1. 15 – Psychological disorders

2. When does behavior become mental illness?

3. What is your experience?
I have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder.
I suspect I may have one.
I have not been diagnosed, nor do I suspect that I have a disorder.
Survey: What is your experience?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, prevalence of psychological disorders
Use these slides to show how many people either are dealing with their own psychological disorders or know someone who is. Also take the opportunity to point out counseling services on your campus.

4. What is your experience?
I know someone who has a disorder.
Yes No
Survey: What is your experience?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, prevalence of psychological disorders
Use these slides to show how many people either are dealing with their own psychological disorders or know someone who is. Also take the opportunity to point out counseling services on your campus.

5. Is this abnormal? Sam is afraid of snakes. Normal Abnormal
Survey: What is abnormal?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”What is Abnormal?” You can use these slides to launch a discussion on what is considered to be abnormal. You may also discuss normalcy as a culturally-determined characteristic. Also, you can talk about abnormal behaviors that are justified vs. unjustified.

6. Is this abnormal?
Sally is vaguely dissatisfied because she feels that she is not living up to her potential.
Normal
Abnormal
Survey: What is abnormal?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”What is Abnormal?” You can use these slides to launch a discussion on what is considered to be abnormal. You may also discuss normalcy as a culturally-determined characteristic. Also, you can talk about abnormal behaviors that are justified vs. unjustified.

7. Is this abnormal?
Sandy has been plotting to assassinate the governor the next time he appears locally.
Normal
Abnormal
Survey: What is abnormal?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”What is Abnormal?” You can use these slides to launch a discussion on what is considered to be abnormal. You may also discuss normalcy as a culturally-determined characteristic. Also, you can talk about abnormal behaviors that are justified vs. unjustified.

8. Is this abnormal?
Valencia has visions and hallucinations that she often uses to guide her important decisions.
Normal
Abnormal
Survey: What is abnormal?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”What is Abnormal?” You can use these slides to launch a discussion on what is considered to be abnormal. You may also discuss normalcy as a culturally-determined characteristic. Also, you can talk about abnormal behaviors that are justified vs. unjustified.

9. Class presentation video: Psychological disorders What topics do you need help with?

10. What topics do you need help with?
A. What does the DSM do?
B. The effect of diagnostic labels
C. Phobias
D. Panic attack
E. I understand

11. What topics do you need help with?
A. Depression symptoms
B. Bipolar disorder
C. Delusions & hallucinations
D. Schizophrenia’s “word salad”
E. I understand

12. What topics do you need help with?
A. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
B. PTSD symptoms
C. Dissociative disorder
D. I understand

13. What topics do you need help with?
A. Catatonic schizophrenia
B. Antisocial personality disorder
C. I understand

15. Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships
Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships. In this case, Ryan has a disorder because his behavior is:
A. dangerous.
B. common.
C. medically based.
D. dysfunctional.
Answer: D

16. Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships
Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships. In this case, Ryan has a disorder because his behavior is:
A. dangerous.
B. common.
C. medically based.
D. dysfunctional.
Answer: D

17. The DSM is a diagnostic guide that:
A. describes psychological disorders and their prevalence.
B. describes psychological disorders and their causes.
C. describes only disorders that have medical causes.
D. has been shown to have poor reliability and validity.
Answer: A

18. The DSM is a diagnostic guide that:
A. describes psychological disorders and their prevalence.
B. describes psychological disorders and their causes.
C. describes only disorders that have medical causes.
D. has been shown to have poor reliability and validity.
Answer: A

19. A. obsessive-compulsive disorder. B. generalized anxiety disorder.
Years after he barely survived a terrorist attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Puskari suffers recurring flashbacks and frequent nightmares of the event that render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Puskari is most clearly showing signs of:
A. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B. generalized anxiety disorder.
C. post-traumatic stress disorder.
D. dysthymic disorder.
Answer: C

