Edition Test Bank | Full Chapters 1–17 by Sue –
Updated 2025 Version with Real Exam Questions
and Verified Answers Understanding Abnormal
Behavior 10th
Chapter 1: Abnormal Behavior
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Which statement about abnormal psychology is accurate?
Abnormal psychology seeks to describe, explain, predict, and modify unusual behaviors.
Although abnormal psychology has made several gains in the past 20 years, it is not yet a
scientific field of study.
The subject matter of abnormal psychology is restricted to extremely bizarre behavior.
Most diagnoses of abnormality are based on two or three basic behavioral factors.
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
2. Psychopathology, or abnormal behavior, results primarily from .
genetic factors
environmental factors
sociocultural factors
an interaction of many factors
ANS: D REF: IntroductionOBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
3. Dr. Thompson collects information in order to describe and draw inferences about an individual's
psychological disorder. Dr. Thompson is engaged in .
therapy
predicting dangerousness
psychodiagnosis
research
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Dr. Kohn is a psychoanalyst, Dr. Edwards is a humanistic therapist, Dr. Peterson is a cognitive
behavioral therapist, and Dr. James is a Gestalt therapist. Each of them would likely have a different
for a client's abnormality.
time of onset
explanation
diagnosis
prognosis
ANS: B REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
, 5. A psychologist says, “Juan's abnormal behavior is likely due to a combination of biology and
inadequate interpersonal skills.” The psychologist is .
predicting the future symptoms of Juan
giving Juan a psychodiagnosis
offering an explanation for Juan's problem
describing how to control Juan's symptoms
ANS: C
OBJ: 1
REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Applied
Which statement regarding the prediction of abnormal behavior is accurate?
Even experienced professionals tend to overpredict future violence.
Psychologists are not interested in predicting clients' future behavior.
Prediction is unrelated to understanding the cause of abnormality.
Psychologists tend to underpredict future violence.
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Conceptual
One of Seung-Hui Cho's professors reported Cho's frightening behavior to many campus authorities.
What reason did those authorities give her to explain why they could do nothing?
Cho's therapist did not feel he posed a danger to others.
There was no space in any of the local mental health facilities to house him.
Cho did not make any overt threats against anyone.
When compared with that of his peer group, Cho's behavior was not considered odd.
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
8. When psychologists talk about modifying abnormal behavior, they mean they are .
attempting to understand the underlying cause of that behavior
restricting the freedom of dangerous clients
attempting to anticipate the future behaviors of clients
using therapy to improve client behavior
ANS: D REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Which of the following defines therapy most accurately?
A program of systematic intervention designed to alter behavior, emotion, or thought
The scientific study of abnormal behavior.
A system of observing abnormal behavior in an attempt to classify it
The application of a theoretical model to explain the cause of abnormal behavior
ANS: A REF: 1 OBJ: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Factual
A psychologist develops several activities for clients aimed at helping them become more
self-disciplined and feel more confident about trying new behaviors. This example illustrates .
how epidemiological work is done in the field
how therapy may be seen as an attempt to modify behavior
,the function of providing an explanation for abnormal behavior
the essential need for accurate psychodiagnosis
, ANS: B
OBJ: 1
REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Applied
11. Clinical psychologists usually have degrees, unlike psychiatrists, who have degrees.
bachelor's (B.S.); medical (M.D.)
medical (M.D.); doctorate (Ph.D.)
doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D); medical (M.D.)
master's (M.S.); doctorate (Ph.D.)
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Harold is a mental health professional who has a medical degree and prescribes antidepressants and
antipsychotic medication for his patients. After graduating from medical school, he completed a
three-year residency in his field. We can guess that Harold is a _.
social worker
psychiatrist
clinical psychologist
psychoanalyst
ANS: B REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Linda, Jayne, and Sheryl all are called “doctors.” All are mental health professionals. However, Linda
has a Psy.D., Jayne has an M.D., and Sheryl has a D.S.W. We can predict that _.
Sheryl is a psychiatrist
Linda is a social worker
Linda is a clinical psychologist
Jayne is a clinical psychologist
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Psychiatrists must have an M.D.; clinical psychologists must have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. Psychoanalysts
must have .
a master's (M.S.) degree
an M.D
only a bachelor's (B.S.) degree
their own intensive personal analysis from an experienced analyst
ANS: D REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Johanna is an M.D. who received intensive training in the ideas of Sigmund Freud. She also went
through her own psychoanalysis as part of this training. We can guess that Johanna is a .
psychoanalyst
marriage and family counselor
psychiatric social worker
behaviorally oriented counseling psychologist
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Updated 2025 Version with Real Exam Questions
and Verified Answers Understanding Abnormal
Behavior 10th
Chapter 1: Abnormal Behavior
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Which statement about abnormal psychology is accurate?
