Chapter 1
1. A group of emotional, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms that cause significant distress or significant problems is called
a(n)
a. mental disorder.
b. deviation.
c. stressor.
d. abnormal concept.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: factual
2. Abnormal psychology is
a. the scientific study of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders.
b. assertions about what might be abnormal emotional experience based on sociocultural norms.
c. a scientific study of how and why people become unique in ways that are potentially maladaptive.
d. focused on intrapsychic causes rather than biologic influences.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
3. Amanda has been severely depressed in the past year. She is constantly sad, almost to the point of numbness. She
ruminates constantly about what a failure she is and how nothing she does is ever right. She finds it hard to get out of bed
and get going. Which of these symptoms is an example of a cognitive symptom of Amanda's mental disorder?
a. constant sadness
b. feeling numb
c. ruminating on her failures
d. difficulty getting out of bed
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: application
4. Michael is experiencing a number of thoughts that are making it difficult for him to stay focused on his work. Although
he is still able to accomplish his assigned tasks, he is very upset by the difficulties he is having. He may be classified as
having a mental disorder on the basis of
a. the distress he is causing his coworkers.
b. feelings of rejection.
c. his own distress at his cognitive symptoms.
d. number of negative thoughts
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 1
,OTHER: TYPE: application
5. Dr. Elliot is teaching a course on different mental disorders. The course focuses on exploring scientific thought on
problematic feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders. The learning objectives include strategies
for evaluating patients who might have a mental disorder, understanding the causes behind mental disorders, and
prevention and treatment strategies for mental disorders. The title of Dr. Elliot's course is most likely
a. Abnormal Psychology.
b. Testing and Assessment.
c. Counseling Psychology.
d. Community Psychology.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: application
6. John has been reading articles posted on the web by people who say they suffer from mental disorders. He tells his
friend that he is engaging in the study of abnormal psychology. According to your text, what is missing from his
definition of abnormal psychology?
a. the fact that scientific study is involved
b. examining troublesome feelings associated with mental disorders
c. studying behavior that is considered abnormal
d. applying the techniques of psychology to abnormal behavior
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
7. According to your text, abnormal psychology is designed to evaluate, understand, ____, and prevent mental disorders
and help those who are ____.
a. predict; unable to function
b. categorize; in distress
c. categorize; unable to function
d. predict; in distress
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
8. Your textbook describes normal behavior as behaviors that
a. we see in all people at all times.
b. we observe in particular cultures.
c. characterize most people.
d. are legal in most countries.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 2
,9. Which criterion for determining whether an emotion, thought, or behavior is abnormal is discussed in the textbook?
a. deviance from the norm
b. presence of depression
c. existence of a biological mechanism
d. whether it tends to run in families
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
10. Deviance, adaptation difficulties, and personal distress are concepts used to describe
a. intellectual impairment.
b. students on probation from college.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. psychological adjustment.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
11. Which criterion is considered when determining whether a behavior is normal or abnormal?
a. ability to learn from mistakes
b. poor academic performance
c. experience of personal distress
d. outward appearance
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
12. Patterns of behavior that deviate from the norms of society would be called
a. prosocial behavior.
b. normal behavior.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. college behavior.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
13. Treva Throneberry vanished as a young woman and turned up in another town insisting that she was a high-school
student named Brianna Stewart. Her behavior would be considered abnormal because it
a. deviated from the norm.
b. caused distress for people around her.
c. showed an attempt to fit in.
d. involved a change in location.
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 3
, ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: application
14. John is diagnosed as having a mental disorder after he was found repeatedly cutting himself. In terms of the criteria for
abnormal behavior, cutting could be considered
a. deviant from the norm.
b. difficult to watch.
c. disturbing.
d. ritualistic.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: application
15. Suppose you are trying to determine how much physical activity is normal. A definition of abnormal levels of physical
activity based on the statistical approach would include
a. only extremely high levels of activity.
b. only extremely low levels of activity.
c. both extremely high and low levels of activity.
d. only average levels of activity.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
16. Which criterion is particularly attractive to researchers because it offers clear guidelines for distinguishing between
normal and abnormal behavior?
a. statistical deviance
b. cultural appropriateness
c. difficulty adapting
d. distress caused by symptoms
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
17. Statistical methods would be used to assess abnormality based on the criterion of
a. survival of the fittest.
b. experience of personal distress.
c. deviance from the norm.
d. difficulty adapting to life's demands.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 4
1. A group of emotional, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms that cause significant distress or significant problems is called
a(n)
a. mental disorder.
