Psychology: Abnormal Behavior Flashcards

A clinician evaluates whether a behavior deviates from cultural norms, causes distress, and impairs daily functioning. Which approach to defining abnormality is being used?

Answer: Deviance, distress, and dysfunction criteria

Abnormality is commonly defined by deviation from norms, personal distress, and dysfunction in daily life.

The DSM-5 is primarily used by clinicians to do which of the following?

Answer: Classify and diagnose mental disorders

The DSM-5 provides standardized criteria for classifying and diagnosing psychological disorders.

A person experiences a sudden, intense fear of dying along with a racing heart, sweating, and chest pain that peaks within minutes. This best describes a:

Answer: Panic attack

Panic attacks involve abrupt surges of intense fear with physical symptoms that peak quickly.

Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the regulation of mood and is targeted by SSRIs used to treat depression?

Answer: Serotonin

Low serotonin activity is linked to depression, and SSRIs increase serotonin availability.

A psychologist explains a client's depression as resulting from learned helplessness after repeated uncontrollable negative events. This explanation reflects which perspective?

Answer: Behavioral/cognitive perspective

Learned helplessness is a behavioral-cognitive concept developed by Martin Seligman.

Which disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression?

Answer: Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder involves cycling between manic and depressive states.

A young man hears voices that others cannot hear and believes the government is monitoring his thoughts. These symptoms are examples of:

Answer: Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Hallucinations and delusions are positive symptoms because they add abnormal experiences.