1. PSYCHOLOGY Chapter 18 Lecture Questions Section 1 (pgs. 409-414)
Revised April 2012

2. 1. What are psychological disorders
1. What are psychological disorders? How many Americans have experienced some type of psychological disorder? How many experience a psychological disorder during their lifetime?
Psychological disorders are behavior patterns or mental processes that cause serious personal suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to cope with daily life.
Estimates suggest that almost one third of the adults in the US have experienced some type of psychological disorder.
23 percent of the people in the US will experience some type of psychological disorder in their lifetime.

3. 2. How are “abnormal behaviors used to identify psychological disorders? Is this easy to do? Why?
What is “normal” is often equated with what is average behavior for the majority of people.
Deviation from the majority becomes the primary criterion for abnormality.
People with psychological disorders usually do not differ much from “normal” people.
Thus, it is very difficult to identify people with problems.

4. 3. Is diagnosing someone with a psychological disorder easy
3. Is diagnosing someone with a psychological disorder easy? Why or why not?
Diagnosing an individual with a psychological disorder is often difficult, and diagnoses are not always simple or straightforward.

5. 4. What are the four (4) criteria used by psychologists to diagnose psychological disorders? Explain each.
Typicality
How typical or average is the behavior or mental process compared to the majority of people.
The fact that a behavior is not typical of most people does not mean it is abnormal.

6. Criteria (continued) Maladaptivity
The behavior impairs an individual’s ability to function adequately in everyday life.
Behavior that causes misery and distress rather than happiness and fulfillment may be considered maladaptive.
Alcohol abuse is one such behavior.
Behavior that is hazardous to oneself or to others may also be considered maladaptive.

7. Criteria (continued) Emotional Discomfort
Psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression cause most people great emotional discomfort.
This can lead to extreme feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, and sadness.
Such feelings are so stressful that they may lead the affected individual to consider suicide.

8. Criteria (continued) Socially Unacceptable Behavior
Behavior that violates a society’s accepted norms may also be an indication of a psychological disorder.
What is considered normal behavior in one culture may be considered abnormal in another.

9. 5. What are culture-bound syndromes? Give three examples.
Clusters of symptoms that define or describe an illness.
Some behaviors are appropriate in some cultures and not in others.
Examples include: standing too close a stranger, bodily adornment (ear rings, tattoos, etc.), praying out loud in public, etc.

10. 6. Why is it important to have a uniform classification system of psychological disorders? What is the most widely used classification system? Who publishes it? When was the latest one published? What is significant about the 1980 publication of the DSM? Does the DSM change? Why?
It is important to classify psychological disorders so that individuals can be correctly diagnosed and treated.

11. Question #6 (continued)
The most widely used classification system for psychological disorders is the DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The APA (American Psychiatric Association) publishes the DSM.
The DSM IV was published in 1994.
Prior to 1980, psychological disorders were classified on the basis of their presumed causes. After 1980, psychological disorders are classified according to their observable signs and symptoms.
The DSM is subject to ongoing revision.
New categories are added and old ones deleted as knowledge of psychological disorders increases.

12. 7. What are the six major types of psychological disorders
7. What are the six major types of psychological disorders? Who can diagnose psychological disorders? Why?
Anxiety disorders
Phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dissociative disorders
Amnesia, fugue, multiple personality.
Somatoform disorders
Hypochondriasis.
Mood disorders
Major depression, bipolar.
Schizophrenia
Personality disorders
Antisocial personality, narcissistic.

13. Question #7 (continued)
Psychological disorders can only be diagnosed by a skilled professional after careful evaluation.

14. 8. Using the Case Study on page 412:
A. Who was John Hinckley?
Attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
B. How are people with mental illnesses who commit crimes treated?
The big question is “Did they know the difference between right and wrong?”
What is the M’Naghten Rule? Where did it come from?
In 1843 a Scotsman named Daniel M’Naghten was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after trying to kill the British Prime Minister and killing his secretary instead.
Defense had to prove insanity.

15. Question #8 (continued)
D. How often is the insanity plea used today?
Only used in about 1% of all felony cases.
And is only successful in 25% of those cases
E. What have some states done to make the insanity plea more difficult to use?
Abolished it all together.
Kansas is one of four states to have done this.
Montana, Idaho, and Utah have also done this.
Shifted the burden of proof from the prosecution to the defense. (M’Naghten rule)
Client must show a previous diagnosis of a severe psychological disorder.

