Hey there, fellow Psychology Nerds!
This blog here is to help you navigate through the unit of Psychological Disorders as well as help you find websites and other helpful tools to help you throughout this year of AP Psych. In this blog here, I will give you several multiple choice questions, with answers, as well as links to different sites or articles to help you answer them, and a couple free response questions too. I know you just love those free response questions, and if you don't yet, you will by the end of the year. There will also be links to different sites to help you with answering those questions. On top of everything that may happen this year, make sure to have fun and ask questions in your class. Trust me, it's worth it. So don't stress too much; before you know it, you'll be writing the College Board Exam, and it will be over in the blink of an eye. So have fun, get to know the people in your class, and don't forget to do your study cards...
Enjoy your year of Advanced Placement Psychology!
(P.S. It may make you question your sanity sometimes, but it's worth it! Also, don't procrastinate... It's not worth it...)
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
All The Terms You Should Know For This Unit
Here are the terms that you most definitely should know for this unit. If you understand what they are, any free response that you have to answer regarding them should be a breeze! Good luck!
Psychological Disorder: characterized as deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts feelings and behaviors
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): characterized by one or more of the following; extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
Medical Model: this is the idea that any disease has a physical cause that can be diagnosed, treated, and often cured through medical treatment
DSM-IV-TR: the American Psychological Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, "Text Revision" It is used to help classify psychological disorders
Anxiety Disorders: psychol
ogical disorders that are often marked by distressing and persistent anxiety or being unable to adapt properly to reduce the anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: the anxiety disorder in which the person is in a constant state of tension, are apprehensive, and the autonomic nervous system is constantly aroused
Panic Disorder: this disorder is marked by unpredictable, sometimes minute-long episodes of feeling intense dread in which the sufferer may be terrified and may be accompanied by physical pain in the chest, the feeling of choking, or any others symptoms that might cause one to be frightened
Phobia: this is characterized by persistent and irrational fear, and the avoidance of specific objects, activities or situations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: this is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by repetitive thoughts and actions that are unwanted and disruptive to normal life
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a disorder that is characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and insomnia that last for four or more weeks after a traumatic event is experienced
Post-Traumatic Growth: positive psychological changes that are caused by struggling with extremely difficult and challenging life crises and circumstances
Mood Disorders: these are psychological disorders that are marked by emotional extremes
Major Depressive Disorder: a mood disorder in which the patient experiences, without drugs or any underlying medical condition, a significant depression or lessened interest or pleasure in activities for two or more weeks.
Mania: this is a mood disorder that is characterized by a crazy, hyperactive, extremely optimistic state
Bipolar Disorder: a disorder in which a person experiences the same feelings of hopelessness and lethargy of depression as well as the overexcited state of mania
Schizophrenia: severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed and distorted perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and behaviors.
Psychosis: This disorder is when a patient loses contact with all reality, and begins to experience irrational ideas, and their perceptions distorted
Delusions: Delusions are false beliefs, often of grandeur or persecution, that accompany many psychotic disorders
Dissociative Disorders: Disorders in which a persons conscious awareness becomes separated from their previous thoughts, memories and feelings
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): A rare dissociative disorder where a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities
Anorexia Nervosa: This is an eating disorder in which a person, usually a teenaged girl, starves themself in order to stay thin, despite being severely underweight
Bulimia Nervosa: Another eating disorder, but this one is when a person, again often a teenaged girl, alternates between binge eating, and purging, or fasting
Binge-Eating Disorder: Significant episodes of eating past the point of full, and then followed by the feeling in digust, guilt, or distress, but without the purging or fasting that follows with bulimia nervosa
Personality Disorders: Psychological disorders that are characterised by inflexible and enduring behavioral patterns that impair normal social functioning
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Personality disorder in which a person, usually a man exhibits an extreme lack of conscience for any wrongdoing, even when it's towards friends or family. They may be ruthless and aggressive, or a clever con artist
Psychological Disorder: characterized as deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts feelings and behaviors
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): characterized by one or more of the following; extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
Medical Model: this is the idea that any disease has a physical cause that can be diagnosed, treated, and often cured through medical treatment
DSM-IV-TR: the American Psychological Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, "Text Revision" It is used to help classify psychological disorders
Anxiety Disorders: psychol
ogical disorders that are often marked by distressing and persistent anxiety or being unable to adapt properly to reduce the anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: the anxiety disorder in which the person is in a constant state of tension, are apprehensive, and the autonomic nervous system is constantly aroused
Panic Disorder: this disorder is marked by unpredictable, sometimes minute-long episodes of feeling intense dread in which the sufferer may be terrified and may be accompanied by physical pain in the chest, the feeling of choking, or any others symptoms that might cause one to be frightened
Phobia: this is characterized by persistent and irrational fear, and the avoidance of specific objects, activities or situations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: this is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by repetitive thoughts and actions that are unwanted and disruptive to normal life
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a disorder that is characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and insomnia that last for four or more weeks after a traumatic event is experienced
Post-Traumatic Growth: positive psychological changes that are caused by struggling with extremely difficult and challenging life crises and circumstances
Mood Disorders: these are psychological disorders that are marked by emotional extremes
Major Depressive Disorder: a mood disorder in which the patient experiences, without drugs or any underlying medical condition, a significant depression or lessened interest or pleasure in activities for two or more weeks.
