AP Psychology : Psychological Abnormalities

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Psychological Abnormalities

Which of the following is true regarding lobotomies?

Possible Answers:

They were developed and popularized by G. Stanley Hall in the 1850s. 

This psychosurgery involves severing connections in the frontal lobe.

They are commonly utilized in practice today.

They are highly effective in treating catatonic symptoms.

This psychosurgery involves creating new neuronal connections in the amygdala to foster appropriate emotional expression.

Correct answer:

This psychosurgery involves severing connections in the frontal lobe.

Explanation:

A lobotomy is a psychosurgical procedure that involves cutting away most of an individual's connections to their prefrontal cortex. This technique was popularized in the 1940s and 1950s to treat highly violent and dangerous patients; however, this surgery rendered them catatonic and unable to express emotion. It is rarely used in practice today. 

Example Question #102 : Treatments

Suzie, a first year medical student, is squeamish at the sight of blood. After months of practice in a medical facility, her reaction to blood begins to lessen. This is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Covert sensitization

Trial-and-error learning

Aversion

Conditioned response

Desensitization 

Correct answer:

Desensitization 

Explanation:

In this instance, Suzie became more used to the sight of blood after periods of exposure. In this way, because of this gradual exposure, she was desensitized to the sight of blood. 

Example Question #103 : Treatments

Which psychological disorder has the highest suicide rate?

Possible Answers:

Bipolar disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Histrionic personality disorder

Dementia

Schizophrenia

Correct answer:

Bipolar disorder

Explanation:

Of all the psychological disorders, bipolar disorder has the highest rate of suicide at 15-20%. Is is directly followed by schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, both around 10-15%. While the factors leading to suicide vary widely, these rates demonstrate the great difficulties that come with the inherent symptoms of disorder.

Example Question #201 : Ap Psychology

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:

III only

I only

I and III

I and II

II 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 #1 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

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

Possible Answers:

Surviving a natural disaster

Surviving a serious bodily injury

Surviving a car accident

All of these could result in post-traumatic stress disorder

Surviving a war

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 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

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

Possible Answers:

Trichotillomania

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder

Panic 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 #2 : Types Of Disorders

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

Possible Answers:

A specific phobia

Manic depression 

Fearfulness 

Paranoia

Generalized anxiety disorder

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 #1 : Anxiety And Trauma Related Disorders

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

Possible Answers:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Dissociative disorder

Specific phobia

Somatoform disorder

Impulse control 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 #1 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

Which of the following is not an anxiety disorder?

Possible Answers:

Panic disorder

Separation anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Specific phobia disorder

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 #3 : Types Of 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

Agoraphobia

Acrophobia

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. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors