Abnormal Psychology: Classifying and Understanding Abnormal Behavior, Exams of Psychology

An overview of abnormal psychology, focusing on the classification of abnormal behavior and the theoretical models used to understand it. It explores various guidelines for classifying abnormal behavior, including statistical frequency, personal distress, impairments, and social norms. The document also delves into different theoretical models, such as the biological, psychological, and social models, and examines the role of genetics, neuroscience, and behaviorism in understanding abnormal behavior. It includes examples and explanations to illustrate key concepts and provides a foundation for further exploration of abnormal psychology.

Typology: Exams

2024/2025

Available from 01/10/2025

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PSYCH 439 Test 1 with Questions and
Answers
6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify Abnormal behavior
1. Statistical frequency
2. personal distress or suffering ANSWER 1. is this uncommon- gender identity disorder (not
common) vs depression (common)
2. PTSD & GAD should be considered bc lots of distress; mania and sex offenders should not
be considered bc no distress
6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify Abnormal behavior
3. impairments
4. risk or suffering death, pain, disability, or important loss of freedom ANSWER 3. Severe
depression and autism. schiz fit, but bulimics and alcoholics may not
4. heroine, you think you can fly, streaking/ mooning, criminals and prostitutes, antisocial
personality disorder
6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify abnormal behavior
5. Whatever violates social norms
6. no single general guideline works! ANSWER 5. piercings, fighting with someone who isn't
there,
6. defining abnormal behavior is not easy- where do we draw the line?
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PSYCH 439 Test 1 with Questions and

Answers

6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify Abnormal behavior

  1. Statistical frequency
  2. personal distress or suffering ANSWER 1. is this uncommon- gender identity disorder (not common) vs depression (common)
  3. PTSD & GAD should be considered bc lots of distress; mania and sex offenders should not be considered bc no distress 6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify Abnormal behavior
  4. impairments
  5. risk or suffering death, pain, disability, or important loss of freedom ANSWER 3. Severe depression and autism. schiz fit, but bulimics and alcoholics may not
  6. heroine, you think you can fly, streaking/ mooning, criminals and prostitutes, antisocial personality disorder 6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify abnormal behavior
  7. Whatever violates social norms
  8. no single general guideline works! ANSWER 5. piercings, fighting with someone who isn't there,
  9. defining abnormal behavior is not easy- where do we draw the line?

Theoretical models of abnormal behavior ( always categorized in different ways)--three major categories ANSWER biological, psychological, and social (multidimensional integrative approach).

  1. unidimensional approach
  2. multidimensional approach ANSWER 1. focuses on one factor; doesn't cut it- can't focus on one piece (ex. depression: some physical, some cognitive or enviorn)
  3. the cause of disorder are very complex looking at different pieces; Clinical psych- thought influence behavior Multidimensional approaches:
  4. Biological Mode - what does it include? what does it use for treatment? compares what with what? ANSWER genetics, the brain, endocrine system- explains normal and not normal behavior...medicine! medical model aka disease model; compares mental illness with physical diseases Biological model genetic contributions what is the nature of genes? what about psychological disorders? what kind of studies are most common? concordance rate? ANSWER most things about us are polygenetic (use multiple genes); psychological disorder have some genetic factors but nothing is 100% genetic; twin studies/ adoption studies; probability that both twins will develop a disorder if 1 twin has the disorder.

cell body dendrite axon synapse ANSWER main part receives impulses; finger things carries information away; tail part bridge; the space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron neurotransmitters ANSWER brain chemicals; chemicals in the brain that send information from one neuron to another; chemical coming from cell body; axon brings chemical down; crosses synapse; dendrite picks neurotransmitter up; bring it into cell boy; axon carries that away Two parts of the nervous system: CNS. what does it consist of? ANSWER spinal cord (brings info to brain) and brain two aspects of the brain & drug therapies ANSWER structure: you damage part of the brain brain chemicals: neurotransmitters; almost all drug therapies wok with changing the neurotransmitter; like prozac drugs can affect neurotransmitters one of two ways' ANSWER agonists: raise activity of neurotransmitter antagonists: lower activity of neurotransmitter too much dopamine crossing the bridge ANSWER either stop or slow it down; drugs either turn up the volume or turn down the volume a. serotonin b. norepinephrine c. dopamine

Peripheral Nervous System (NS) 2 parts ANSWER (S)omatic Nervous system (raising your hand)- skeletal muscles; voluntary movement Autonomic nervous system (making your heart beat)- regulates glands, heart, digestion...automatic and not voluntary.. automatic Autonomic broken down into 2 parts

  1. Sympathetic nervous system- when is it activated? what kind of disorder is it most relevant with? ANSWER activates the body to respond in an emergency (sympathy- wants to help others); fight, flight, or freeze someone comes in with a gun, fights him/ stand scared-- anxiety disorders related
  2. parasympathetic- what does it regulate? ANSWER body function; digesting, heart pumping, etc. endocrine system deals with ANSWER glands( pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and gonadad glands produce hormones neurotransmitter are cchemical messengers where hormones are chemical messengers where ANSWER brain blood