Mania: this is a mood disorder that is characterized by a crazy, hyperactive, extremely optimistic state
Bipolar Disorder: a disorder in which a person experiences the same feelings of hopelessness and lethargy of depression as well as the overexcited state of mania
Schizophrenia: severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed and distorted perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and behaviors.
Psychosis: This disorder is when a patient loses contact with all reality, and begins to experience irrational ideas, and their perceptions distorted
Delusions: Delusions are false beliefs, often of grandeur or persecution, that accompany many psychotic disorders
Dissociative Disorders: Disorders in which a persons conscious awareness becomes separated from their previous thoughts, memories and feelings
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): A rare dissociative disorder where a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities
Anorexia Nervosa: This is an eating disorder in which a person, usually a teenaged girl, starves themself in order to stay thin, despite being severely underweight
Bulimia Nervosa: Another eating disorder, but this one is when a person, again often a teenaged girl, alternates between binge eating, and purging, or fasting
Binge-Eating Disorder: Significant episodes of eating past the point of full, and then followed by the feeling in digust, guilt, or distress, but without the purging or fasting that follows with bulimia nervosa
Personality Disorders: Psychological disorders that are characterised by inflexible and enduring behavioral patterns that impair normal social functioning
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Personality disorder in which a person, usually a man exhibits an extreme lack of conscience for any wrongdoing, even when it's towards friends or family. They may be ruthless and aggressive, or a clever con artist
Multiple Choice Questions Part 1
Here are some multiple choice questions for you to practice with. I will put the answers to all the questions below.
1) A psychological disorder is best defined as:
(a) distressful thoughts and behaviors
(b) deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
(c) abnormal thoughts and behaviors
(d) a person suddenly showing symptoms of insanity
2) Post-traumatic stress disorder is a(n):
(a) anxiety disorder
(b) personality disorder
(c) attitude problem
(d) mood disorder
(e) dysthymic disorder
3) Calista, a third year psychology student, believes that her car has been bugged, and that the government is listening to all her conversations. Driving to work, she is worried that every car that follows her for more than two blocks is a government agent waiting to arrest her and take her in for questioning. She never goes to the same grocery store more than once in a month, afraid that an agent might pick her up at the store. Based on this information, Calista seems to be experiencing:
(a) delusions of grandeur
(b) delusions of persecution
(c) hallucinations
(d) obsessions
(e) compulsions
4) Carson complains that he has been feeling fearful, and on edge a lot of the time, but cannot find a reason why. Often, without warning, his heart will pound out of his chest, his hands will get clammy, and he will begin to sweat. In this case, Carson most likely has:
(a) a phobia
(b) obsessive-compulsive disorder
(c) dissociative disorder
(d) generalized anxiety disorder
(e) dysthymic disorder
(5) Bulimia Nervosa is considered to be what kind of disorder?
(a) body dysmorphic
(b) mood
(c) personality
(d) dissociative
(e) dysthymic
(6) A somatoform disorder is best defined as:
(a) mental illnesses that cause bodily symptoms, most often pain, which cannot be linked back to an actual physical cause.
(b) people faking pain in order to garner sympathy from peers
(c) pent up feelings manifesting themselves as physical symtoms
(d) unresolved childhood conflicts that have affected the persons relationship with his or her parents
(e) constant feeling of helplessness and confusion
(7) People who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder often do which of the following?
(a) experience anxiety-producing thoughts, images or impulses
(b) have false beliefs despite evidence stating the contrary
(c) have panic attacks
(d) have sensory or perceptual experiences that occur without external stimulus
(e) have sporadic periods of feeling like they are incomplete without their obsessions
(8) What is a culture-bound disorder?
(a) a disorder that is bound to happen in most cultures
(b) a disorder particular to a specific cultural context
(c) a disorder not included in the DSM-V's diagnostic categories
(d) a disorder whose onset is heavily influenced by cultural factors
(e) a disorder that is caused due to opposing beliefs between two cultures
(9) Which is true about people suffering from anorexia nervosa?
(a) they do not binge eat
(b) they are relatively physically healthy
(c) they tend to believe that they won't gain any weight
(d) most people suffering from anorexia nervosa are not teenaged girls
(e) they do not have, nor can maintain a normal body weight
(10) Which is likely true about somatoform disorders?
(a) the sufferers intentionally produce their symptoms
(b) the symptoms are caused by a traceable medical reason or condition
(c) the sufferer pays much too much attention to the bodily symptoms
(d) the sufferer does not actually experience any real symptoms
(e) the sufferer has amnesia about the major even that triggered the somatoform disorder
Answers and reasons
:
1) the correct answer is (b). This is how it is defined in Myers Psychology Textbook, tenth edition. In the DSM-5, they describe a psychological disorder as: "a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects dysfuntion in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functions."
