Psychology Course: Antisocial Personality Disorder

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary characteristic of antisocial personality disorder?

High levels of empathy and remorse

Excessive anxiety in social situations

Impulsive and aggressive behavior (correct)

Strong adherence to social norms

At what age must symptoms of antisocial personality disorder be present for a diagnosis?

Before age 10

Before age 18

Before age 15 (correct)

At any age

Which of the following is NOT a typical behavior associated with antisocial personality disorder?

Truancy

Empathy towards others (correct)

Lying

Theft

Which factor may contribute to the development of antisocial behavior?

Genetic influences combined with child abuse Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes someone who is antisocial but not criminal from someone who is criminal?

They do not engage in any illegal activities Signup and view all the answers

What historical view predominated before the medical model regarding mental illness?

Individuals with mental illness were believed to be possessed by demons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the behavioral perspective on psychological disorders?

Learned behaviors through environmental interactions. Signup and view all the answers

How did the medical model of mental illness change perceptions in society?

It fostered greater compassion for individuals suffering from mental illness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main premise of the vulnerability/stress model?

All individuals are at some degree of vulnerability to psychological disorders. Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective focuses particularly on the role of self-actualization in mental health?

Humanistic Signup and view all the answers

Sigmund Freud's theories are most closely associated with which psychological perspective?

Psychodynamic Signup and view all the answers

Which disorder was identified as being associated with syphilis leading to mental deterioration?

General paresis Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive perspectives on psychological disorders emphasize the importance of which aspect?

Identifying and restructuring maladaptive thought patterns. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a psychological disorder?

A syndrome indicating clinical disturbances in cognition, emotion, or behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which is NOT one of the three D's of psychological disorders?

Discomfort Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as contributing to individual vulnerability to psychological disorders?

Genetic heritage Signup and view all the answers

How does the DSM-5 categorize psychological disorders?

Combines both categorical and dimensional systems. Signup and view all the answers

Rosenhan's study emphasizes the challenges in identifying what?

The distinction between normal and abnormal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological disorder is characterized by excessive fear of a specific object or situation?

Phobic Disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Chronic anxiety not tied to specific threats. Signup and view all the answers

What common stereotype regarding psychological disorders is incorrect?

People with psychological disorders are often violent. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following disorders is NOT classified as an anxiety disorder?

Bipolar Disorder Signup and view all the answers

What impact do labels for psychological disorders have on individuals?

They can lead to social stigmatization. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding anxiety disorders?

Women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes panic disorder?

A series of spontaneous and unexpected panic attacks. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes symptoms of disorders in some cultures?

Somatic symptoms may be prioritized over psychological ones. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common outcome of labeling in mental health?

Negative changes in how individuals are treated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of individuals with histrionic personality traits?

Overly dramatic and emotional Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes dissociative fugue?

Total loss of memory about one's life and identity Signup and view all the answers

What symptom is NOT typically associated with schizophrenia?

Sudden bursts of energy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors may contribute to the development of Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D.)?

Excessive stress experienced during childhood Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive factor is commonly associated with individuals who seek medical help frequently?

Excessive focus on internal sensations Signup and view all the answers

Which type of schizophrenia is associated with a gradual onset and chronic prognosis?

Chronic schizophrenia Signup and view all the answers

In the context of childhood trauma and D.I.D., what is a psychodynamic perspective?

Deep trauma leading to the fragmentation of identity Signup and view all the answers

How does the dopamine hypothesis relate to schizophrenia?

More dopamine receptors may be present in affected individuals Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive distortion might lead individuals to catastrophize bodily complaints?

Faulty standards of good health Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic symptom of schizophrenia related to emotional response?

Constant inappropriate laughter Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the sick role can contribute to a person's behavior in seeking medical attention?

Rewarding nature of being ill Signup and view all the answers

What potential issue does excessive stress have in relation to D.I.D. diagnosis?

It can lead to intentional fake symptoms Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the prevalence of schizophrenia is accurate?

Roughly 1% to 1.5% of the population is affected Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Bipolar Disorder?

Alternating between manic and depressive episodes Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is noted as particularly important in mood regulation?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What age range is associated with the most common onset of Bipolar Disorder?

