1
2026 NEW UPDATE COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL EXAM REVIEW FOR PSYC 435
Abnormal Psychology - Athabasca University
Chapter 1: Abnormal Psychology: Overview and Research Approaches
1.1 Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders.
1.2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification.
1.3 Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal, and describe two different
culture-specific disorders.
1.4 Distinguish between incidence and prevalence, and identify the most common and
prevalent mental disorders.
1.5 Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting.
1.6 Describe three different approaches used to gather information about mental disorders.
1.7 Explain why a control (or comparison group) is necessary to adequately test a hypothesis.
1.8 Discuss why correlational research designs are valuable, even though they cannot be used
to make causal inferences.
1.9 Explain the key features of an experimental design.
Abnormal Psychology: Field of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, treatment,
and prevention of abnormal behavior.
Family aggregation: Whether a disorder runs in families.
If we are to understand mental disorders, we must learn to ask the kinds of questions that will
enable us to help the patients and families who have mental disorders. These questions are at
the very heart of a research-based approach that looks to use scientific inquiry and careful
observation to understand abnormal psychology.
No satisfactory definition to define abnormality (Stein et al., 2010).
Definition of a mental disorder is challenging because no one behaviour that makes someone
abnormal. But there are clear elements of abnormality (only one is not sufficient to dictate
abnormality):
1. Subjective distress: someone with depression or anxiety will experience distress but
people with manic episodes will not. Not a defining feature of abnormality on its own or
even necessary for something to be considered abnormal.
2. Maladaptiveness: Behaviours that interefere with our well-being and ability to enjoy
work and relationships (isolation or withdrawal). Some people will have behaviours that
, 2
they don’t consider maladaptive (e.g., psychopath), but they will show behaviours that
are maladaptive toward society.
3. Statistical deviancy: It’s not because something is statistically common, that it is normal,
just like someone who is a genius and statistically rare is abnormal. When defining
abnormality we make value judgments. If something is statistically rare and undesirable
(as is severely diminished intellectual functioning), we are more likely to consider it
abnormal than something that is statistically rare and highly desirable (such as genius)
or something that is undesirable but statistically common (such as rudeness).
4. Violation of the standards of society: When people fail to follow the norms and rules of
a culture of society, we may consider those as abnormal. a behavior is most likely to be
viewed as abnormal when it violates the standards of society and is statistically deviant
or rare. In contrast, most of us have parked illegally at some point. This failure to follow
the rules is so statistically common that we tend not to think of it as abnormal. Yet when
a mother drowns her children there is instant recognition that this is abnormal behavior.
5. Social discomfort: Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or unwritten social
rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or unease
(example: someone sits next to you on the bus when all the seats are empty –
circumstantial because if you know the person, not abnormal).
6. Irrationality or unpredictability: Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or
unwritten social rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or
unease. A key characteristic is whether we think the person can control their behaviour
or not.
7. Dangerousness: It seems quite reasonable to think that someone who is a danger to
him- or herself or to another person must be psychologically abnormal. Indeed,
therapists are required to hospitalize suicidal clients or contact the police (as well as the
person who is the target of the threat) if they have a client who makes an explicit threat
to harm another person. Can’t rely solely on this. A soldier in combat is not necessarily
ill. Conversely, we cannot assume that someone diagnosed with a mental disorder must
be dangerous. Although people with mental illness do commit serious crimes, serious
crimes are also committed every day by people who have no signs of mental disorder.
Indeed, research suggests that in people with mental illness, dangerousness is more the
exception than the rule (Corrigan & Watson, 2005).
Decisions about abnormality always involve social judgments and are based on the values and
expectations of society at large. Culture plays a big role in defining what is considered abnormal
or not. Certain behaviours in another decade may have been considered abnormal (e.g.,
homosexuality, piercings and tattoos), which no longer are.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 provides the information
necessary (descriptions, lists of symptoms) to diagnose mental disorders. Provides descriptive
information about the type and number of symptoms needed for each diagnosis helps to
ensure diagnostic accuracy and consistency (reliability).
, 3
DSM-5 was published in 2013. 541 diagnostic categories in the book. WHO also produces a
document that covers mental and behavioral disorders (International Classification of Diseases.
In the DSM-5 a mental disorder = syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves
clinically significant disturbances in behavior, emotion, regulation, or cognitive functioning.
These disturbances reflect a dysfunction in biological, psychological, or developmental
processes that are necessary for mental functioning. Also associated with significant distress or
disability in key areas of functioning, including social, occupational, or other activities.
Classification is important because it provides a nomenclature (a naming system) so clinicians
have common language and shorthand terms. It simplifies communication across professional
boundaries.
Classification advantages:
- Improves communication across professional boundaries.
- Structure information.
- Facilitates research.
- Delineates which types of psychological difficulties warrant insurance reimbursement
and the extent of such reimbursement.
Disadvantages of classification:
- Loss of information is possible because of the information in shortened forms.