2) the correct answer is (a). The Myers Psychology Textbook defines anxiety disorders as: "Psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety." People who suffer from PTSD are often plagued by distressing nightmares, and flashbacks, causing extreme anxiety, and fear. Often times these nightmares, and flashbacks affect their ability to function in regular, everyday settings that someone without PTSD would be able to manage.
3) the correct answer is (b). Calista falsely believes that she is being listened to, followed, and that the agents are out to get her.
4) the correct answer is (d). People suffering from GAD often feel anxious, on edge and stressed for no apparent reason, and will feel this way all the time.
5) the correct answer is (a). Body dysmorphic disorder is described as psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects that they find with their body. Anorexia nervosa could also be considered a body dysmorphic disorder.
6) the correct answer is (a). Somatoform disorders are described as mental illnesses that cause bodily symptoms, including pain. The symptoms can't be traced back to any physical cause. And they are not the result of substance abuse or another mental illness. People with somatoform disorders are not faking their symptoms.
7) the correct answer is (a). People who suffer from OCD experience uncontrollable and distressing thoughts or obsessions that make it hard for them to function normally. In order to try to stem these distressing thoughts or obsessions, they will act upon these anxiety inducing thoughts or feelings.
8) the correct answer is (b). Culture-bound disorders may occur over a couple different cultures, and in different countries where these cultures are present. As of now, there have been no disorders that have been found to be the exact same no matter where you are in the world.
9) the correct answer is (e). People who suffer from anorexia nervosa tend to be severely underweight. Even if they gain weight, it is often that they will not be able to maintain this weight without professional help.
10) the correct answer is (c). Often what will happen with someone who suffers from somatoform disorder, is that they will become obsessed with their physical symptoms that it overcomes them.
1) A psychological disorder is best defined as:
(a) distressful thoughts and behaviors
(b) deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
(c) abnormal thoughts and behaviors
(d) a person suddenly showing symptoms of insanity
2) Post-traumatic stress disorder is a(n):
(a) anxiety disorder
(b) personality disorder
(c) attitude problem
(d) mood disorder
(e) dysthymic disorder
3) Calista, a third year psychology student, believes that her car has been bugged, and that the government is listening to all her conversations. Driving to work, she is worried that every car that follows her for more than two blocks is a government agent waiting to arrest her and take her in for questioning. She never goes to the same grocery store more than once in a month, afraid that an agent might pick her up at the store. Based on this information, Calista seems to be experiencing:
(a) delusions of grandeur
(b) delusions of persecution
(c) hallucinations
(d) obsessions
(e) compulsions
4) Carson complains that he has been feeling fearful, and on edge a lot of the time, but cannot find a reason why. Often, without warning, his heart will pound out of his chest, his hands will get clammy, and he will begin to sweat. In this case, Carson most likely has:
(a) a phobia
(b) obsessive-compulsive disorder
(c) dissociative disorder
(d) generalized anxiety disorder
(e) dysthymic disorder
(5) Bulimia Nervosa is considered to be what kind of disorder?
(a) body dysmorphic
(b) mood
(c) personality
(d) dissociative
(e) dysthymic
(6) A somatoform disorder is best defined as:
(a) mental illnesses that cause bodily symptoms, most often pain, which cannot be linked back to an actual physical cause.
(b) people faking pain in order to garner sympathy from peers
(c) pent up feelings manifesting themselves as physical symtoms
(d) unresolved childhood conflicts that have affected the persons relationship with his or her parents
(e) constant feeling of helplessness and confusion
(7) People who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder often do which of the following?
(a) experience anxiety-producing thoughts, images or impulses
(b) have false beliefs despite evidence stating the contrary
(c) have panic attacks
(d) have sensory or perceptual experiences that occur without external stimulus
(e) have sporadic periods of feeling like they are incomplete without their obsessions
(8) What is a culture-bound disorder?
(a) a disorder that is bound to happen in most cultures
(b) a disorder particular to a specific cultural context
(c) a disorder not included in the DSM-V's diagnostic categories
(d) a disorder whose onset is heavily influenced by cultural factors
(e) a disorder that is caused due to opposing beliefs between two cultures
(9) Which is true about people suffering from anorexia nervosa?
(a) they do not binge eat
(b) they are relatively physically healthy
(c) they tend to believe that they won't gain any weight
(d) most people suffering from anorexia nervosa are not teenaged girls
(e) they do not have, nor can maintain a normal body weight
(10) Which is likely true about somatoform disorders?
(a) the sufferers intentionally produce their symptoms
(b) the symptoms are caused by a traceable medical reason or condition
(c) the sufferer pays much too much attention to the bodily symptoms
(d) the sufferer does not actually experience any real symptoms
(e) the sufferer has amnesia about the major even that triggered the somatoform disorder
Answers and reasons
:
1) the correct answer is (b). This is how it is defined in Myers Psychology Textbook, tenth edition. In the DSM-5, they describe a psychological disorder as: "a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects dysfuntion in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functions."
