AP Psychology : Defining Abnormalities and Disorders

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Types Of Disorders

Which of these statements is true of pyrophobia and arachnophobia?

I. Pyrophobia is the fear of fire; arachnophobia is the fear of spiders

II. Pyrophobia is a specific phobia; arachnophobia is a social phobia

III. Pyrophobia is a social phobia; arachnophobia is a specific phobia

Possible Answers:

I and III

I only

II only

I and II

III only

Correct answer:

I only

Explanation:

Pyrophobia and arachnophobia are each fears of a specific stimulus. Pyrophobia (from the Greek "piras") is the fear of fire, while arachnophobia (from the Greek "arachni") is the fear of spiders. Because they are fears of a specific stimulus, they are specific phobias as opposed to social phobias.

Example Question #211 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following events could cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Possible Answers:

Surviving a war

Surviving a car accident

All of these could result in post-traumatic stress disorder

Surviving a serious bodily injury

Surviving a natural disaster

Correct answer:

All of these could result in post-traumatic stress disorder

Explanation:

Post-traumatic stress disorder develops after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, including war, injury, assault, and natural disasters. PTSD is characterized by recurring flashbacks of the traumatic event, nightmares, hyperarousal, and high levels of anxiety.

Example Question #1 : Types Of Disorders

Which of the following is not a type of anxiety disorder?

Possible Answers:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Trichotillomania

Panic disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder

Agoraphobia

Correct answer:

Trichotillomania

Explanation:

Trichotillomania is compulsive hair-pulling, including eyebrows and eyelashes. It is classified as an impulse-control disorder, not an anxiety disorder.

Example Question #3 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

A heightened sense of fear towards a situation or object is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Paranoia

Fearfulness 

Generalized anxiety disorder

A specific phobia

Manic depression 

Correct answer:

A specific phobia

Explanation:

A specific phobia is a fear that is directly focused on some particular trigger, object, or situation. For instance, someone who has a phobia of being the dark will always experience a heightened sense of fear whenever they are in the dark. This is much different from generalizated anxiety, where the triggers for this kind of fear are unclear and the anxiety occurs more generally.

Example Question #2 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

Which of the following conditions causes the person to experience a strong fear response?

Possible Answers:

Specific phobia

Impulse control disorder

Dissociative disorder

Somatoform disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Correct answer:

Specific phobia

Explanation:

Anxiety disorders are characterized by an unreasonable fear or anxiety. Specific phobias, a category of anxiety disorder, are a persistent and irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation.

Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses, while compulsions are recurrent, irresistible actions. A somatoform disorder occurs when there is no identifiable physical cause to explain physical symptoms. Dissociative disorders involve a splitting apart of past experiences from present memory or consciousness. Impulse control disorders are an inability to resist an impulse to perform an action that is harmful. 

Example Question #2 : Types Of Disorders

Which of the following is not an anxiety disorder?

Possible Answers:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Separation anxiety disorder

Panic disorder

Specific phobia disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Correct answer:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Explanation:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not specifically an anxiety disorder; it involves hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive symptomology. The other answer choices are all types of diagnosable anxiety disorders.

Example Question #6 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

What kind of phobia is often comorbid with panic disorder and often inspires people to not want to leave their houses?

Possible Answers:

Mysophobia

Arachnophobia

Acrophobia

Agoraphobia

Claustrophobia

Correct answer:

Agoraphobia

Explanation:

Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces . People who have this condition often want to stay within the closed space of their house. This phobia is often associated with panic disorder.

Claustrophobia is the fear of closed spaces, acrophobia is the fear of heights, arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, and mysophobia is the fear of germs. 

Example Question #3 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

Which of the following is not a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Possible Answers:

Worry about every part of daily life

Worry that becomes unproductive and restrictive

Trouble stopping the worry process

Flashbacks

Muscle tension and fatigue

Correct answer:

Flashbacks

Explanation:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental disorder characterized by excessive worrying. Its symptoms include unproductive worrying, trouble stopping the worry process, worry about every part of daily life, and muscle tension and fatigue.

Flashbacks are one of the most prevalent symptoms of a different disorder—PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Example Question #8 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

All of the following are generally diagnosed during childhood except __________.

Possible Answers:

oppositional defiant disorder

conduct disorder

ADHD

autism spectrum disorder

generalized anxiety disorder

Correct answer:

generalized anxiety disorder

Explanation:

Although many children and adolescents may suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), it is generally not diagnosed until later in development. The other four choices are more frequently diagnosed in those under 18 years old.

Example Question #9 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

Which of the following disorders is characterized by school refusal, and clinging to one's parents?

Possible Answers:

Generalized anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety disorder

General phobia

Dysthymia

Bipolar disorder

Correct answer:

Separation anxiety disorder

Explanation:

Separation anxiety disorder is most common in young children, and is characterized by a consistent refusal to do things that require separation from loved ones. A common symptom is school refusal, which requires an intervention to be designed by a school-based mental health clinician (e.g., school psychologist).

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