TEST BANK FOR

ABNORMAL

PSYCHOLOGY,

10TH EDITION,

RONALD J.

COMER,

JONATHAN S.

COMER

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1. A person who systematically gathers information so as to describe, predict, and explain

abnormality is called a clinical:

A) mentalist.

B) legalist.

C) scientist.

D) practitioner.

2. If a person wants a career focused on detecting, assessing, and treating abnormal

patterns of functioning, that person should look into becoming a clinical:

A) practitioner.

B) researcher.

C) historian.

D) statistician.

3. Which statement is the MOST accurate conclusion about the current state of abnormal

psychology in the United States?

A) There is no single definition of abnormality, no single theoretical understanding of

the causes of mental illness, and no single best treatment.

B) We do know what mental illness is, but we do not understand what causes it or the

best way to treat it.

C) We have not advanced much beyond the demonology era.

D) Today, we understand what causes mental illness and how best to treat it; we can

also define it.

4. Commonly accepted features of abnormality include deviance, distress, dysfunction,

and:

A) danger.

B) docility.

C) delusions.

D) deference.

5. The MOST accurate summary of the field of abnormal psychology at the present time is

that clinical psychologists generally:

A) accept one definition of abnormality and practice one form of treatment.

B) do not accept one definition of abnormality but practice one form of treatment.

C) accept one definition of abnormality but practice more than one form of treatment.

D) do not accept one definition of abnormality and practice more than one form of

treatment.

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6. The stated and unstated rules for proper conduct that a society establishes are referred to

as:

A) norms.

B) culture.

C) morality.

D) conventions.

7. The history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts of a society make up

that society's:

A) laws.

B) norms.

C) culture.

D) conventions.

8. Behavior that violates legal norms is BEST described as:

A) deviant and criminal.

B) distressful and criminal.

C) deviant and psychopathological.

D) distressful and psychopathological.

9. A school-age child is disrespectful and rude to her mother at a family outing. The

MOST accurate description of this behavior is:

A) deviant.

B) criminal.

C) dangerous.

D) psychopathological.

10. Deviant behavior is behavior that:

A) is illegal.

B) violates the society's norms.

C) is dangerous to self or others.

D) causes dysfunction in the individual's life.

11. Aggressive behavior would NOT be viewed as abnormal behavior in a:

A) society that values independence.

B) culture that emphasizes competitiveness.

C) family that has experienced a traumatic event.

D) person who has exhibited this behavior since early childhood.

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12. Which depressed person would be the LEAST likely to be diagnosed with a mental

disorder, because of the specific circumstances present?

A) Someone whose mother was depressed

B) Someone whose community was recently destroyed by a hurricane

C) Someone who was experiencing a chemical brain imbalance

D) Someone who also had an alcohol use disorder

13. If a person experienced anxiety or depression following a significant natural disaster, we

would say that the person was:

A) suffering from a mental illness.

B) deviant but not dangerous.

C) exhibiting a typical reaction.

D) statistically deviant.

14. Which of these individuals would be MOST likely to be classified as exhibiting

abnormal behavior?

A) A person who experiences grief immediately after losing her job and then her

house

B) A person who is nervous about shopping alone for weeks after being attacked by a

mugger

C) A person who always washes his hands immediately after returning home from

grocery shopping

D) A person who engages in multiple checking rituals each day and consequently is

unable to hold down a job

15. Which statement about deviant behavior is TRUE?

A) What is defined as deviant can change over time.

B) What is considered deviant behavior is the same across all cultures.

C) Deviant behavior is a precursor to psychologically abnormal behavior.

D) People who engage in deviant behavior are always unaware that their behavior is

deviant.

16. Morgan hears voices that others do not but is not distressed by them. This illustrates

that:

A) distress must always be used to determine abnormality.

B) behavior that is not really dangerous can never be considered abnormal.

C) distress does not have to be present for a person's behavior to be considered

abnormal.

D) behavior that is not distressful is not abnormal.

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