2) the correct answer is (a). The Myers Psychology Textbook defines anxiety disorders as: "Psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety." People who suffer from PTSD are often plagued by distressing nightmares, and flashbacks, causing extreme anxiety, and fear. Often times these nightmares, and flashbacks affect their ability to function in regular, everyday settings that someone without PTSD would be able to manage.
3) the correct answer is (b). Calista falsely believes that she is being listened to, followed, and that the agents are out to get her.
4) the correct answer is (d). People suffering from GAD often feel anxious, on edge and stressed for no apparent reason, and will feel this way all the time.
5) the correct answer is (a). Body dysmorphic disorder is described as psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects that they find with their body. Anorexia nervosa could also be considered a body dysmorphic disorder.
6) the correct answer is (a). Somatoform disorders are described as mental illnesses that cause bodily symptoms, including pain. The symptoms can't be traced back to any physical cause. And they are not the result of substance abuse or another mental illness. People with somatoform disorders are not faking their symptoms.
7) the correct answer is (a). People who suffer from OCD experience uncontrollable and distressing thoughts or obsessions that make it hard for them to function normally. In order to try to stem these distressing thoughts or obsessions, they will act upon these anxiety inducing thoughts or feelings.
8) the correct answer is (b). Culture-bound disorders may occur over a couple different cultures, and in different countries where these cultures are present. As of now, there have been no disorders that have been found to be the exact same no matter where you are in the world.
9) the correct answer is (e). People who suffer from anorexia nervosa tend to be severely underweight. Even if they gain weight, it is often that they will not be able to maintain this weight without professional help.
10) the correct answer is (c). Often what will happen with someone who suffers from somatoform disorder, is that they will become obsessed with their physical symptoms that it overcomes them.
Different Websites You Should Check Out
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/Psychological%20Disorders/psychological_disorders.htm
This website here is a good practice to see what all you should study when it comes to Psychological Disorders. This has 95 different multiple choice questions for you to practice with. I highly recommend checking it out.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/psychopathology/mcq/chapter11.asp
Here's another website to check out. It also has some multiple choice questions to do, along with the answers, and an explanation for the answer, so that you may understand the concept the question's asking about better.
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/disorders/section1.rhtml
Another site that will help you figure out some different possiblities of questions that might be on the college board exam. Using these different resources will also help you to get used to doing multiple choice questions written by someone other than Ms. Wood. While these one's don't necessarily have the answers as to why the correct answers are what they are, but I do think with a little bit of research, and a teeny bit of common sense, you should be able to figure out why answers are the way they are. This site is also just really good at giving a bit of a better (in some cases) overview of what these things are actually about.
http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_PX14_clinpsych/244/62717/16055571.cw/content/index.html
While this quiz is quite short, I do think that you could benefit from at least taking a look at all four of these websites to be able to help you do more multiple choice style questions. I have taken a couple of questions from each resource, so some of them may look familiar to you.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rethinking-psychology/201307/the-new-definition-mental-disorder
Here is one final link to an article, that describes better than I ever could the difference in definitions in the DSM-IV and the DSM-V. The article covers why it is so hard to define something that is in the brain, rather than manifests itself in physical symptoms, and how right now it is more, which definition seems to fit our current need and purpose. I think it does a great job at describing the current and a past definition of psychological disorders both.
This website here is a good practice to see what all you should study when it comes to Psychological Disorders. This has 95 different multiple choice questions for you to practice with. I highly recommend checking it out.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/psychopathology/mcq/chapter11.asp
Here's another website to check out. It also has some multiple choice questions to do, along with the answers, and an explanation for the answer, so that you may understand the concept the question's asking about better.
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/disorders/section1.rhtml
Another site that will help you figure out some different possiblities of questions that might be on the college board exam. Using these different resources will also help you to get used to doing multiple choice questions written by someone other than Ms. Wood. While these one's don't necessarily have the answers as to why the correct answers are what they are, but I do think with a little bit of research, and a teeny bit of common sense, you should be able to figure out why answers are the way they are. This site is also just really good at giving a bit of a better (in some cases) overview of what these things are actually about.
http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_PX14_clinpsych/244/62717/16055571.cw/content/index.html
While this quiz is quite short, I do think that you could benefit from at least taking a look at all four of these websites to be able to help you do more multiple choice style questions. I have taken a couple of questions from each resource, so some of them may look familiar to you.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rethinking-psychology/201307/the-new-definition-mental-disorder
Here is one final link to an article, that describes better than I ever could the difference in definitions in the DSM-IV and the DSM-V. The article covers why it is so hard to define something that is in the brain, rather than manifests itself in physical symptoms, and how right now it is more, which definition seems to fit our current need and purpose. I think it does a great job at describing the current and a past definition of psychological disorders both.