16. 9. Using figure 18-1 on page 413, why is it important to consider the cultural context of a behavior before classifying it as a psychological disorder?
Different cultures have different customs and different views of normal or abnormal behavior.

17. Chapter 18 Lecture Questions Section 2 (pages 415-419)
Psychology
Chapter 18
Lecture Questions
Section 2 (pages )

18. 1. How does fear and anxiety differ
1. How does fear and anxiety differ? What normally characterizes anxiety? What physical signs are related to anxiety?
Anxiety refers to a general state of dread or uneasiness that occurs in response to a vague or imagined danger.
Fear is a response to a real danger or threat.
Anxiety is typically characterized by nervousness, inability to relax, and concern about losing control.
Physical signs include: trembling, sweating, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, flushed face, and feelings of faintness or light-headedness.
Result from overactivity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system

19. 2. What is the difference between feeling anxious and an anxiety disorder?
Everyone feels anxious at times—before a big game or an important test.
However, some people feel anxious all or most of the time, or their anxiety is out of proportion to the situation provoking it.
Anxiety-based disorders are among the most common of all psychological disorders in the US.

20. 3. Where does phobia come from. What is a simple phobia
3. Where does phobia come from? What is a simple phobia? List a few types of this phobia.
The word phobia derives from the Greek root phobos, which means “fear.”
A simple phobia is the most common form of a phobia.
It is an irrational fear of a particular object or situation.
Zoophobia-a fear of animals.
Claustrophobia-a fear of enclosed spaces.
Acrophobia-a fear of heights.
Arachibutyrophobia-fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

22. 4. What is a social phobia? Give several examples of social phobias.
Social phobia is characterized by persistent fear of social situations and of being embarrassed or humiliated.
Some people fear specific situations, such as public speaking, eating in public, or dating.
Some people avoid all social situations.

23. 5. What is a panic attack? How long do they last? What causes them?
A relatively short period of intense fear or discomfort.
Characterized by shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid heart rate, trembling or shaking, sweating, choking, or nausea.
It may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
There is no apparent cause.

25. 6. What is agoraphobia? How are panic attacks and agoraphobia linked?
Agoraphobia is a fear of being in places or situations in which escape may be difficult or impossible.
People with agoraphobia may be especially afraid of crowded public places such as movie theatres, shopping malls, buses, or trains.
Some may go days, weeks, or even years without leaving the comfort of their home.
Most people with agoraphobia have panic attacks when they cannot avoid the situations they fear.

26. 7. What is generalized anxiety disorder?
Excessive or unrealistic worry about life circumstances that lasts for at least six months.
The worries must be present during most of that time in order to warrant a diagnosis of GAD.
Typically, the worries focus on finances, work, interpersonal problems, accidents, or illness.
Many people with GAD have other anxiety disorders as well.

28. 8. What are obsessions. What are compulsions. How are they linked
8. What are obsessions? What are compulsions? How are they linked? Give several examples of OCD. Do people realize how unjustified their behavior is?
Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, ideas, or mental images that occur over and over again.
Compulsions are repetitive ritual behaviors often in response to the unwanted thoughts and ideas.
The compulsion will reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession.
Examples include: Checking all the doors/windows before going to bed, organizing or cleaning the house, washing hands 40 or 50 times a day, etc.

29. 9. What is PTSD. What experiences could bring on this disorder
9. What is PTSD? What experiences could bring on this disorder? List five (5) symptoms of PTSD. When do these symptoms usually begin?
PTSD refers to intense, persistent feelings of anxiety that are caused by an experience so traumatic that it would produce stress in almost anyone.

30. Question #9 (continued)
Experiences that may produce PTSD include rape, severe child abuse, assault, severe accident, airplane crash, natural disasters, and war atrocities.
Symptoms include:
Flashbacks, which are mental reexperiences of the actual trauma.
Nightmares or other unwelcome thoughts about the trauma.
Numbness of feelings.
Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma.
Increased tension, which may lead to sleep disturbances, irritability, poor concentration, and similar problems.
The symptoms may occur six months or more after the traumatic event.
They may last for years or even decades.

31. 10. What is the difference between PTSD and acute stress disorder?
Acute stress disorder is a short-term disorder with symptoms similar to PTSD.
Unlike PTSD, the symptoms occur immediately or at most within a month of the event.
The anxiety also lasts a shorter time—from a few days to a few weeks.

