PSYC 102 WEEK 9 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED
A++
How much of the variability in BPD is thought to be due to genetic factors?
85%
Describe what a clinical disorder is NOT
1. Disorder does not equal statistically unusual
-Many characteristics are unusual, though valued by society
2. Disorder does not equal culturally unusual
3. Disorder does not equal causing ones distress
-E.g., psychopaths do not find their behavior distressing
-E.g., people can experience distress from extreme events (house burning down), which
does not mean they are suffering from a mental disorder
What is the APA definition of a clinical disorder?
a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation or
behavior that is usually associated with significant distress or disability in social,
occupational, or other important activities
What are popular misconceptions about having a psychological disorder?
,1. Psychological disorders lead to bizarre behaviors
2. Disorders are enduring (symptoms are constantly being suffered)
3. Disorders have a single cause
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that psychological disorders
lead to bizarre behaviors
In fact, it is not easy to distinguish people with a disorder from those without
On being sane in insane places (Rosenhan): researcher admitted themselves into a
mental institution (by feigning schizophrenic symptoms) , then acted sane within the
institution, testing if anyone would detect that they were sane
A: no one ever figured out they were sane
Discharged with schizophrenia symptoms in remission
Describe the experience as dehumanizing (average contact time was 6 mins a day)
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that psychological disorders
are enduring
22 % of schizophrenic patients had 1 psychotic episode in their entire life
35% of patients had several impairments, but no or minimal impairment
,8% impairment after first episode with subsequent exacerbation and no return to
normality
35% impairment increasing with each of several episodes and no return to normality
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that disorders have a single
cause
Both and genes and environment play a role
What is the stress model of psychological disorders?
Diathesis stress model of psychological disorders: manifestation of a disorder is a
function of...
1. Diathesis: inherited susceptibility
2. Stress: environmental triggers or events
E.g., child maltreatment doubles the risk for depression and anxiety
Describe Rosenhan's psychiatric hospital study
Goal: understand how hard it is to convince a psychiatrist that you are insane, and to
understand how hard it is to convince them that you are sane?
Went to psychiatric hospital complaining of hearing voices
After admission, behaved normally
Psychiatrist never declared them sane (but "in remission"
Mean: 19 days in the hospital
, Normal behaviors seen as evidence of disorder (confirmation bias)
What is a critique of Rosenhan's hospital study? How did he respond to this
critique?
Spitzer critique: if I were to drink a quart of blood and, concealing what I had done,
come to the emergency room of any hospital vomiting blood, the behavior of the staff
would be quite predictable. If they leveled and treated me as having a bleeding peptic
ulcer, I doubt that I could argue convincingly that medical science does not know how to
diagnose that condition
Rosenhan's reply: if they continue thinking that you have an ulcer during x weekends
despite having no other symptoms of ulcer, that makes a big problem
What are the 2 components for combating the stigma of mental illness?
1. Education
2. Interpersonal contact (have more people come forward and talk about their
experiences)
Today, has stigma for mental illness decreased?
Yes
87% of American adults agree that having a mental disorder is nothing to be ashamed
of
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED
A++
How much of the variability in BPD is thought to be due to genetic factors?
85%
Describe what a clinical disorder is NOT
1. Disorder does not equal statistically unusual
-Many characteristics are unusual, though valued by society
2. Disorder does not equal culturally unusual
3. Disorder does not equal causing ones distress
-E.g., psychopaths do not find their behavior distressing
-E.g., people can experience distress from extreme events (house burning down), which
does not mean they are suffering from a mental disorder
What is the APA definition of a clinical disorder?
a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation or
behavior that is usually associated with significant distress or disability in social,
occupational, or other important activities
What are popular misconceptions about having a psychological disorder?
,1. Psychological disorders lead to bizarre behaviors
2. Disorders are enduring (symptoms are constantly being suffered)
3. Disorders have a single cause
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that psychological disorders
lead to bizarre behaviors
In fact, it is not easy to distinguish people with a disorder from those without
On being sane in insane places (Rosenhan): researcher admitted themselves into a
mental institution (by feigning schizophrenic symptoms) , then acted sane within the
institution, testing if anyone would detect that they were sane
A: no one ever figured out they were sane
Discharged with schizophrenia symptoms in remission
Describe the experience as dehumanizing (average contact time was 6 mins a day)
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that psychological disorders
are enduring
22 % of schizophrenic patients had 1 psychotic episode in their entire life
35% of patients had several impairments, but no or minimal impairment
,8% impairment after first episode with subsequent exacerbation and no return to
normality
35% impairment increasing with each of several episodes and no return to normality
Lend evidence to dispel the popular misconception that disorders have a single
cause
Both and genes and environment play a role
What is the stress model of psychological disorders?
Diathesis stress model of psychological disorders: manifestation of a disorder is a
function of...
1. Diathesis: inherited susceptibility
2. Stress: environmental triggers or events
E.g., child maltreatment doubles the risk for depression and anxiety
Describe Rosenhan's psychiatric hospital study
Goal: understand how hard it is to convince a psychiatrist that you are insane, and to
understand how hard it is to convince them that you are sane?
Went to psychiatric hospital complaining of hearing voices
After admission, behaved normally
Psychiatrist never declared them sane (but "in remission"
Mean: 19 days in the hospital
, Normal behaviors seen as evidence of disorder (confirmation bias)
What is a critique of Rosenhan's hospital study? How did he respond to this
critique?
Spitzer critique: if I were to drink a quart of blood and, concealing what I had done,
come to the emergency room of any hospital vomiting blood, the behavior of the staff
would be quite predictable. If they leveled and treated me as having a bleeding peptic
ulcer, I doubt that I could argue convincingly that medical science does not know how to
diagnose that condition
Rosenhan's reply: if they continue thinking that you have an ulcer during x weekends
despite having no other symptoms of ulcer, that makes a big problem
What are the 2 components for combating the stigma of mental illness?
1. Education
2. Interpersonal contact (have more people come forward and talk about their
experiences)
Today, has stigma for mental illness decreased?
Yes
87% of American adults agree that having a mental disorder is nothing to be ashamed
of