Multiple Choice Questions Part 2
1) What best describes bipolar disorder?
(a) mood swings
(b) episodes of extreme mania followed by episodes of severe depression
(c) feelings of joy and excitement
(d) periods of increased body function
(e) the urge to hug every polar bear in sight
2) What is Mania?
(a) elevated feelings of giddyness
(b) a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state
(c) feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
(d) feeling of uneasiness and unrest
(e) a dissociative disorder
3) What is dissociative identity disorder?
(a) a disorder in which a person cannot remember a traumatic life event
(b) a disorder in which the person inexplicably falls straight into REM sleep
(c) a disorder in which someone begins to feel like they are in the wrong place
(d) a disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct alternating personalities
(e) a disorder in which two people switch bodies, and live each others lives
4) The relationship between schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease is that:
(a) both are caused by too little dopamine.
(b) both are treated by antipsychotic drugs.
(c) both can be caused by excessive use of amphetamines.
(d) schizophrenia is associated with too much dopamine and Parkinson’s with too little.
(e) Parkinson’s is associated with too much dopamine and schizophrenia with too little.
5) Juan hears voices that tell him to kill people. Juan is experiencing
(a) delusions
(b) obsessions
(c) anxiety
(d) hallucinations
(e) compulsions
6) Which of the following is not an anxiety disorder?
(a) obsessive-compulsive disorder
(b) conversion disorder
(c) zoophobia
(d) post-traumatic stress disorder
(e) panic disorder
7) Which of the following best describes schizophrenia?
(a) a mood swing
(b) an eating disorder
(c) a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking
(d) a disorder in which the person believes that they are an animal and must act accordingly
(e) a personality disorder in which a person cannot function normally, and must be treated medically.
8) Depression is associated with low levels of:
(a) acetylcholine
(b) epinephrine
(c) serotonin
(d) dopamine
(e) GABA
9) Andrew is unable to move his right arm. He has been to scores of physicians seeking a cure, but none have been able to find any physiological reason for his paralysis. Andrew may be suffering from:
(a) conversion disorder
(b) fugue
(c) hypochondriasis
(d) SAD
(e) OCD
10) “I am the most important person in the world” is a statement that might characterize the views of someone with which of the following personality disorders?
(a) schizoid
(b) antisocial
(c) histrionic
(d) dependent
(e) narcissistic
Answers and reasons:
1) the correct answer is (b). In Myers' Psychology text, Tenth Edition, bipolar disorder is described as a mood disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania
2) the correct answer is (b). This is the exact way that it is defined in the Myers Psychology Text
3) the correct answer is (d). Again, this is almost exactly how it is defined in the Myers Psychology Text, as well as other sources. This is a rare psychological disorder, and not very many people have it in the world. It is estimated to affect 1% of the population
4) the correct answer is (d). Schizophrenia is associated with high levels of dopamine and Parkinson’s disease with low levels of dopamine. Schizophrenia is often treated with antipsychotic drugs. Excessive use of amphetamines is associated with both high levels of dopamine and schizophrenic-like symptoms
5) the correct answer is (d). Perceiving sensory stimulation when none exists defines a hallucination. Delusions are irrational thoughts but do not involve a belief in the existence of sensory stimulation. Obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts. Compulsions are unwanted, repetitive actions that people engage in to reduce anxiety.
6) the correct answer is (b). Conversion disorder is a type of somatoform disorder in which a psychological problem manifests itself in one, often serious, physical symptom such as blindness or paralysis. All of the other disorders listed are anxiety disorders.
7) the correct answer is (c). Schizophrenia is a personality disorder that affects about 1.1 % of Americans, and sometimes goes untreated. A person may experience delusions or hallucinations in their schizophrenic state, and may not be able to separate their hallucinations from reality. Left untreated, schizophrenia will only get worse as it is degenerative.
8) the correct answer is (c). Depression is associated with low levels of serotonin.
9) the correct answer is (a). Andrews’s symptoms suggest he has conversion disorder, a type of somatoform disorder. Fugue is a dissociative disorder which involves amnesia and relocation. Hypochondriasis is a different kind of somatoform disorder that involves constant, minor physical complaints and the belief that these minor problems are indicative of a serious, medical problem. SAD, seasonal affective disorder, is a type of affective disorder in which people become depressed during prolonged periods of bad weather. OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, is an anxiety disorder in which unwanted, persistent thoughts push people to perform unwanted, repetitive actions to reduce anxiety.
10) the correct answer is (e). Narcissism is the love of oneself. People who view themselves as the focus of the world would most likely be classified as having narcissistic personality disorder.
**Several questions have been taken and adapted from Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition**
(a) mood swings
(b) episodes of extreme mania followed by episodes of severe depression
(c) feelings of joy and excitement
(d) periods of increased body function
(e) the urge to hug every polar bear in sight
2) What is Mania?