- Stigma (disgrace)
Classification doesn’t classify people, they classify the disorders that people have. Diagnosis can
reduce stigma because then you can partially explain someone’s behaviour.
Language: instead of a schizophrenic, say a person with schizophrenia.
Stigma: negative labelling.
Stereotyping: automatic beliefs concerning other people that we unavoidably learn as a result
of growing up in a particular culture. Because we may have heard about certain behaviours that
can accompany mental disorders, we may automatically and incorrectly infer that these
behaviours will also be present in any person we meet who has a psychiatric diagnosis.
Education about mental illness doesn’t lead to elimination of stigma necessarily (wanting to
socialize or work with these people). Having more contact with people in this group works.
People can experience more psychophysiological arousal when in presence of someone with
mental illness.
The way illnesses manifest themselves in different cultures can vary. For example, in China,
individuals with depression frequently focus on physical concerns (fatigue, dizziness,
headaches) rather than verbalizing their feelings of melancholy or hopelessness.
, 4
Majority of literature originates from euro-American countries.
Some types of psychopathology a highly cultural – only found in certain areas of the world and
linked to culturally bound concerns. Tajin Kyofusho is a syndrome (an anxiety disorder)
prevalent in Japan marked by fear that one’s body, body parts, or body functions may offend,
embarrass, or otherwise make others feel uncomfortable. People with this disorder are afraid
of blushing or upsetting by their gaze, facial expression, or body odor. Afraid to upset others by
one’s gaze, etc.
Ataque de nervios (or an attack of nerves) is a clinical syndrome that does not correspond to
any specific diagnosis with the DSM. The symptoms are triggered by a stressful event like a
divorce, or bereavement, and include crying, trembling, and uncontrollable screaming. Out of
coutrol.
How common are mental disorders?
Distinguish between incidence and prevalence, and identify the most
common and prevalent mental disorders.
Need to know prevalence because:
- Helps to plan mental health services needed.
- How to allocate resources and funding of research or services provided by community
mental health centers
- Prompts questions about why certain disorders may be more present in certain groups
(causes of disorders).
Prevalence and incidence
Epidemiology: study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviours in a
given population. Mental health epidemiology is the study of the distribution of mental
disorders.
Prevalence: number of active cases in a population during a given period. Typically expressed in
percentages.
Point prevalence: estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a given
population at a given point in time.
1- year prevalence: count everyone who experienced depression at any point in time
throughout an entire year.
2026 NEW UPDATE COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL EXAM REVIEW FOR PSYC 435
Abnormal Psychology - Athabasca University
Chapter 1: Abnormal Psychology: Overview and Research Approaches
1.1 Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders.
1.2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification.
1.3 Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal, and describe two different
culture-specific disorders.
1.4 Distinguish between incidence and prevalence, and identify the most common and
prevalent mental disorders.
1.5 Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting.
1.6 Describe three different approaches used to gather information about mental disorders.
1.7 Explain why a control (or comparison group) is necessary to adequately test a hypothesis.
1.8 Discuss why correlational research designs are valuable, even though they cannot be used
to make causal inferences.
1.9 Explain the key features of an experimental design.
Abnormal Psychology: Field of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, treatment,
and prevention of abnormal behavior.
Family aggregation: Whether a disorder runs in families.
If we are to understand mental disorders, we must learn to ask the kinds of questions that will
enable us to help the patients and families who have mental disorders. These questions are at
the very heart of a research-based approach that looks to use scientific inquiry and careful
observation to understand abnormal psychology.
No satisfactory definition to define abnormality (Stein et al., 2010).
Definition of a mental disorder is challenging because no one behaviour that makes someone
abnormal. But there are clear elements of abnormality (only one is not sufficient to dictate
abnormality):
1. Subjective distress: someone with depression or anxiety will experience distress but
people with manic episodes will not. Not a defining feature of abnormality on its own or
even necessary for something to be considered abnormal.
2. Maladaptiveness: Behaviours that interefere with our well-being and ability to enjoy
work and relationships (isolation or withdrawal). Some people will have behaviours that
, 2
they don’t consider maladaptive (e.g., psychopath), but they will show behaviours that
are maladaptive toward society.
3. Statistical deviancy: It’s not because something is statistically common, that it is normal,
just like someone who is a genius and statistically rare is abnormal. When defining
abnormality we make value judgments. If something is statistically rare and undesirable
(as is severely diminished intellectual functioning), we are more likely to consider it
abnormal than something that is statistically rare and highly desirable (such as genius)
or something that is undesirable but statistically common (such as rudeness).
4. Violation of the standards of society: When people fail to follow the norms and rules of
a culture of society, we may consider those as abnormal. a behavior is most likely to be
viewed as abnormal when it violates the standards of society and is statistically deviant
or rare. In contrast, most of us have parked illegally at some point. This failure to follow
the rules is so statistically common that we tend not to think of it as abnormal. Yet when
a mother drowns her children there is instant recognition that this is abnormal behavior.
