CH 1 Abnormal Psych: Overview & Research Approaches

Question 1

Explain how we classify mental disorders & the advantages and disadvantages of classification

Answer 1

We classify mental disorders with the DSM-5

A: nomenclature simplifies discussions, classification enables us to structure info in a helpful manner, allows for study and learning new things
D: simplification leads to loss of info, stigma, stereotyping and prejudice

Question 2

Explain how we define abnormality
(7 Criteria)

Answer 2

1. Subjective distress
2. Maladaptiveness
3. Statistical deviancy
4. Violation of the standards of society
5. Social discomfort
6. Irrationality and unpredictability
7. Dangerousness

Question 3

Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal, and describe two different culture-specific disorders

Answer 3

Different cultures have different social norms and ways of describing psychological stress
1. People in China focus on physical concerns instead of feelings related to depression
2. “Attack of nerves” or ataque de nervios is a form of distress after stress in people of Latino descent

Question 4

Distinguish between incidence and prevalence

Answer 4

Prevalence - number of cases in a population in a given time, expressed as %

Incidence - Number of new cases that occur over a given period of time (Usually 1 year)

Question 5

Identify the most common and prevalent mental disorders

Answer 5

Most prevalent category: Anxiety disorders
Most common disorders: major depressive, alcohol abuse, specific phobias

Question 6

Discuss why abnormal psych research can be conducted in almost any setting

Answer 6

Science is constantly evolving, naturalistic research is useful, many techniques are useful (brain imaging, statistics, etc.)

Question 7

Describe three different approaches used to gather information about mental disorders

Answer 7

Case Studies - In-depth examination of an individual/family that draws from different data sources including interviews and psychological testing

Self-report - Data collected directly from individuals, typically by survey or questionnaire

Observational - Doesn’t involve directly asking people (not merely watching them either)

Question 8

Explain why a control (comp group) is necessary to adequately test a hypothesis

Answer 8

We need them to act as a baseline so that we can determine what behaviors are normal and what are specific to the group being studied

Question 9

Discuss why correlational research designs are valuable, even though they cannot be used to make causal inferences

Answer 9

For ethical and practical reasons, not every hypothesis can be tested in a typical fashion

Question 10

Explain the key features of an experimental design

Answer 10

We have an independent and a dependent variable, they are tested on to evaluate the hypothesis and then data is gathered to form results

Question 11

Abnormal psychology

Answer 11

The study of the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders

Question 12

Point prevalence

Answer 12

Estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a given population at a given point in time