20 to 29 Signup and view all the answers

What is double depression?

Having persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder at the same time Signup and view all the answers

What typically precedes episodes of Major Depressive Disorder?

Stressful life events Signup and view all the answers

How does the social cognitive perspective explain depression?

It highlights the role of negative thought patterns Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of the Cycle of Depression?

Increased positive reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Which group is typically less likely to seek help for depression?

Men Signup and view all the answers

What defines Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder?

Loss of physical function without apparent organic basis Signup and view all the answers

In the context of learned helplessness, what does the state entail?

Feeling of powerlessness and passive resignation Signup and view all the answers

Individuals with depression often have which type of explanatory style?

Stable, global, and internal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about somatic symptom disorders is accurate?

They involve genuine physical ailments unexplained by medical conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misinterpretation by those with hypochondriasis?

They excessively interpret normal bodily functions as indicators of illness Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated prevalence of at least one episode of Major Depressive Disorder in the population?

7% Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Assessing Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders are assessed through observing unusual behavior, potential danger, and atypical presentations.
Initial evaluation involves a thorough history, criteria for abnormal behavior, societal stereotypes, classification of disorders, and prevalence data.

Historical Perspectives (Medical Model)

Early models viewed mental illness as demonic possession or divine punishment.
Treatments included torture, confinement, and even execution.
Trephination, a surgical procedure, was an early attempt to treat mental illness.
Medieval diagnoses often used physical examinations like "sink or float" tests.
The medical model gradually gained traction, promoting compassion and recognizing mental illnesses as diseases. This contrasted with the 18th-century view of demonic possession.

Early Biological Views

Hippocrates (5th century BC) proposed mental illnesses resembled physical disorders, attributing them to bodily fluids (humors).
By the late 1800s, medical diagnoses began extending to mental disorders.
General paresis, a mental deterioration condition, was linked to syphilis.

Psychological Perspectives

Psychodynamic (psychoanalysis)
Behavioral
Cognitive
Humanistic
Biological

Psychodynamic Perspective

Sigmund Freud linked psychological disorders to unresolved childhood conflicts, triggering anxiety and defense mechanisms.
Neuroses were viewed as extreme defense mechanisms, leading to specific disorders like phobias and depression.

Behavioral Perspective

Psychological disorders are learned responses, resulting from classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
This perspective emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior.

Cognitive Perspective

Maladaptive thought patterns contribute to certain disorders.
Cognitive distortions are identified to help establish healthier thought patterns.
This approach focuses on changing negative or self-defeating thought patterns.

Humanistic Perspective

Disorders result from hindered self-actualization and the search for meaning.
Conditions of worth can distort self-perception and lead to a negative self-image.

Biological Perspective

Genetics
Neurotransmitters
Health
Brain abnormalities

Vulnerability/Stress Model

Everyone possesses a degree of vulnerability.
Vulnerability stems from biological factors, personality (e.g., low self-esteem), and environment (e.g., poverty, significant loss, war).
Stressors trigger disorders in vulnerable individuals.

Defining Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders involve clinically significant disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.
Maladaptive behaviors disrupt everyday functioning (social, work, and daily activities).

3 D's of Psychological Disorders

Deviance: Behaviors that differ from societal norms, recognizing that norms are culturally and historically relative.
Dysfunctional: Behaviors significantly interfering with daily functioning and relationships.
Distressing: Subjective suffering or distress experienced by individuals. Many disorders comprise a mix of these factors.
Diagnoses can involve value judgements alongside scientific criteria.
Mental disorders and their diagnoses are influenced by cultural values, societal trends, and political forces.

Stereotypes of Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders are not inherently incurable.
People with psychological disorders are not inherently violent or dangerous, though they may be victims of violence, instead.
The behaviors of people with disorders may not appear substantially different than those of "healthy" individuals.

Classification of Disorders

The DSM-5 is a system for classifying disorders with both categorical and dimensional elements. This allows a more nuanced approach to diagnosis.

Labelling Psychological Disorders

Labels, while helpful for communication and treatment, can be arbitrary and reflect value judgments.
Labeling can stigmatize and negatively influence treatment and perceptions of mental illness.
The Rosenhan study highlights this potential bias in the diagnosis process.

