ESSENTIALS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
FINAL PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SOLUTION
◉psychological disorder. Answer: •A psychological disorder is a
psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in
fx and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
◉behavior therapy. Answer: • considers specific bxs rather than
inferred conflicts as legitimate targets for change
◉behavioral model. Answer: • the explanation for human bx,
including human's dysfunction, is based on principles of learning
and adaptation derived from experimental psychology
◉catharsis. Answer: • rapid or sudden release of emotional tension
thought to be an important factor in psychoanalytic therapy
• therapeutic to recall emotional trauma that has been made
unconscious and to release the accompanying tension
◉classical conditioning. Answer: • Pavlov, fundamental learning
process. An event automatically elicits a response is paired with
another stimulus even that does not (a neutral stimulus). After
,repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus become s a conditioned
stimulus that by itself can elicit the desired response
◉clinical description. Answer: • the unique combination of
behaviors, thoughts and feelings that make up a specific disorder
◉course (of disorder). Answer: • pattern of development and
change of a disorder over time
• chronic-last long time, episodic-likely to recover in a few months,
time-limited-improve w/o tx in short period of time
◉defense mechanisms. Answer: • common pattern of bx, often an
adaptive coping style when it occurs in moderation, observed in
response to a particular situation. Psychoanalytic theory suggests tat
defense mechanisms are unconscious processes originating in the
ego.
◉Ego. Answer: • part of our mind that ensure we act realistically
• characterized by logic and reason
• secondary processes
◉Etiology. Answer: • cause or source of a disorder
, ◉Extinction. Answer: • learning process in which a response
maintained by reinforcement in operant conditioning or pairing in
classical conditioning decreases when the reinforcement/pairing is
removed
◉free association. Answer: • patients are instructed to say whatever
comes to mind
• therapy technique intended to explore threatening material
◉ID. Answer: • animal within us-source of our strong
sexual/aggressive energies
• present at birth-basic drives-primary processes
◉Incidence. Answer: • number of new cases of a disorder appearing
during a specific period
◉Phobia. Answer: • psychological disorder characterized by marked
and persistent fear of an object or situation
◉Presenting Problem. Answer: • original complaint reported by the
client to the therapist. The actual treated problem may be a
modification derived from the presenting problem.
FINAL PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SOLUTION
◉psychological disorder. Answer: •A psychological disorder is a
psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in
fx and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
◉behavior therapy. Answer: • considers specific bxs rather than
inferred conflicts as legitimate targets for change
◉behavioral model. Answer: • the explanation for human bx,
including human's dysfunction, is based on principles of learning
and adaptation derived from experimental psychology
◉catharsis. Answer: • rapid or sudden release of emotional tension
thought to be an important factor in psychoanalytic therapy
• therapeutic to recall emotional trauma that has been made
unconscious and to release the accompanying tension
◉classical conditioning. Answer: • Pavlov, fundamental learning
process. An event automatically elicits a response is paired with
another stimulus even that does not (a neutral stimulus). After
,repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus become s a conditioned
stimulus that by itself can elicit the desired response
◉clinical description. Answer: • the unique combination of
behaviors, thoughts and feelings that make up a specific disorder
◉course (of disorder). Answer: • pattern of development and
change of a disorder over time
• chronic-last long time, episodic-likely to recover in a few months,
time-limited-improve w/o tx in short period of time
◉defense mechanisms. Answer: • common pattern of bx, often an
adaptive coping style when it occurs in moderation, observed in
response to a particular situation. Psychoanalytic theory suggests tat
defense mechanisms are unconscious processes originating in the
ego.
◉Ego. Answer: • part of our mind that ensure we act realistically
• characterized by logic and reason
• secondary processes
◉Etiology. Answer: • cause or source of a disorder
, ◉Extinction. Answer: • learning process in which a response
maintained by reinforcement in operant conditioning or pairing in
classical conditioning decreases when the reinforcement/pairing is
removed
◉free association. Answer: • patients are instructed to say whatever
comes to mind
• therapy technique intended to explore threatening material
◉ID. Answer: • animal within us-source of our strong
sexual/aggressive energies
• present at birth-basic drives-primary processes
◉Incidence. Answer: • number of new cases of a disorder appearing
during a specific period
◉Phobia. Answer: • psychological disorder characterized by marked
and persistent fear of an object or situation
◉Presenting Problem. Answer: • original complaint reported by the
client to the therapist. The actual treated problem may be a
modification derived from the presenting problem.