32. 11. Using the article on page 418, what were some ways that people tried to deal with unsettling events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001?
Methods of dealing with unsettling events include seeking social support of family and friends and limiting exposure to the disturbing images related to the attacks.

33. 12. How do learning theorists explain anxiety disorders?
Learning theorists believe that phobias are conditioned, or learned, in childhood.
This may occur when a child experiences a traumatic event.
They also believe that people will learn to reduce their anxiety by avoiding the situations that make them anxious.

34. 13. What role does heredity play in anxiety disorders?
Research indicates that heredity my play a role in most psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders.
Some psychologists believe that people are genetically inclined to fear things that were threats to their ancestors.

35. Chapter 18 Lecture Questions Section 3 (pages 420-421)
Psychology
Chapter 18
Lecture Questions
Section 3 (pages )

36. 1. What does dissociation refer to?
Separation of certain personality components or mental processes from conscious thought.

37. 2. Give examples of when dissociation is normal?
Someone may be so engrossed in reading a book or watching TV, that they don’t realize when their name is being called for dinner.
Someone may be so intent on watching the road when driving, that they miss the sign for an exit on the highway.
Perhaps the most common type of dissociation is daydreaming.
Person seems to be a million miles away.

38. 3. When is dissociation considered abnormal?
When it is used to avoid a stressful event or feeling.
People may lose their memory of a particular event or even forget their identity.
It is believed that people dissociate when faced with urges or experiences that are very stressful.
By dissociating, they are able to remove themselves from the source of stress and lessen their feelings of anxiety.

40. 4. What is dissociative amnesia? What did it used to be called?
Formerly called psychogenic amnesia.
It is characterized by a sudden loss of memory usually following a stressful or traumatic event.
A person usually cannot remember any events that occurred for a certain period of time surrounding the traumatic event.
Less commonly, a person may forget all prior experiences and may be unable to remember his or her name, recognize friends and family, or recall important personal information.
Dissociative amnesia may last for just a few hours, or it may persist for years.
Memory is likely to return just as suddenly as it was lost, and the amnesia rarely recurs.

41. 5. What causes dissociative amnesia? How long does it last?
Cannot be explained biologically, like a blow to the head, but usually follows a traumatic event.
Can last a few hours to years.

42. 6. What is dissociative fugue? What did it used to be called?
Psychogenic fugue
Forgetting personal information and past events but also by suddenly relocating from home or work and taking on a new identity.
Usually follows a traumatic event that is psychologically very stressful.
It is reported most frequently during wartime and natural disasters.
People may take on new names, residences, and occupations.
When the fugue comes to an end, they no longer remember what happened during the fugue state.

43. 7. What causes dissociative fugue?
Usually caused by some traumatic event.

44. 8. What is dissociative indentity disorder
8. What is dissociative indentity disorder? What did it used to be called?
It used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder.
DID involves the existence of two or more personalities within a single individual.

45. 9. Are the personalities aware of the other’s existence?
The various personalities may or may not be aware of the others, and at least two of the personalities take turns controlling the individual’s behavior.

47. 10. Explain how the different personalities may be different.
Each personality is likely to be different from the others in several ways:
Voice
Facial expressions
Handedness
Age
Gender
Even allergies or eyeglass prescriptions

48. 11. What are the main causes of dissociative identity disorder?
People who are diagnosed with DID usually were severely abused in childhood.
They typically suffered severe physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse.
Less often, DID is preceded by other types of trauma.

49. 12. What is depersonalization disorder. How is this disorder described
12. What is depersonalization disorder? How is this disorder described? What causes it?
Depersonalization disorder refers to feelings of detachment from one’s mental processes or body.
People with this disorder describe feeling as though they are outside their bodies, observing themselves at a distance.
Depersonalization is a common symptom of other psychological disorders in addition to being a disorder in its own right.
After depression and anxiety, it is the most common complaint among psychiatric patients.
Depersonalization disorder is likely to be preceded by a stressful event.

50. 13. How do psychoanalytic theorists explain dissociative disorders?
According to psychoanalytic theory, people dissociate in order to repress unacceptable urges.
In dissociative amnesia or fugue, for example, the person forgets the disturbing urges they have.
In DID, the person expresses undesirable urges by developing other personalities that can take responsibility for him/her.

51. 14. How do learning theorists explain dissociative disorders?
Individuals with dissociative disorders have learned not to think about disturbing events in order to avoid feelings of guilt, shame, or pain.
They dissociate themselves from the stressful events by selectively forgetting them.
This is reinforced by the reduced anxiety they feel when the trauma is forgotten.

