Psychology on Abnormal Behavior

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Questions and Answers

What is the difference between incidence and prevalence in the context of disease?

Incidence measures the number of new cases, while prevalence includes all cases, both new and old. (correct)

Incidence reflects the severity of a disease, while prevalence measures the number of cases.

Incidence and prevalence are the same concept, measuring the number of all disease cases.

Prevalence measures the number of new cases, while incidence includes all cases, both new and old.

Which of the following is NOT a common symptom associated with social anxiety disorder?

Fear of choking (correct)

Fear of being observed by others

Fear of negative evaluation

Fear of performing in front of others

What does the term 'etiology' refer to in the context of mental disorders?

The coexistence of two or more mental disorders.

The process of identifying a specific mental disorder.

The prediction of how a mental disorder will progress.

The study of the causes of mental disorders. (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a key model explaining mental disorders mentioned in the text?

Socioeconomic model (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated lifetime prevalence of specific phobia in the United States?

12.5% (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is comorbidity in the context of medical conditions?

The presence of two or more illnesses in an individual. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a commonly used medication for treating anxiety disorders?

SSRIs (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, what is the estimated lifetime prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in 17-18 year olds in the United States?

6.9% (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Excessive worry that persists for at least six months. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which SSRIs work to reduce anxiety symptoms?

Blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the brain (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common challenge associated with comorbidity?

Increased complexity and duration of treatment required. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a strength of SSRIs as a treatment for anxiety disorders?

Rapid onset of action (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a risk factor for developing mental health issues mentioned in the text?

Substance abuse or exposure to violence. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as outlined in the text?

Intense, sudden fear episodes known as panic attacks. (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, what is the estimated prevalence of social anxiety disorder among adults in the United States?

7.1% (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between a specific phobia and social anxiety disorder?

Specific phobias involve a fear of specific objects or situations, while social anxiety disorder involves a fear of social situations. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following criteria for defining abnormality is most closely related to the concept of causing harm to oneself or others?

Maladaptiveness (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the 'abnormality as deviation from ideal mental health' perspective, which of the following is NOT a characteristic of ideal mental health?

Cognitive flexibility (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a limitation of the 'statistical infrequency' approach to defining abnormality?

It overlooks the possibility of beneficial, statistically infrequent behaviors. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a criticism of the 'abnormality as inadequate functioning' approach?

It doesn't consider the possibility of behavior being both harmful and helpful. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a limitation of the medical model of abnormality?

It emphasizes the importance of subjective experiences and social factors. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'maladaptiveness' in the context of abnormal behavior?

Behavior that interferes with an individual's ability to function effectively in daily life. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which of the following statements about the cultural influence on abnormality is TRUE?

The definition of abnormality can vary significantly across cultures and time periods. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Abnormal Behavior

Abnormality is defined as behavior falling outside societal norms, which can vary across cultures and time.
Abnormality can be harmful or even helpful (like extreme sports)
Seven criteria for establishing abnormality (Rosenhan and Seligman, 1989): suffering, maladaptiveness, unconventional behavior, loss of control, irrationality, observer discomfort, and violation of moral standards.
Abnormal behavior can sometimes be adaptive, even if not typical.(ex: high intelligence)
In the 1950s, humanist psychologists emphasized positive mental health, not just the absence of illness.
Jahoda (1958) outlined six traits of ideal mental health: self-awareness, realistic self-esteem, self-control, accurate perception of the world, healthy relationships, and independence/productivity.

Defining Abnormality as Statistical Infrequency

A behavior or trait is considered abnormal if it's very rare, statistically infrequent.
A person deviating from the norm, (e.g., 95% of the population) is considered outside the "normal" range.
Statistical norms can change and sometimes statistically infrequent behavior can be positive (e.g., high IQ).

The Medical Model of Abnormality

Disorders are studied by examining their symptoms.
Doctors collaborate to understand disorders over time.
Symptoms are used to guess, rather than definitively prove, causality of disorders.
This model allows for flexibility in diagnosis, regardless of cause assumptions.

Clinical and Patient Bias

Clinicians' background and beliefs can influence diagnosis and treatment (Langweiler & Linden, 1993).
Biases in reporting can affect how often disorders are outwardly presented (e.g., a specific phobia)
Clinician variables (abilities, such as empathy and self-reflection).
Cognitive biases (such as confirmation bias) influence clinical assessments.
Patient variables (e.g., cultural differences in symptom expression or willingness to share issues) affect diagnosis.

Reporting Bias

People may be less likely to seek help for mental health issues if they believe they don't have a problem.
Symptoms, or perceived symptoms, may or may not be reported to a health practitioner.
Cultural differences in the perception of help-seeking behaviors can impact how often issues are reported.
Reporting bias can make a particular mental illness or disorder seem less common than it actually is.

Somatization

Mental health issues are sometimes expressed as physical symptoms.
Cultural differences influence how medical professionals perceive and treat mental health issues (Kleinman, 1982).
This can cause a particular disorder or mental illness to seem less common than it actually is.

Vocabulary (Abnormal Psychology)

Prevalence: the proportion of a population with a condition at a specific time (includes new and existing cases).
Incidence: the number of new cases of a condition within a specific population over a specific period.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying a disease or mental disorder based on symptoms and assessment methods
Classifies disorder symptoms into groups
Mental health professionals use standardized diagnostic systems (e.g DSM-5).

Etiology

Studying the causes of mental disorders, considering internal (e.g., genetics), environmental(e.g. experiences), and biopsychosocial factors.

Comorbidity

Presence of two or more disorders simultaneously, often increasing the difficulty of treatment.
Significantly impacts medical expenditures (e.g., 80% of Medicare spending).

Prognosis

A prediction about the likely outcome or course of a disease.
Helps in treatment planning and patient support.

Risk Factors

Aspects of a person's life that may increase the chances of experiencing mental health issues.

Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

Characterized by excessive worry, difficulty controlling worry, and related symptoms for 6 months or more.
Distress and impairment can result if left untreated.

Specific Phobia

Marked fear of an object or situation.
The feared object or situation evokes immediate fear or anxiety.
Phobias cause sufferers to avoid certain situations or objects due to anxiety or distress.
The feared object or situation causes significant anxiety or distress (out of proportion to the actual threat posed).

Marked fear of social situations where scrutiny by others is possible.
Social interactions, being observed, or performing in public commonly trigger fear or distress.
The individual fears negative evaluation by others during social situations.
Avoidances or endures anxious encounters intensely.

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Biological treatments: primarily involve medications like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).
Psychological Treatments: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims to manage thoughts and behaviors associated with anxiety.

Benzodiazepines

These medications make the nervous system less active/calm.
They increase the neurotransmitter GABA.
Commonly classified as controlled substances.
Abrupt cessation can be dangerous.

Beta-blockers

These medications directly target symptoms, such as physical symptoms, helping with quick symptom relief.
Effective when physical symptoms are dominant, but not for the underlying causes of anxiety.

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Description

Explore the complexities of abnormal behavior in this psychology quiz. Learn about the criteria for defining abnormality, the cultural perceptions, and the traits of ideal mental health. Test your understanding of key concepts from the field of psychology.