Defining Abnormal Psychology
What framework uses deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger to define abnormality?
Four D’s of Abnormality
What three components make up the biopsychosocial model?
Biological, psychological, social
What is the primary purpose of clinical assessment?
Systematic evaluation of psychological functioning
What is the key difference between fear and anxiety?
Fear is immediate; anxiety is future-oriented
What are obsessions?
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts or urges
Abnormal behavior is best understood as existing on what rather than as a yes/no category?
A continuum
In the diathesis–stress model, what does “diathesis” mean?
Underlying vulnerability or predisposition
What term refers to the consistency of a measurement?
Reliability
What disorder requires exposure to a traumatic event for diagnosis?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What are compulsions designed to do?
Reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes
Why must cultural context be considered when defining abnormal behavior?
Norms vary across cultures; behavior may be adaptive in one context
Why does exposure to stress or trauma not lead to disorder in everyone?
Individual differences in vulnerability and protective factors
What term refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure?
Why do not all people exposed to trauma develop PTSD?
Differences in vulnerability, coping, and support
Why do compulsions maintain OCD over time?
They are negatively reinforcing
Which historical tradition explained abnormal behavior as the result of demons or spirits?
Supernatural tradition
Which approach emphasizes interaction among causes rather than a single explanation?
Integrative approach
Why can a test be reliable but not valid?
It can consistently measure the wrong construct
What role does avoidance play in maintaining anxiety disorders?
It negatively reinforces anxiety by reducing distress temporarily
What does ERP stand for?
Exposure and Response Prevention
Why is abnormal psychology concerned with patterns rather than single behaviors?
Context, duration, and impairment matter more than isolated actions
Give one ethical advantage of using an integrative model.
Prevents oversimplification and supports individualized care
Why is relying on only one assessment method ethically problematic?
It increases bias and risk of misdiagnosis
How does the diathesis–stress model help explain anxiety and trauma disorders?
Stress activates underlying vulnerabilities
Why must ERP include response prevention to be effective?
To break the obsession–compulsion cycle