(a) elevated feelings of giddyness
(b) a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state
(c) feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
(d) feeling of uneasiness and unrest
(e) a dissociative disorder
3) What is dissociative identity disorder?
(a) a disorder in which a person cannot remember a traumatic life event
(b) a disorder in which the person inexplicably falls straight into REM sleep
(c) a disorder in which someone begins to feel like they are in the wrong place
(d) a disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct alternating personalities
(e) a disorder in which two people switch bodies, and live each others lives
4) The relationship between schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease is that:
(a) both are caused by too little dopamine.
(b) both are treated by antipsychotic drugs.
(c) both can be caused by excessive use of amphetamines.
(d) schizophrenia is associated with too much dopamine and Parkinson’s with too little.
(e) Parkinson’s is associated with too much dopamine and schizophrenia with too little.
5) Juan hears voices that tell him to kill people. Juan is experiencing
(a) delusions
(b) obsessions
(c) anxiety
(d) hallucinations
(e) compulsions
6) Which of the following is not an anxiety disorder?
(a) obsessive-compulsive disorder
(b) conversion disorder
(c) zoophobia
(d) post-traumatic stress disorder
(e) panic disorder
7) Which of the following best describes schizophrenia?
(a) a mood swing
(b) an eating disorder
(c) a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking
(d) a disorder in which the person believes that they are an animal and must act accordingly
(e) a personality disorder in which a person cannot function normally, and must be treated medically.
8) Depression is associated with low levels of:
(a) acetylcholine
(b) epinephrine
(c) serotonin
(d) dopamine
(e) GABA
9) Andrew is unable to move his right arm. He has been to scores of physicians seeking a cure, but none have been able to find any physiological reason for his paralysis. Andrew may be suffering from:
(a) conversion disorder
(b) fugue
(c) hypochondriasis
(d) SAD
(e) OCD
10) “I am the most important person in the world” is a statement that might characterize the views of someone with which of the following personality disorders?
(a) schizoid
(b) antisocial
(c) histrionic
(d) dependent
(e) narcissistic
Answers and reasons:
1) the correct answer is (b). In Myers' Psychology text, Tenth Edition, bipolar disorder is described as a mood disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania
2) the correct answer is (b). This is the exact way that it is defined in the Myers Psychology Text
3) the correct answer is (d). Again, this is almost exactly how it is defined in the Myers Psychology Text, as well as other sources. This is a rare psychological disorder, and not very many people have it in the world. It is estimated to affect 1% of the population
4) the correct answer is (d). Schizophrenia is associated with high levels of dopamine and Parkinson’s disease with low levels of dopamine. Schizophrenia is often treated with antipsychotic drugs. Excessive use of amphetamines is associated with both high levels of dopamine and schizophrenic-like symptoms
5) the correct answer is (d). Perceiving sensory stimulation when none exists defines a hallucination. Delusions are irrational thoughts but do not involve a belief in the existence of sensory stimulation. Obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts. Compulsions are unwanted, repetitive actions that people engage in to reduce anxiety.
6) the correct answer is (b). Conversion disorder is a type of somatoform disorder in which a psychological problem manifests itself in one, often serious, physical symptom such as blindness or paralysis. All of the other disorders listed are anxiety disorders.
7) the correct answer is (c). Schizophrenia is a personality disorder that affects about 1.1 % of Americans, and sometimes goes untreated. A person may experience delusions or hallucinations in their schizophrenic state, and may not be able to separate their hallucinations from reality. Left untreated, schizophrenia will only get worse as it is degenerative.
8) the correct answer is (c). Depression is associated with low levels of serotonin.
9) the correct answer is (a). Andrews’s symptoms suggest he has conversion disorder, a type of somatoform disorder. Fugue is a dissociative disorder which involves amnesia and relocation. Hypochondriasis is a different kind of somatoform disorder that involves constant, minor physical complaints and the belief that these minor problems are indicative of a serious, medical problem. SAD, seasonal affective disorder, is a type of affective disorder in which people become depressed during prolonged periods of bad weather. OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, is an anxiety disorder in which unwanted, persistent thoughts push people to perform unwanted, repetitive actions to reduce anxiety.
10) the correct answer is (e). Narcissism is the love of oneself. People who view themselves as the focus of the world would most likely be classified as having narcissistic personality disorder.
**Several questions have been taken and adapted from Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition**
How to write FRQs
Free Response Questions
Question one:
Two-year-old Eli dislikes green vegetables and often refuses to eat them.
(a) How could each of the following theories help explain Eli’s behavior?
• Evolutionary psychology
• Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory
(b) How could Eli’s parents use each of the following psychological phenomena to increase Eli’s consumption of green vegetables?
• Mere exposure effect
• Eli’s lack of Piagetian conservation
• Conformity
• Modeling
• Positive reinforcement
(c) If you were advising Eli’s parents, which one of the approaches listed above would you recommend and why?
Question two:
Oscar recently had an important exam in his American history class. He had not been doing as well in this class as he would have liked. He studied for hours, but he felt ill on the day of the test and did not perform as well as he had hoped.