20. A. obsessive-compulsive disorder. B. generalized anxiety disorder.
Years after he barely survived a terrorist attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Puskari suffers recurring flashbacks and frequent nightmares of the event that render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Puskari is most clearly showing signs of:
A. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B. generalized anxiety disorder.
C. post-traumatic stress disorder.
D. dysthymic disorder.
Answer: C

21. From a learning perspective, phobias likely develop as a result of ___________, and ____________ helps to maintain them.
A. operant conditioning; observational learning
B. classical conditioning; reinforcement
C. operant conditioning; reinforcement
D. classical conditioning; observational learning
Answer: B

22. From a learning perspective, phobias likely develop as a result of ___________, and ____________ helps to maintain them.
A. operant conditioning; observational learning
B. classical conditioning; reinforcement
C. operant conditioning; reinforcement
D. classical conditioning; observational learning
Answer: B

23. Elaine feels that her life is empty
Elaine feels that her life is empty. She has lost all interest in her career and hobbies, and wonders if she would be better off dead. She is most likely suffering from:
A. a dissociative identity disorder.
B. a generalized anxiety disorder.
C. an antisocial personality disorder.
D. a mood disorder.
Answer: D

24. Elaine feels that her life is empty
Elaine feels that her life is empty. She has lost all interest in her career and hobbies, and wonders if she would be better off dead. She is most likely suffering from:
A. a dissociative identity disorder.
B. a generalized anxiety disorder.
C. an antisocial personality disorder.
D. a mood disorder.
Answer: D

25. Mr. James believes that people are constantly laughing at him and that FBI agents are trying to steal his life savings. Mr. James is most clearly suffering from:
A. compulsions.
B. catatonia.
C. delusions.
D. hallucinations.
Answer: C

26. Mr. James believes that people are constantly laughing at him and that FBI agents are trying to steal his life savings. Mr. James is most clearly suffering from:
A. compulsions.
B. catatonia.
C. delusions.
D. hallucinations.
Answer: C

27. Brandy, who tends to have a pessimistic explanatory style, learns that she earned a poor grade on her psychology exam. Which attribution is most likely to help her cope without becoming depressed?
A. “I’ll always be a poor student.”
B. “The teacher gave a particularly hard exam this time.”
C. “Of course my grade is bad, since I can’t do anything right.”
D. “Once again I proved that I just don’t know how to study.”
Answer: B

28. Brandy, who tends to have a pessimistic explanatory style, learns that she earned a poor grade on her psychology exam. Which attribution is most likely to help her cope without becoming depressed?
A. “I’ll always be a poor student.”
B. “The teacher gave a particularly hard exam this time.”
C. “Of course my grade is bad, since I can’t do anything right.”
D. “Once again I proved that I just don’t know how to study.”
Answer: B

29. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon, 2009
What do you think?
A student in the early 1990s was expelled for plagiarism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He claimed that he had multiple personalities, and one of the other personalities plagiarized without him (the dominant personality) knowing about it.
He should be reinstated.
Survey: What do you think?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior, morals, law
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”DID and plagiarism.”
You will need to talk about whether or not this case meets the criteria for insanity (the person doesn’t know that what he did was wrong, and the person did not know what he was doing).
I strongly agree
I agree
I am neutral
I disagree
I strongly disagree
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon, 2009

30. What do you think?
A student in the early 1990s was expelled for plagiarism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He claimed that he had multiple personalities, and one of the other personalities plagiarized without him (the dominant personality) knowing about it.
He should be reinstated.
Survey: What do you think?
Relevant topics: psychological disorders, abnormal behavior, morals, law
This demo is adapted from an activity from Denise Boyd (2005), Instructor’s manual for Wood, Wood, and Boyd (5th ed).”DID and plagiarism.”
You will need to talk about whether or not this case meets the criteria for insanity (the person doesn’t know that what he did was wrong, and the person did not know what he was doing).
I strongly agree
I agree
I am neutral
I disagree
I strongly disagree

31. Which of the following is a sufficient criterion for judging
behavioral abnormality?
The behavior is not common statistically.
The behavior goes against social norms.
The behavior causes subjective discomfort.
The behavior causes an inability to function from day to day.
The behavior causes emotional distress.

32. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Which of the following is a sufficient criterion for judging
behavioral abnormality?
The behavior is not common statistically.
The behavior goes against social norms.
The behavior causes subjective discomfort.
The behavior causes an inability to function from day to day.
The behavior causes emotional distress.
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

33. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Biological models for explaining psychological disorders
may investigate all the following factors EXCEPT:
Genetics
Imbalance of certain neurotransmitters
Brain damage
Effects of toxins (e.g., lead) on brain development and psychological functioning
Parenting styles and their effects on the psychological development of children
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

34. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Biological models for explaining psychological disorders
may investigate all the following factors EXCEPT:
Genetics
Imbalance of certain neurotransmitters
Brain damage
Effects of toxins (e.g., lead) on brain development and psychological functioning
Parenting styles and their effects on the psychological development of children
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

35. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
One morning, a student suddenly feels an intense rush of anxiety, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a fear of going crazy that is accompanied by a sense of detachment from her body. This episode lasts about fifteen minutes and is followed by exhaustion. Your diagnosis should be
Panic disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Phobic disorder.
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

36. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
One morning, a student suddenly feels an intense rush of anxiety, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a fear of going crazy that is accompanied by a sense of detachment from her body. This episode lasts about fifteen minutes and is followed by exhaustion. Your diagnosis should be
Panic disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Phobic disorder.
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

37. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Anxiety that seems to have no real source, consists of
excessive worrying, and is associated with physical
symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, and
sleeping problems is called:
Panic disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Phobia
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

38. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Anxiety that seems to have no real source, consists of
excessive worrying, and is associated with physical
symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, and
sleeping problems is called:
Panic disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Phobia
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

39. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
The intrusion into consciousness of persistent, often disturbing thoughts, is known as a(n)
Compulsion.
Anxiety attack.
Obsession.
Phobia.
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

40. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
The intrusion into consciousness of persistent, often disturbing thoughts, is known as a(n)
Compulsion.
Anxiety attack.
Obsession.
Phobia.
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

41. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
A psychologist has a patient that believes that they are
being controlled by outside forces, such as the devil. This
patient is likely to be suffering from what?
Delusions of reference
Delusions of influence
Delusions of persecution
Delusions of grandeur
Delusions of jealousy
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

42. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
A psychologist has a patient that believes that they are
being controlled by outside forces, such as the devil. This
patient is likely to be suffering from what?
Delusions of reference
Delusions of influence
Delusions of persecution
Delusions of grandeur
Delusions of jealousy
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

43. Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education
Which of the following mood disorders is most closely
associated with disruptions in the circadian clock?
Bipolar disorder
Seasonal affective disorder
Major depression
Dysthymia
Mania
Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

44. Which of the following mood disorders is most closely
associated with disruptions in the circadian clock?
Bipolar disorder
Seasonal affective disorder
Major depression
Dysthymia
Mania

45. Discussion Question

46. Discussion Questions
1. Do you have any symptoms of being obsessive – compulsive or depressed? What were they? Can you give an example?   
2. How would you decide what is “normal” and what is a mental illness?
3. Do you think psychologists should concentrate more on helping people to increase their strengths (e.g. love or courage) or reduce their emotional disorders (e.g. depression), or do they go together?
4. How would you define mental illness? Is it a physical brain structure or just someone who acts or thinks differently than the rest of us, or something else?
5. When does a normal concern about something such as germs and washing your hands become an obsession or a compulsion?
6. Why does one person have a fear of heights and another does not? What things are you afraid of? How does it interfere with your life?
7. If we find more physical changes in the brains of schizophrenics or criminals with PET scans, how could that change our treatments?