52. Chapter 18 Lecture Questions Sections 4 & 5 (pages 421-425)
Psychology
Chapter 18
Lecture Questions
Sections 4 & 5 (pages )

53. 1. What does somatization refer to?
Comes from the Greek word for “body”
Refers to psychological stress leading to unexplained physical symptoms like paralysis.
Used to be called “psychosomatic”.

54. 2. What is malingering?
Conscious attempt to avoid work, school, or other responsibilities.
People with somatoform disorders do not intentionally fake their illness.
The honestly feel pain or believe they cannot move their limbs.

56. 3. Describe conversion disorder and give an example.
People with conversion disorder experience a change in or loss of physical functioning in a major part of the body for which there is no known medical explanation.
For example, they may suddenly develop the inability to see at night or to move their legs, even though no medical explanation can be found for their sudden physical disability.

57. 4. What is hypochondriasis?
Also called hypochondria, it is defined by a person’s unrealistic preoccupation with thoughts that he or she has a serious disease.
People with it become absorbed by minor physical symptoms and sensations, convinced that the symptoms indicate a serious medical illness.
These people maintain their erroneous beliefs despite reassurances from doctors that there is nothing physically wrong with them.
Some people will visit doctor after doctor, seeking the one physician who will find the cause of their symptoms.

59. 5. How do conversion disorder and hypochondriasis differ?
Conversion disorder is characterized by a sudden and severe loss of physical functioning.
Hypochondriasis is an unhealthy fear of having an illness.

60. 6. What are the two types of mood disorders
6. What are the two types of mood disorders? What is the difference between the two?
Major depression
Bipolar Disorder (formerly called manic-depression)

61. 7. How prevalent is depression? How common is it?
Depression is by far the most common of all the psychological disorders.
Estimated 100 million suffer from it world wide
8-18% will experience it in their lifetime.

62. 8. List five symptoms of depression.
Persistent depressed mood for most of the day.
Loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities.
Significant weight loss or gain due to appetite changes.
Sleeping more or less than usual.
Speeding up or slowing down of physical and emotional reactions.
Fatigue or loss of energy.
Feelings of worthlessness or unfounded guilt.
Reduced ability to concentrate or make meaningful decisions.
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

63. 9. What must happen for someone to be diagnosed as having major depression?
For a diagnosis of major depression to be made, at least one of the individual’s five symptoms must be one of the first two symptoms on the list.
Persistent depressed mood
Loss of interest in favorite activities
Additionally, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks, and occur nearly every day during that period.

64. 10. What percentage of people with major depression commits suicide?
Severe depression calls for immediate treatment—as many as 15% of severely depressed individuals eventually commit suicide!

65. 11. What did bipolar disorder used to be called?
Formerly called manic depression.
It is characterized by dramatic ups and downs in mood.
Many famous people suffered from this disorder including:
Vincent Van Gogh
Ludwig Beethoven
Abraham Lincoln
Jim Carey
Robert Downey Jr.
Ben Stiller

66. 12. What is mania? Give three examples of mood associated with the manic phase.
Mania is characterized by extreme excitement characterized by hyperactivity and chaotic behavior.
Manic moods are also characterized by:
Inflated self-esteem
Inability to sit still or sleep restfully
Pressure to keep talking and switching from topic to topic
Racing thoughts
Difficulty concentrating

67. 13. Give some examples of manic behavior.
Individuals may appear highly excited and act silly or argumentative.
They may have delusions (beliefs that are not true) about their own superior abilities or about others being jealous of them.
They may also experience hallucinations such as hearing imaginary voices or seeing things that aren’t there.

68. Manic behavior (continued)
These individuals may also engage in impulsive behavior like:
Wild spending sprees.
Quitting a job to pursue a wild dream.
Making foolish business investments.

70. Chapter 18 Lecture Questions Sections 6 & 7 (pages 426-431)
Psychology
Chapter 18
Lecture Questions
Sections 6 & 7 (pages )

71. 1. What characterizes schizophrenia
1. What characterizes schizophrenia? When does schizophrenia first appear?
Usually considered the most serious of the psychological disorders.
Can be very disabling, and even lead to the affected person’s inability to function independently.
It is characterized by a loss of contact with reality.
It usually first appears in young adulthood, although it may occur at other ages.
It can also appear very suddenly.