(a) Explain how each of the following factors could have contributed to Oscar’s disappointing performance.
• General adaptation syndrome
• Depth/levels of processing theory
• Self-fulfilling prophecy
(b) Describe how Oscar could use each of the following psychological principles to improve his future performance.
• Yerkes-Dodson law
• A mnemonic device
• Spacing effect/distributed practice
• Internal locus of control
• Negative reinforcement
Answers and reasons:
1) This question is worth eight marks in total.
Part (a): Evolutionary psychology—Evolutionary psychologists believe that human behavior is motivated by the desire to ensure the survival and proliferation of our genes. By age two, children are able to move about on their own and will therefore encounter new plants, some of which may look like vegetables but, in fact, be dangerous to eat. Therefore, an evolutionary psychologist might say that Eli’s refusal to eat green vegetables is due to a natural avoidance that arises about the time children become independent enough to eat things without supervision
Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory—According to Erikson, from ages one to three children are in a stage that revolves around a conflict between autonomy or shame and doubt. As such, children of this age often try to assert their will, and the word no becomes a common part of their vocabularies. Eli’s refusal to eat the green vegetables his parents so desperately want him to eat may therefore just be a way of asserting his independence.
Part (b): Mere exposure effect—The mere exposure effect says that the more one is exposed to something, the more one comes to like it. Therefore, Eli’s parents could simply serve him green vegetables frequently hoping that with repeated contact, he will come to like them more.
Eli’s lack of Piagetian conservation—According to Piaget, children learn to conserve upon entering the concrete operations stage around age six. Until then, children are typically unable to solve problems that ask them to compare quantities. Eli’s parents may be able to take advantage of this cognitive limitation in how they present his vegetables. For instance, instead of serving Eli many small pieces of celery, they could ask Eli to eat just one (large) celery stalk.
Conformity—People have a natural desire to fit in with others. If Eli’s siblings or cousins or friends eat green vegetables, Eli’s parents may be able to increase his consumption of vegetables by serving them to Eli among a group of people all of whom will eat their green vegetables.
Modeling—Modeling is when someone observes someone else’s behavior and then copies it. While conformity involves fitting into a group, modeling can be done by an individual. Eli’s parents can model eating green vegetables themselves hoping that Eli will notice and copy them.
Positive reinforcement—A reinforcer is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior. Eli’s parents can use positive reinforcement by giving Eli something he wants when he eats his green vegetables. For instance, each day that Eli finishes his vegetables he could be rewarded with a half hour of watching television
Part (c): For this answer, you need to select one of the terms from part (b) and explain why you think that it would help in modifying Eli's behavior. There isn't necessarily a "right" answer for this one, and as long as you make arguments that are factual, concise, and are based on real psychological principles, you should receive some sort of mark for this type of question.
2) This question is worth eight marks total
Part (a): General adaptation syndrome—According to Selye’s general adaptation syndrome, Oscar pushed himself to exhaustion and, as a result, he became ill and his performance suffered.
Depth/levels of processing theory—Oscar may not have studied the material at a deep enough level; levels of processing theory holds that the deeper the level at which one processes information, the more likely one will be to remember it.
Self-fulfilling prophecy—Because Oscar has not been doing well in the class, his teacher may have formed low expectations for him. The teacher may have communicated these expectations to Oscar before or during the exam, thereby increasing the likelihood that Oscar fulfilled those low expectations.
Part (b): Yerkes-Dodson law—The Yerkes-Dodson law states that moderate arousal leads to the best task performance. Oscar should try to make sure that he is at a moderate level of arousal for his future tests.
A mnemonic device—Oscar might use a mnemonic device, such as an acronym, to improve his ability to memorize information for future exams.
Spacing effect/distributed practice—Instead of studying for a long time all at once, Oscar would do well to divide his studying over a greater span of time.
Internal locus of control—If Oscar develops an internal locus of control, he will believe his actions impact his performance and will therefore study, thereby increasing the likelihood that he will succeed in school.
Negative reinforcement—Oscar could negatively reinforce himself for good scores on future tests by allowing himself to skip chores he dislikes on days that he earns those scores.
**Free Response Questions taken from Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition**
Two-year-old Eli dislikes green vegetables and often refuses to eat them.
(a) How could each of the following theories help explain Eli’s behavior?
• Evolutionary psychology
• Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory
(b) How could Eli’s parents use each of the following psychological phenomena to increase Eli’s consumption of green vegetables?
• Mere exposure effect
• Eli’s lack of Piagetian conservation
• Conformity
• Modeling
• Positive reinforcement
(c) If you were advising Eli’s parents, which one of the approaches listed above would you recommend and why?
Question two:
Oscar recently had an important exam in his American history class. He had not been doing as well in this class as he would have liked. He studied for hours, but he felt ill on the day of the test and did not perform as well as he had hoped.
(a) Explain how each of the following factors could have contributed to Oscar’s disappointing performance.