b. deviation.
c. stressor.
d. abnormal concept.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: factual
2. Abnormal psychology is
a. the scientific study of troublesome feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders.
b. assertions about what might be abnormal emotional experience based on sociocultural norms.
c. a scientific study of how and why people become unique in ways that are potentially maladaptive.
d. focused on intrapsychic causes rather than biologic influences.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
3. Amanda has been severely depressed in the past year. She is constantly sad, almost to the point of numbness. She
ruminates constantly about what a failure she is and how nothing she does is ever right. She finds it hard to get out of bed
and get going. Which of these symptoms is an example of a cognitive symptom of Amanda's mental disorder?
a. constant sadness
b. feeling numb
c. ruminating on her failures
d. difficulty getting out of bed
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: application
4. Michael is experiencing a number of thoughts that are making it difficult for him to stay focused on his work. Although
he is still able to accomplish his assigned tasks, he is very upset by the difficulties he is having. He may be classified as
having a mental disorder on the basis of
a. the distress he is causing his coworkers.
b. feelings of rejection.
c. his own distress at his cognitive symptoms.
d. number of negative thoughts
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 1
,OTHER: TYPE: application
5. Dr. Elliot is teaching a course on different mental disorders. The course focuses on exploring scientific thought on
problematic feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders. The learning objectives include strategies
for evaluating patients who might have a mental disorder, understanding the causes behind mental disorders, and
prevention and treatment strategies for mental disorders. The title of Dr. Elliot's course is most likely
a. Abnormal Psychology.
b. Testing and Assessment.
c. Counseling Psychology.
d. Community Psychology.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: application
6. John has been reading articles posted on the web by people who say they suffer from mental disorders. He tells his
friend that he is engaging in the study of abnormal psychology. According to your text, what is missing from his
definition of abnormal psychology?
a. the fact that scientific study is involved
b. examining troublesome feelings associated with mental disorders
c. studying behavior that is considered abnormal
d. applying the techniques of psychology to abnormal behavior
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
7. According to your text, abnormal psychology is designed to evaluate, understand, ____, and prevent mental disorders
and help those who are ____.
a. predict; unable to function
b. categorize; in distress
c. categorize; unable to function
d. predict; in distress
ANSWER: d
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
8. Your textbook describes normal behavior as behaviors that
a. we see in all people at all times.
b. we observe in particular cultures.
c. characterize most people.
d. are legal in most countries.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 2
,9. Which criterion for determining whether an emotion, thought, or behavior is abnormal is discussed in the textbook?
a. deviance from the norm
b. presence of depression
c. existence of a biological mechanism
d. whether it tends to run in families
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
10. Deviance, adaptation difficulties, and personal distress are concepts used to describe
a. intellectual impairment.
b. students on probation from college.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. psychological adjustment.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
11. Which criterion is considered when determining whether a behavior is normal or abnormal?
a. ability to learn from mistakes
b. poor academic performance
c. experience of personal distress
d. outward appearance
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: factual
12. Patterns of behavior that deviate from the norms of society would be called
a. prosocial behavior.
b. normal behavior.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. college behavior.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
13. Treva Throneberry vanished as a young woman and turned up in another town insisting that she was a high-school
student named Brianna Stewart. Her behavior would be considered abnormal because it
a. deviated from the norm.
b. caused distress for people around her.
c. showed an attempt to fit in.
d. involved a change in location.
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 3
, ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: application
14. John is diagnosed as having a mental disorder after he was found repeatedly cutting himself. In terms of the criteria for
abnormal behavior, cutting could be considered
a. deviant from the norm.
b. difficult to watch.
c. disturbing.
d. ritualistic.
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: application
15. Suppose you are trying to determine how much physical activity is normal. A definition of abnormal levels of physical
activity based on the statistical approach would include
a. only extremely high levels of activity.
b. only extremely low levels of activity.
c. both extremely high and low levels of activity.
d. only average levels of activity.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: easy
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
16. Which criterion is particularly attractive to researchers because it offers clear guidelines for distinguishing between
normal and abnormal behavior?
a. statistical deviance
b. cultural appropriateness
c. difficulty adapting
d. distress caused by symptoms
ANSWER: a
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
OTHER: TYPE: conceptual
17. Statistical methods would be used to assess abnormality based on the criterion of
a. survival of the fittest.
b. experience of personal distress.
c. deviance from the norm.
d. difficulty adapting to life's demands.
ANSWER: c
DIFFICULTY: moderate
REFERENCES: What is a Mental Disorder?
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 4