What consequences is behavior determined by? and what is the antecedent? ANSWER reinforcement and punishment; events that occur before a behavior is performed that signal likelihood of a consequence Examples of operant conditioning ANSWER If a kid has a tantrum and the parents give him candy to make him stop (got what they wanted), that's reinforcement; when teacher punishes him, he gets a consequence and doesn't do it anymore. police vs. no police: behavior- speeding; speed with police officer- get ticket; don't speed anymore; speed with no ticket, keep speeding because no consequences behavior is determined by ANSWER consequences ABC model of operant conditioning ANSWER A B C Antecedent Behavior consequences (re&pu parent/teacher kid tantrum reinf/punished police/no pol speeding ticket-pun; no tick-rein mean/nice teach ask a question yelled- pun; candy- rein verbal cue sneeze reinforced/ biscuit Outline of remaining theoretical models- behavioral and cognitive science; behavioral model Behavior Therapy---- based on Behavior Theory treating ADHD through what; token economy? and example; and what is intellectual disability? ANSWER operant conditioning; rewarding desirable behavior with tokens which can be exchanged for items or privileges

Courtney having trouble paying attention; give her a token every few minutes that she does well for her to get a prize at the end; treating ADHD through operant conditioning Time out does what ANSWER decreases inappropriate behavior; put them outside so that they don't get attention Behavioral and cognitive science; Behavioral model Behavior therapy based on behavioral theory; treating fears and phobias using systematic desensitization- what is the assumption behind fear? and what is the most common way to do this? ANSWER confront fear in order to overcome it; exposure therapy' gradual or prolonged( real life or imagination) Systematic Desensitization- what kind of technique? and three components? ANSWER gradual technique;

  1. progressive muscle relaxation (tensing/relaxing)
  2. construct a fear hierarchy (0-100 lowest anxiety about snakes to biggest anxiety about snakes)
  3. Gradual exposure in the imagination- fully relaxed state; imagine lowest fear and then go back to relaxed state- work way up the hierarchy Social Learning theory: Who is responsible for this? what parts agree with operant conditioning? what parts are different? (and ex) ANSWER Albert Bandura; agrees that behavior is learned and that behavior is determined by its consequences (rein/punish); unlike skinner he believes in observational learning; modeling- learning from others- ex.drug dealer: reinforced: nice car, money, etc; punished: sick harassed by police cognitive behavior theory and therapy: who is responsible? and ABC model ANSWER Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis; A B C (feelings/beh

Emotions ANSWER Influence our lives, decisions; based more on emotions or rational decisions; crimes of passion; emotions impact you more than thinking; survival of the species / individual Emotions cont...Autonomic nervous system and emotions have 3 components ANSWER fight, flight, and freeze (sympathetic part) behavior: snake = leaving; cognitive: snake= thinking about what the snake might do; physiological: public speaking= heart racing, sweating, dry thoat Social consequence model( three factors) ANSWER cultural, social, interpersonal Social consequence model risk factors ANSWER sex or gender: Male- substance use, antisocial, ADHD; women-depression, eating disorders race: Caucasians: eating disorders, african a's: obesity, Asians: sz Social consequence model risk factors continued ANSWER poverty: SES- socioeconomic status (poor- trauma, malnourished) Being elderly Social relationships and contact: fewer social contacts: more psychological problems: rape victims- need someone; one spouse dies, the other does; need social support Lifespan development: 2 important concepts: Principle of equifinality- what can happen? and examples. .2. resiliecny and protective factors ANSWER different causes for the same disorder; depression-> car accident, biology, or parent died

  1. social support

Multidimensional integrative Approach Biopsychosocial Model- what does this mean? ANSWER Unidimensional theories don't cover everything; especially in psych...take in all aspects Clinical assessment. definition and example ANSWER Systematic evaluation of biological, psychological, and social factors in people with a possible psychological disorder; funnel; starts broad and then gets very narrow and focused 7 aspects of clinical assessment:

  1. interview ANSWER 1. most useful tool; diagnostic interview; individual therapy interviews( pretherapy), structured interviews (research purposes) ; mental status exam- current funcition
  2. psychological testing- what kind of tests? ANSWER projective tests- tapping into the unconscious; splatter paint tests personality interventions: MMPI (are you antisocial personality); behavioral measure- sleep, eating, sadness, crying
  3. Behavioral Observation ANSWER observe some- kids, aggression- ADHD
  4. Neuroimaging- which one measures which; the more active the brain, the more _ ANSWER pictures of the brain using big machines; one measures brain structure (CAT scan, MRI)- physical parts and whether there is any damage.....one measures brain function- what part of the brain is active when____(reading a book, having sex etc. ) the more active the more blood flow

3 ways of classifying psychological disorders 1. categorical approach ANSWER 1. categorical approach: looks at the type of problem; comes from biology; assumes that each disorder is unique and there are no overlaps-doesn't apply to psychology Dimensional approach ANSWER amount on a continuum; quantity amount of symptom on a continuum ; middle is probably better; too much fear is bad but so is too little Prototypical categorical approach and 2 criteria ANSWER current- what we use now; DSM IV; ***1. identifies certain esential features that you much have for diagnosis; 2. allows for nonessential variation Characteristics of the DSM III and beyond ANSWER 1. atheoretical: describes rather than explains

  1. operational criteria: very specific criteria- like a check sheet
  2. importance of empirical research
  3. cultural differences ***Says nothing about the cause or etiology EX; ADHD- interview, observation, gather ino- you can diagnos but it will say nothing about the cause.