• General adaptation syndrome
• Depth/levels of processing theory
• Self-fulfilling prophecy
(b) Describe how Oscar could use each of the following psychological principles to improve his future performance.
• Yerkes-Dodson law
• A mnemonic device
• Spacing effect/distributed practice
• Internal locus of control
• Negative reinforcement
Answers and reasons:
1) This question is worth eight marks in total.
Part (a): Evolutionary psychology—Evolutionary psychologists believe that human behavior is motivated by the desire to ensure the survival and proliferation of our genes. By age two, children are able to move about on their own and will therefore encounter new plants, some of which may look like vegetables but, in fact, be dangerous to eat. Therefore, an evolutionary psychologist might say that Eli’s refusal to eat green vegetables is due to a natural avoidance that arises about the time children become independent enough to eat things without supervision
Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory—According to Erikson, from ages one to three children are in a stage that revolves around a conflict between autonomy or shame and doubt. As such, children of this age often try to assert their will, and the word no becomes a common part of their vocabularies. Eli’s refusal to eat the green vegetables his parents so desperately want him to eat may therefore just be a way of asserting his independence.
Part (b): Mere exposure effect—The mere exposure effect says that the more one is exposed to something, the more one comes to like it. Therefore, Eli’s parents could simply serve him green vegetables frequently hoping that with repeated contact, he will come to like them more.
Eli’s lack of Piagetian conservation—According to Piaget, children learn to conserve upon entering the concrete operations stage around age six. Until then, children are typically unable to solve problems that ask them to compare quantities. Eli’s parents may be able to take advantage of this cognitive limitation in how they present his vegetables. For instance, instead of serving Eli many small pieces of celery, they could ask Eli to eat just one (large) celery stalk.
Conformity—People have a natural desire to fit in with others. If Eli’s siblings or cousins or friends eat green vegetables, Eli’s parents may be able to increase his consumption of vegetables by serving them to Eli among a group of people all of whom will eat their green vegetables.
Modeling—Modeling is when someone observes someone else’s behavior and then copies it. While conformity involves fitting into a group, modeling can be done by an individual. Eli’s parents can model eating green vegetables themselves hoping that Eli will notice and copy them.
Positive reinforcement—A reinforcer is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior. Eli’s parents can use positive reinforcement by giving Eli something he wants when he eats his green vegetables. For instance, each day that Eli finishes his vegetables he could be rewarded with a half hour of watching television
Part (c): For this answer, you need to select one of the terms from part (b) and explain why you think that it would help in modifying Eli's behavior. There isn't necessarily a "right" answer for this one, and as long as you make arguments that are factual, concise, and are based on real psychological principles, you should receive some sort of mark for this type of question.
2) This question is worth eight marks total
Part (a): General adaptation syndrome—According to Selye’s general adaptation syndrome, Oscar pushed himself to exhaustion and, as a result, he became ill and his performance suffered.
Depth/levels of processing theory—Oscar may not have studied the material at a deep enough level; levels of processing theory holds that the deeper the level at which one processes information, the more likely one will be to remember it.
Self-fulfilling prophecy—Because Oscar has not been doing well in the class, his teacher may have formed low expectations for him. The teacher may have communicated these expectations to Oscar before or during the exam, thereby increasing the likelihood that Oscar fulfilled those low expectations.
Part (b): Yerkes-Dodson law—The Yerkes-Dodson law states that moderate arousal leads to the best task performance. Oscar should try to make sure that he is at a moderate level of arousal for his future tests.
A mnemonic device—Oscar might use a mnemonic device, such as an acronym, to improve his ability to memorize information for future exams.
Spacing effect/distributed practice—Instead of studying for a long time all at once, Oscar would do well to divide his studying over a greater span of time.
Internal locus of control—If Oscar develops an internal locus of control, he will believe his actions impact his performance and will therefore study, thereby increasing the likelihood that he will succeed in school.
Negative reinforcement—Oscar could negatively reinforce himself for good scores on future tests by allowing himself to skip chores he dislikes on days that he earns those scores.
**Free Response Questions taken from Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition**
Works Cited
Works Cited
McEntarffer, R., & Weseley, A. J., Ed.D. (2012). Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series.
Myers, D. G. (2013). Psychology, Tenth Edition. New York, NY: Worth.
Psychological Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2, 2016, from http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC quizes/Psychological Disorders/psychological_disorders.htm
(n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2016, from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/disorders/section1.rhtml
Chapter 1: Multiple choice questions. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2016,from http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_PX14_clinpsych/244/62717/16055571.cw/content/index.html
Psychopathology. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2016, from http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/psychopathology/mcq/chapter11.asp
McEntarffer, R., & Weseley, A. J., Ed.D. (2012). Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series.
Myers, D. G. (2013). Psychology, Tenth Edition. New York, NY: Worth.
Psychological Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2, 2016, from http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC quizes/Psychological Disorders/psychological_disorders.htm
(n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2016, from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/disorders/section1.rhtml
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