Abnormal psychology seeks to describe, explain, predict, and modify unusual behaviors.
Although abnormal psychology has made several gains in the past 20 years, it is not yet a
scientific field of study.
The subject matter of abnormal psychology is restricted to extremely bizarre behavior.
Most diagnoses of abnormality are based on two or three basic behavioral factors.
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
2. Psychopathology, or abnormal behavior, results primarily from .
genetic factors
environmental factors
sociocultural factors
an interaction of many factors
ANS: D REF: IntroductionOBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
3. Dr. Thompson collects information in order to describe and draw inferences about an individual's
psychological disorder. Dr. Thompson is engaged in .
therapy
predicting dangerousness
psychodiagnosis
research
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Dr. Kohn is a psychoanalyst, Dr. Edwards is a humanistic therapist, Dr. Peterson is a cognitive
behavioral therapist, and Dr. James is a Gestalt therapist. Each of them would likely have a different
for a client's abnormality.
time of onset
explanation
diagnosis
prognosis
ANS: B REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
, 5. A psychologist says, “Juan's abnormal behavior is likely due to a combination of biology and
inadequate interpersonal skills.” The psychologist is .
predicting the future symptoms of Juan
giving Juan a psychodiagnosis
offering an explanation for Juan's problem
describing how to control Juan's symptoms
ANS: C
OBJ: 1
REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Applied
Which statement regarding the prediction of abnormal behavior is accurate?
Even experienced professionals tend to overpredict future violence.
Psychologists are not interested in predicting clients' future behavior.
Prediction is unrelated to understanding the cause of abnormality.
Psychologists tend to underpredict future violence.
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Conceptual
One of Seung-Hui Cho's professors reported Cho's frightening behavior to many campus authorities.
What reason did those authorities give her to explain why they could do nothing?
Cho's therapist did not feel he posed a danger to others.
There was no space in any of the local mental health facilities to house him.
Cho did not make any overt threats against anyone.
When compared with that of his peer group, Cho's behavior was not considered odd.
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
8. When psychologists talk about modifying abnormal behavior, they mean they are .
attempting to understand the underlying cause of that behavior
restricting the freedom of dangerous clients
attempting to anticipate the future behaviors of clients
using therapy to improve client behavior
ANS: D REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Which of the following defines therapy most accurately?
A program of systematic intervention designed to alter behavior, emotion, or thought
The scientific study of abnormal behavior.
A system of observing abnormal behavior in an attempt to classify it
The application of a theoretical model to explain the cause of abnormal behavior
ANS: A REF: 1 OBJ: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Factual
A psychologist develops several activities for clients aimed at helping them become more
self-disciplined and feel more confident about trying new behaviors. This example illustrates .
how epidemiological work is done in the field
how therapy may be seen as an attempt to modify behavior
,the function of providing an explanation for abnormal behavior
the essential need for accurate psychodiagnosis
, ANS: B
OBJ: 1
REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
MSC: Applied
11. Clinical psychologists usually have degrees, unlike psychiatrists, who have degrees.
bachelor's (B.S.); medical (M.D.)
medical (M.D.); doctorate (Ph.D.)
doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D); medical (M.D.)
master's (M.S.); doctorate (Ph.D.)
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Harold is a mental health professional who has a medical degree and prescribes antidepressants and
antipsychotic medication for his patients. After graduating from medical school, he completed a
three-year residency in his field. We can guess that Harold is a _.
social worker
psychiatrist
clinical psychologist
psychoanalyst
ANS: B REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Linda, Jayne, and Sheryl all are called “doctors.” All are mental health professionals. However, Linda
has a Psy.D., Jayne has an M.D., and Sheryl has a D.S.W. We can predict that _.
Sheryl is a psychiatrist
Linda is a social worker
Linda is a clinical psychologist
Jayne is a clinical psychologist
ANS: C REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
Psychiatrists must have an M.D.; clinical psychologists must have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. Psychoanalysts
must have .
a master's (M.S.) degree
an M.D
only a bachelor's (B.S.) degree
their own intensive personal analysis from an experienced analyst
ANS: D REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Factual
Johanna is an M.D. who received intensive training in the ideas of Sigmund Freud. She also went
through her own psychoanalysis as part of this training. We can guess that Johanna is a .
psychoanalyst
marriage and family counselor
psychiatric social worker
behaviorally oriented counseling psychologist
ANS: A REF: The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology
OBJ: 1 MSC: Applied
