Free Abnormal Psychology MCQs with Answers

454 Abnormal Psychology MCQs from Psychology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

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  • A. GABA
  • B. Dopamine
  • C. Serotonin
  • D. Norepine

Explanation: GABA is the brain's major inhibitory neurotransmitter, and reduced GABA activity is associated with excessive neural arousal in many…

Correct answer: GABA
  • A. Unconscious motives
  • B. Poor parenting
  • C. Chemical imbalances
  • D. Anger turned inwardMental Health

Explanation: In the psychodynamic account, depression can result when anger toward a lost or loved object is redirected inward and experienced as…

Correct answer: Anger turned inwardMental Health
  • A. Distress
  • B. Disability
  • C. Depression
  • D. Statistical rarity

Explanation: Psychologists commonly consider distress, disability or dysfunction, and statistical rarity when judging abnormality.

Correct answer: Depression
  • A. Mesmer
  • B. Freud
  • C. Charcot
  • D. Jung

Explanation: Jean-Martin Charcot, a physician and neurologist, used hypnosis systematically to investigate and treat hysteria.

Correct answer: Charcot
  • A. Diary of statistical methodology
  • B. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
  • C. