Chapter 1
Abnormal Psychology: Historical and Modern
Perspectives
Multiple Choice:
1) In psychology, if the term “abnormal” means “away from normal,” what problem
does this definition present when categorizing someone as being “abnormal”?
A) It does not measure standard deviations.
B) It does not assume that deviation on both sides of average is negative.
C) It does not assume abnormality is negative.
D) It does not allow for positive deviations.
ANSWER: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
2) The term “deviance” implies
A) looking different.
B) behaving differently.
C) having a mental illness.
D) engaging in criminal wrongdoing.
ANSWER: B
, Diff: 2 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
3) Gerry is a night watchman who has worked at the same company for 25 years. He is
described as very shy and withdrawn around others. While this behaviour is not
problematic at work, his relatives find him “weird” and tend to shun him at family
gatherings. Despite encouragement by his immediate family to mingle, Gerry hardly speaks
to others at these events. According to the “goodness-of-fit” concept, Gerry’s behaviour
would
A) not be viewed as a problem at family gatherings.
B) not be viewed as a problem at work but would be viewed as a problem at family
gatherings.
C) not be viewed as a problem at all.
D) only be viewed as a problem if it caused difficulty for his immediate family.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Applied
4) Which of the following terms is defined as the shared behavioural patterns and lifestyles
that differentiate one group of people from another?
A) race
B) ethnicity
C) culture
D) group expectations
ANSWER: C
, Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
5) Which statement below is TRUE of the original definition of a culture-bound illness?
A) It is less severe than other forms of mental illness.
B) The abnormal behaviour is specific to a particular location or group.
C) It is usually found only in children.
D) The behaviour usually requires hospitalization in the home culture.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
6) The case of Vincent Li as described in your text highlights the
A) shift from weird behaviour to committing a violent crime.
B) stereotyping of a person with mental illness.
C) importance of early intervention in culture-bound illnesses.
D) influence of the media on defining abnormal behaviour.
ANSWER: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 6
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
, 7) Jon is a freshman at a local university. He gets up at the same time each day and follows
the same pattern: showering and shaving, dressing, and checking his backpack for required
books, notebooks, and pens. Early in the first semester, this behaviour took approximately
30 minutes. As the semester progressed, Jon spent more and more time checking and
rechecking his backpack to make sure he had everything he needed. Toward the end of the
semester, Jon was always late for his first class because of his “thoroughness.” A
psychologist might conclude that Jon’s behaviour is
A) typical for a conscientious student.
B) dysfunctional even if not distressful.
C) not abnormal because it does not cause problems for others.
D) normal according to the “goodness-of-fit” model.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 7-8
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Applied
8) According to your text, abnormal behaviour is defined as behaviour that is inconsistent
with the individual’s developmental, cultural, and societal norms, creates emotional
distress, or
A) is seen by others as deviant.
B) interferes with daily functioning.
C) is “culturally bound.”
D) is aligned with the “goodness-of-fit” model.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 8
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
Abnormal Psychology: Historical and Modern
Perspectives
Multiple Choice:
1) In psychology, if the term “abnormal” means “away from normal,” what problem
does this definition present when categorizing someone as being “abnormal”?
A) It does not measure standard deviations.
B) It does not assume that deviation on both sides of average is negative.
C) It does not assume abnormality is negative.
D) It does not allow for positive deviations.
ANSWER: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
2) The term “deviance” implies
A) looking different.
B) behaving differently.
C) having a mental illness.
D) engaging in criminal wrongdoing.
ANSWER: B
, Diff: 2 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
3) Gerry is a night watchman who has worked at the same company for 25 years. He is
described as very shy and withdrawn around others. While this behaviour is not
problematic at work, his relatives find him “weird” and tend to shun him at family
gatherings. Despite encouragement by his immediate family to mingle, Gerry hardly speaks
to others at these events. According to the “goodness-of-fit” concept, Gerry’s behaviour
would
A) not be viewed as a problem at family gatherings.
B) not be viewed as a problem at work but would be viewed as a problem at family
gatherings.
C) not be viewed as a problem at all.
D) only be viewed as a problem if it caused difficulty for his immediate family.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Applied
4) Which of the following terms is defined as the shared behavioural patterns and lifestyles
that differentiate one group of people from another?
A) race
B) ethnicity
C) culture
D) group expectations
ANSWER: C
, Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Conceptual
5) Which statement below is TRUE of the original definition of a culture-bound illness?
A) It is less severe than other forms of mental illness.
B) The abnormal behaviour is specific to a particular location or group.
C) It is usually found only in children.
D) The behaviour usually requires hospitalization in the home culture.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
6) The case of Vincent Li as described in your text highlights the
A) shift from weird behaviour to committing a violent crime.
B) stereotyping of a person with mental illness.
C) importance of early intervention in culture-bound illnesses.
D) influence of the media on defining abnormal behaviour.
ANSWER: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 6
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
, 7) Jon is a freshman at a local university. He gets up at the same time each day and follows
the same pattern: showering and shaving, dressing, and checking his backpack for required
books, notebooks, and pens. Early in the first semester, this behaviour took approximately
30 minutes. As the semester progressed, Jon spent more and more time checking and
rechecking his backpack to make sure he had everything he needed. Toward the end of the
semester, Jon was always late for his first class because of his “thoroughness.” A
psychologist might conclude that Jon’s behaviour is
A) typical for a conscientious student.
B) dysfunctional even if not distressful.
C) not abnormal because it does not cause problems for others.
D) normal according to the “goodness-of-fit” model.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 7-8
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Applied
8) According to your text, abnormal behaviour is defined as behaviour that is inconsistent
with the individual’s developmental, cultural, and societal norms, creates emotional
distress, or
A) is seen by others as deviant.
B) interferes with daily functioning.
C) is “culturally bound.”
D) is aligned with the “goodness-of-fit” model.
ANSWER: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 8
Topic: Normal vs. Abnormal Behaviour
Skill: Factual
