Psych 333 Final Exam Study Guide: Complete Abnormal Psychology Review
Avoidant Personality Disorder - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive pattern of social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early
adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
1. Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears
of criticism, disapproval, or rejection
2. Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked
3. Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of fear of being shamed or ridiculed
4. Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations
Personality traits - correct answer ✔✔Enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking
about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal
contexts
Personality disorders - correct answer ✔✔Diagnosed when personality traits are inflexible and
maladaptive and cause significant impairment or distress
Paranoid Personality Disorder (Criterion A) - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by
early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 4 of the following:
1. Suspects without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or
her.
2. Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or
associates
3. Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be
used maliciously against him/her
4. Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events
5. Persistently bears grudges (ex. unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights)
, 6. Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is
quick to react angrily or to counterattack
7. Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner
B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar, or depressive
disorder with psychotic features or another psychotic disorder and is not attributable to the
physiological effects of another medical condition
Paranoid Personality Disorder Genetic Contribution - correct answer ✔✔- Paranoid personality
disorder is slightly more common in relatives of individuals with schizophrenia and in relatives
of individuals with delusional disorder persecutory type
- Two primarily personality traits associated with the disorder (low agreeableness and high
neuroticism) may be inherited
Paranoid Personality Disorder Psychosocial Contribution - correct answer ✔✔- Dysfunctional
beliefs that others are malevolent and deceptive (may be taught by parents)
- Parental neglect or abuse
Paranoid Personality Disorder Treatment - correct answer ✔✔- Unlikely to seek treatment
because lack of trust of others
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: attempts to gain trust and to indirectly challenge dysfunctional
thinking and attempt to decrease their fear and hostility
- Little evidence that treatment is effective
Schizoid Personality Disorder - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive of detachment from social
relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings,
beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 4 or more of
the following:
1. Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family
Avoidant Personality Disorder - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive pattern of social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early
adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
1. Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears
of criticism, disapproval, or rejection
2. Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked
3. Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of fear of being shamed or ridiculed
4. Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations
Personality traits - correct answer ✔✔Enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking
about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal
contexts
Personality disorders - correct answer ✔✔Diagnosed when personality traits are inflexible and
maladaptive and cause significant impairment or distress
Paranoid Personality Disorder (Criterion A) - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by
early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 4 of the following:
1. Suspects without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or
her.
2. Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or
associates
3. Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be
used maliciously against him/her
4. Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events
5. Persistently bears grudges (ex. unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights)
, 6. Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is
quick to react angrily or to counterattack
7. Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner
B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar, or depressive
disorder with psychotic features or another psychotic disorder and is not attributable to the
physiological effects of another medical condition
Paranoid Personality Disorder Genetic Contribution - correct answer ✔✔- Paranoid personality
disorder is slightly more common in relatives of individuals with schizophrenia and in relatives
of individuals with delusional disorder persecutory type
- Two primarily personality traits associated with the disorder (low agreeableness and high
neuroticism) may be inherited
Paranoid Personality Disorder Psychosocial Contribution - correct answer ✔✔- Dysfunctional
beliefs that others are malevolent and deceptive (may be taught by parents)
- Parental neglect or abuse
Paranoid Personality Disorder Treatment - correct answer ✔✔- Unlikely to seek treatment
because lack of trust of others
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: attempts to gain trust and to indirectly challenge dysfunctional
thinking and attempt to decrease their fear and hostility
- Little evidence that treatment is effective
Schizoid Personality Disorder - correct answer ✔✔A. A pervasive of detachment from social
relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings,
beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 4 or more of
the following:
1. Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family