5. Social discomfort: Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or unwritten social
rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or unease
(example: someone sits next to you on the bus when all the seats are empty –
circumstantial because if you know the person, not abnormal).
6. Irrationality or unpredictability: Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or
unwritten social rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or
unease. A key characteristic is whether we think the person can control their behaviour
or not.
7. Dangerousness: It seems quite reasonable to think that someone who is a danger to
him- or herself or to another person must be psychologically abnormal. Indeed,
therapists are required to hospitalize suicidal clients or contact the police (as well as the
person who is the target of the threat) if they have a client who makes an explicit threat
to harm another person. Can’t rely solely on this. A soldier in combat is not necessarily
ill. Conversely, we cannot assume that someone diagnosed with a mental disorder must
be dangerous. Although people with mental illness do commit serious crimes, serious
crimes are also committed every day by people who have no signs of mental disorder.
Indeed, research suggests that in people with mental illness, dangerousness is more the
exception than the rule (Corrigan & Watson, 2005).
Decisions about abnormality always involve social judgments and are based on the values and
expectations of society at large. Culture plays a big role in defining what is considered abnormal
or not. Certain behaviours in another decade may have been considered abnormal (e.g.,
homosexuality, piercings and tattoos), which no longer are.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 provides the information
necessary (descriptions, lists of symptoms) to diagnose mental disorders. Provides descriptive
information about the type and number of symptoms needed for each diagnosis helps to
ensure diagnostic accuracy and consistency (reliability).
, 3
DSM-5 was published in 2013. 541 diagnostic categories in the book. WHO also produces a
document that covers mental and behavioral disorders (International Classification of Diseases.
In the DSM-5 a mental disorder = syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves
clinically significant disturbances in behavior, emotion, regulation, or cognitive functioning.
These disturbances reflect a dysfunction in biological, psychological, or developmental
processes that are necessary for mental functioning. Also associated with significant distress or
disability in key areas of functioning, including social, occupational, or other activities.
Classification is important because it provides a nomenclature (a naming system) so clinicians
have common language and shorthand terms. It simplifies communication across professional
boundaries.
Classification advantages:
- Improves communication across professional boundaries.
- Structure information.
- Facilitates research.
- Delineates which types of psychological difficulties warrant insurance reimbursement
and the extent of such reimbursement.
Disadvantages of classification:
- Loss of information is possible because of the information in shortened forms.
- Stigma (disgrace)
Classification doesn’t classify people, they classify the disorders that people have. Diagnosis can
reduce stigma because then you can partially explain someone’s behaviour.
Language: instead of a schizophrenic, say a person with schizophrenia.
Stigma: negative labelling.
Stereotyping: automatic beliefs concerning other people that we unavoidably learn as a result
of growing up in a particular culture. Because we may have heard about certain behaviours that
can accompany mental disorders, we may automatically and incorrectly infer that these
behaviours will also be present in any person we meet who has a psychiatric diagnosis.
Education about mental illness doesn’t lead to elimination of stigma necessarily (wanting to
socialize or work with these people). Having more contact with people in this group works.
People can experience more psychophysiological arousal when in presence of someone with
mental illness.
The way illnesses manifest themselves in different cultures can vary. For example, in China,
individuals with depression frequently focus on physical concerns (fatigue, dizziness,
headaches) rather than verbalizing their feelings of melancholy or hopelessness.
, 4
Majority of literature originates from euro-American countries.
Some types of psychopathology a highly cultural – only found in certain areas of the world and
linked to culturally bound concerns. Tajin Kyofusho is a syndrome (an anxiety disorder)
prevalent in Japan marked by fear that one’s body, body parts, or body functions may offend,
embarrass, or otherwise make others feel uncomfortable. People with this disorder are afraid
of blushing or upsetting by their gaze, facial expression, or body odor. Afraid to upset others by
one’s gaze, etc.
Ataque de nervios (or an attack of nerves) is a clinical syndrome that does not correspond to
any specific diagnosis with the DSM. The symptoms are triggered by a stressful event like a
divorce, or bereavement, and include crying, trembling, and uncontrollable screaming. Out of
coutrol.
How common are mental disorders?
Distinguish between incidence and prevalence, and identify the most
common and prevalent mental disorders.
Need to know prevalence because:
- Helps to plan mental health services needed.
- How to allocate resources and funding of research or services provided by community
mental health centers
- Prompts questions about why certain disorders may be more present in certain groups
(causes of disorders).
Prevalence and incidence
Epidemiology: study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviours in a
given population. Mental health epidemiology is the study of the distribution of mental
disorders.
Prevalence: number of active cases in a population during a given period. Typically expressed in
percentages.
Point prevalence: estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a given
population at a given point in time.
1- year prevalence: count everyone who experienced depression at any point in time
throughout an entire year.