72. 2. What are the most obvious symptoms of schizophrenia
2. What are the most obvious symptoms of schizophrenia? What are auditory hallucinations? What are delusions of grandeur?
The most obvious symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders.
Auditory hallucinations usually involve the hearing of imaginary voices.
The voices may tell the person what to do or comment on their look or behavior.
These voices are very “real” to the schizophrenia and often torment the individual to the point of not being able to recognize these voices with the voices of real people.
Delusions of grandeur
People believe they are superior to others.
Such individuals may believe that they are famous or on a special mission to save the world.
Or they believe they are being pursued by the FBI or CIA. (persecution)

73. 3. How is a person’s speech affected by schizophrenia?
The thoughts of a person may skip from topic to topic in an illogical way, thus creating a disjointed jumble of words that make little sense when they try to speak.
This speech is sounds disorganized and confused.
They may also repeat the same word or phrase over and over.
They may repeat words or phrases that another person has spoken.
They may invent new words, that amount to nonsense.

74. 4. What are some other symptoms of schizophrenia?
People with schizophrenia experience other symptoms that result in a decreased ability to function, these include:
Social withdrawal
Loss of social skills
Loss of normal emotional responsiveness

75. 5. What is a catatonic stupor?
An immobile expressionless, comalike state.
It is as if the person has completely withdrawn into themselves, not responding to outside stimuli.
This person may also have “waxy flexibility” or the ability to hold a certain position with their limbs for hours without moving them.

76. 6. How many people have schizophrenia in the U.S.?
2 million

77. 7. Describe paranoid schizophrenia.
People have delusions or frequent auditory hallucinations, all relating to a single theme.
These people may have delusions of grandeur, persecution, or jealousy.
They may be agitated, confused, and afraid.

78. 8. Describe disorganized schizophrenia.
People with disorganized schizophrenia are incoherent in their thought and speech and disorganized in their behavior.
People who suffer from disorganized schizophrenia are also either emotionless or show inappropriate emotions.
Typically they act silly and giddy, and they tend to speak nonsense.

79. 9. Describe catatonic schizophrenia.
The most obvious symptom is disturbance of movement.
Activity may slow to a stupor and then suddenly change to agitation.
Individuals with this disorder may hold unusual, uncomfortable body positions for long periods of time, even after their arms and legs swell and stiffen.
Waxy flexibility

80. 10. Explain why a multi-factoral model schizophrenia may help in explaining the disorder.
Remember there is still no cure for this disease, and the causes are not known either.
The multi-factoral model Illustrates how several biological and psychological factors may interact in the development of the disorder.
In this model, genetic factors create a vulnerability, or susceptibility, to schizophrenia.
Among people who are genetically vulnerable, other factors, such as trauma during birth, may lead to brain injury and the subsequent development of schizophrenia.
Once the disorder develops, its course may be negatively affected by the family environment or stress.
Another factor may be the maturing of the frontal cortex.
The model also suggests that environmental factors alone are not enough to lead to the development of schizophrenia.
Thus, people who are not genetically vulnerable are unlikely to develop the disorder.

81. 11. What are personality disorders
11. What are personality disorders? What is the difference between personality disorders and other psychological disorders?
Personality disorders are patterns of inflexible traits that disrupt social life or work and/or distress the affected individual.
They are enduring traits that are major components of the individual’s personality.
Psychological disorders are episodes of mental illness an individual experiences.
They usually show up by late adolescence and affect all aspects of the individual’s personality, including thought processes, emotions, and behavior.

82. 12. Describe paranoid personality disorder.
Distrustful & suspicious of others.
Difficult to get along with.

83. 13. Describe schizoid personality disorder.
Little or no interest in having relationships with other people.
Lack normal emotional responsiveness.

84. 14. Describe antisocial personality disorder.
Persistent disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.
Do not feel guilt or remorse for their actions.

85. 15. Describe avoidant personality disorder.
They want relationships with others but fear rejection and disapproval.
They are shy and withdrawn.

86. 16. Why do you think people with antisocial personality disorder are often more difficult to treat than people with other types of personality disorders?
Because people with antisocial personality disorder do not care about the negative effects of their behavior.

87. 17. Name and describe any other personality disorder not already mentioned.
Obsessive-compulsive
Obsession with orderliness, perfectionism, and control
Schizotypal-
Acute discomfort in close relationships.
Borderline-
Instability in relationships.
Histrionic-
Excessive emotionality.
Narcissistic-
Need for admiration.
Dependent-
Clinging