Chapter 13: Personality Theories and Assessment

Question 1

Abnormal

Answer 1

Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying
Abnormal behavior is defined by each culture, for example, homelessness is considered abnormal in some cultures and completely normal in other
No universally agreed upon definition

Question 2

DSM

Answer 2

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes about 300 mental disorders and the symptoms that must be present for diagnosing each disorder

Question 3

Anxiety

Answer 3

A generalized feeling of apprehension, fear, or tension that may be associated with particular object or situation, or may be free-floating, not associated with anything specific

Question 4

Somatic Symptom and Dissociation Disorders

Answer 4

Somatic Symptom: disorders in which physical symptoms are present that are due to psychological rather than physical causes
Dissociation Disorders: A disorder in which, under stress, ones loses the integration of consciousness, identity and memories of important personal

Question 5

Schizophrenia

Answer 5

A severe psychological disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality, hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate or flat affect, some disturbance in thinking, social withdrawal, and/or bizarre behaviour

Question 6

Mood Disorder

Answer 6

Such as depression and bipolar disorders, involve moods or emotions that are extreme and unwarranted
In the most serious disorders, mood ranges from the depths of depression to the heights of extreme elation
These disorders fall into town broad catergories: depressive and bipolar disorders

Question 7

Diathesis stress model

Answer 7

The idea that people with a constitutional predisposition (diathesis) toward a disorder

Question 8

Difficulty in defining abnormal

Answer 8

Abnormality differs with culture and differs with passing time
“Bell Curve”

Question 9

Anxiety Disorders

Answer 9

Generalized Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia
Social Anxiety

Question 10

Generalized Anxiety

Answer 10

Diagnosis given to people who experience excessive anxiety and worry that they find difficult to control
Their excessive anxiety may cause them to feel tense, on edge, tired, and irritable, and to have difficulty concentrating and sleeping

Question 11

Panic Disorder

Answer 11

Characterized by recurrent, unpredictable panic attacks that cause apprehension about the occurrence and consequences of further attacks
People who have recurring panic attacks may be diagnosed with a panic diorder

Question 12

Agoraphobia

Answer 12

Has an intense fear of being in a situation where immediate escape is not possible or help would not be readily available in case of incapacitating anxiety
In some cases, an individual’s entire life must be planned around avoiding feared situations such as busy streets, crowed stores, restaurants, or public transportation

Question 13

Social Anxiety Disorder

Answer 13

Having an irrational fear of social or performance situations in which they might embarrass or humiliate themselves in front of others
They might hake, blush, sweat or in some way appear clumsy, foolish or incompetent

Question 14

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Answer 14

Previously known as hypochondriasis; overly concerned about health
People with this are preoccupied with the fear that their bodily symptoms are a sign of some serious disease, but their symptoms are not usually consistent with known physical disorders

Question 15

Conversion Disoder

Answer 15

A diagnosis of conversion disorder is made when there is a loss of motor or sensory functioning in some part of the body that (a) is not due to a physical cause and (b) solves a psychological problem