephrine, and misinterpretation of physical sensations.
    • OCD:
      • Repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours (compulsions) to relieve anxiety.
      • Explanations involve learning that compulsive behaviour relieves distress and low serotonin activity.
    • PTSD:
      • Persistent anxiety/depression after a traumatic event.
      • Explanations involve biological factors (increased cortisol/norepinephrine, damaged brain structures), personality factors, and social support.

    Schizophrenia

    • Schizophrenia is a mental disorder featuring disorganized thoughts, detachment from reality, and hallucinations.
    • Most characteristic symptoms:
      • Hallucinations (altered perception) and delusions (unrealistic beliefs), disorganized behavior, loose associations/derailment
    • Types of symptoms:
      • Positive (pathological excess in behavior like delusions, disorganized thinking/speech, hallucinations, inappropriate affect)
      • Negative (pathological deficit in behavior like lack of speech/flat affect/loss of volition/social withdrawal)
      • Cognitive (impairment in cognitive function, e.g., problems with memory, executive functioning)
      • Psychomotor (abnormal movements, e.g., odd gestures)
    • Onset: late adolescence/early adulthood (later for women than men).
    • Prevalence: about 1% of the population.
    • Explanations: genetics, abnormal brain structure (smaller temporal/frontal lobes, larger ventricles), and biochemical abnormalities (excess dopamine).
    • Characterized by excessive thoughts, feelings, & behaviours related to somatic symptoms (physical symptoms). Individuals experience symptoms but don’t have a medical explanation.
    • Types: somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, psychological factors affecting other medical conditions, factitious disorder.
    • Criteria: one or more somatic symptoms, significant disruption of daily life, excessive health anxiety and time devoted to symptoms, concern lasting 6+ months.
    • Explanations often link these disorders to learned fears, misinterpretations of bodily sensations, and cultural perspectives.

    Dissociative Disorders

    • Dissociation is a separation of conscious awareness from thoughts, memories, bodily sensations, or feelings.
    • Types: dissociative amnesia, depersonalization/derealization disorder, and dissociative identity disorder (DID).
    • Explanations: repression, coping with abuse, learned avoidance of stressful experiences, and social influence.

    Personality Disorders

    • Personality disorders involve stable, inflexible, and maladaptive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
    • Clusters: dramatic/impulsive (e.g., antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic), anxiety/fearfulness (e.g., avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive), and odd/eccentric (e.g., paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal).
    • Antisocial personality disorder:
      • Lack of conscience/empathy, disregard for other's rights.
      • Explanations include modelling, operant conditioning, lower serotonin levels, and deficient frontal lobe functioning.
    • Borderline personality disorder:
      • Extreme mood swings, unstable self-image, impulsivity.
      • Explanations include biosocial factors.

    Therapy

    • Psychotherapy: interactive experience with a trained professional to understand/change behavior, thinking, relationships, and emotions.

    • Biological therapy: uses medications/procedures on the body to reduce symptoms (drug therapy, ECT, psychosurgery).

    • Drug therapy uses psychotropic drugs (e.g., anti-anxiety, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics).

    • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sends electric current through the brain to treat depression.

    • Psychosurgery involves removing or destroying brain tissue (least used).

    • Cognitive-behavioural therapies (CBT): Focus on problem thoughts and behaviors, employing behavioral skills and cognitive restructuring. Includes Ellis' Rational-Emotive Therapy, Beck's Cognitive Therapy, and second-wave CBTs.

    • Humanistic/existential therapies: Focus on self-acceptance/responsibility and include Rogers' Person-Centered Therapy and Gestalt Therapy.

    • Effectiveness of therapy: Research supports therapy's overall effectiveness, with particular therapies (e.g., behavioural, cognitive-behavioral) showing success for certain issues. Client and therapist variables directly impact treatment success.

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    Description

    Test your understanding of abnormal behavior as defined in psychology. This quiz covers key concepts such as the Four D’s of abnormality, critiques of diagnostics, and classifications in the DSM-V. Engage with statements and definitions to solidify your knowledge of psychological disorders.

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