Legal Considerations

Legal judgments about mental state can be complex in criminal cases, e.g., competency assessment, legal consequences of mental illness.
Mental health considerations often arise from crime (e.g., insanity plea).

Prevalence of Disorders

Diagnoses and numbers vary across studies.
Increased awareness, refinement of diagnostic criteria, and recognition of drug-related disorders likely contribute to differing prevalence figures.
Anxiety, substance misuse, and mood disorders are common.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a normal state, but disorders involve excessive apprehension, not tied to a specific threat.
Generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder are examples.
Women are affected more frequently than men.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Characterized by chronic, high levels of anxiety without a clear trigger.
Individuals worry excessively about past mistakes and future uncertainties.
Symptoms such as trembling, tenseness, and physical distress are common.

Phobic Disorders

Anxiety is focused on specific objects or situations.
Marked by persistent and irrational fear of objects or situations that pose no actual danger.
Fears significantly disrupt a person's daily life.

Panic Disorders

Involves recurrent, unexpected attacks of overwhelming anxiety.
Panic attacks involve fear, heart palpitations, and other physical symptoms.
A heightened risk of severe anxiety disorders exists among smokers.

Mood Disorders

Two central types are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

A widespread mood disorder.
Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men.
Biological and cultural factors contribute to the discrepancy.
Major depressive episodes average 5 months but not less than 2 weeks.
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is a chronic, less severe form.
Lifetime prevalence is about 7%.

Bipolar Disorder

Alternates between periods of mania and depression.
Mania is characterized by significantly elevated mood, energy, and impulsivity.
Bipolar disorder has a lifetime prevalence of around 1%.

Etiology of Mood Disorders

Biological and psychological factors contribute to the development of mood disorders.
Genetic vulnerability plays a role, with a higher risk in identical than fraternal twins.
Social cognitive factors, including negative thinking patterns and learned helplessness, also influence the development of mood disorders.

Biological Factors in Mood Disorders

Genetic factors and neurotransmitter abnormalities are implicated.
Lower levels of serotonin are associated with depression.
Norepinephrine is implicated in both depression and mania.
Lifestyle factors like smoking and diet correlate with mood.

Negative thought patterns (cognitive triad) and learned helplessness contribute to depression.
Rumination is a contributing factor.
Individuals with depression often display a negative explanatory style which may lead to self-blame and a sense of helplessness.

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Somatic symptom disorders feature physical symptoms with no clear physical cause.
Individuals might not be fabricating symptoms but find it difficult to separate genuine from imagined physiological reactions.
Individuals may gain attention and rewards or avoid stress.
Conversion disorder involves loss of function without an organic cause.
Hypochondriac individuals are overly anxious about developing a physical illness.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, or identity.
Dissociative amnesia, fugue, and identity disorder are examples.

Dissociative Amnesia

Significant memory loss for important personal information exceeding ordinary forgetting.
Often triggered by traumatic events.

Dissociative Fugue

Loss of memory for one's entire life and identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Coexistence of more than one personality within an individual.
Each personality may have distinct characteristics, like gender, age, etc.

Schizophrenia

A disorder characterized by disturbed perceptions, disorganized thinking, and diminished/inappropriate emotions.
Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, irrational thoughts, hallucinations, and disturbed emotions.
Schizophrenia typically begins during adolescence or early adulthood.

Schizophrenia (Causes and Outcomes)

Genetic vulnerabilities and structural brain abnormalities appear to be implicated, particularly enlarged ventricles and irregular information transmission.
Dopamine, glutamate, and other neurotransmitters, as well as neurodevelopmental factors, could also contribute.
Environmental factors like poverty and expressed emotion from relatives may also influence outcomes.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of inflexible traits leading to distress or impairment.
Three clusters (anxious/fearful, odd/eccentric, and dramatic/impulsive).

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Marked by impulsive, callous, aggressive, and irresponsible behavior.
More common in men, affecting approximately 3-4% of the population.
Symptoms generally emerge before age 15.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts related to antisocial personality disorder and its psychological perspectives. It covers diagnosis criteria, contributing factors, and historical views of mental illness. Assess your understanding of various psychological theories and models as they relate to this disorder.