Topic 1 Study Questions Flashcards
Intro to AbPsy and Assessment
What are the goals of Abnormal Psychology?
to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
What are the different criteria/standards/definitions of abnormal behavior?
statistical deviations, faulty perceptions of reality, deviations from societal norms, dysfunction that causes harm
What are the different types of mental health providers
clinical psychologist - make diagnoses and run therapy
psychiatrist - medical doctor that can prescribe medication but don’t counsel
What are some common myths regarding mental illness?
- mental health = stupid - anyone can be affected
- young people can’t be affected - most illnesses/disorders begin appearing in adolesence
- being mentally ill makes u dangerous - no more dangerous than anyone else
- mental illness is a result of biochemical imbalance - multiple causes
5.People can snap out of depression - very difficult
- people with addictions lack the willpower - addiction quite literally results from a change in brain chemistry
What is the DMS-5-TR and the content it contains?
a manual that provides information regarding diagnoses and symptoms for mental disorders
prevalence of disorder, risk factors, impact of culture/others, glossary of technical terms, conditions for study
What is the purpose behind the Rorschach and TAT projective tests?
Rorschach - used ink blots, 1st phase - free association, 2nd phase - go over each response, score and interpret based on # of responses and content
Thematic Apperception Test- 20 cards of pics, ask patient to tell story, identify common themes and content of stories
What is a neuropsychological assessment and what is it used to evaluate?
performance based assessment to determine cognitive function: attention, problem-solving, memory, IQ, communication skills –>map relationship between behavior and brain functions
intelligence/cognitive test: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test IV or IQ
personality test: MMPI-3 with true/false statements to uncover personal beliefs
What is self-monitoring and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
self-monitoring = person sharing own thoughts and beliefs
positives = time/cost efficient, accurate assessment, therapeutic
negatives = people aren’t accurate, consistency, lying
What is the difference between reliability and validity?
reliability - consistency of measure
validity - accuracy of the measure
What are the various types of psychological assessments? What is the most common vs what is the most thorough?
Clinical interview, observations, IQ tests (Wechsler), personality tests (MMPI-3), projective tests (Rorschach and TAT)
What are common uses of intellectual/IQ tests?
diagnose intellectual disabilities, academic potential, memory, speed, and attention, ability to succeed academically
What are the validity scales on the MMPI-3?
L - Lie or uncommon virtues - items of overly good self-reports
F - infrequent responses - items answered in the scored direction by 10% or less of test-takers
K - correction or adjustment validity - items reflecting defensiveness in admitting to problem
What is the mental status exam and what does it assess?
a way to assess mental capacity - observations and questions regarding appearance, behavior, perceptions, mood, memory, and reasoning
What is the frequency of mental illness?
1 in 4 adults in US experience a mental disorder
50% of people experience a mental illness at least once in their life
average age of first symptoms is 16
Most common: PD and alcohol + dementia and anxiety
How is observation used as an assessment method and what are its drawbacks?
natural vs controlled to asses condition first hand
drawbacks: expensive, reactivity, ethically inappropriate
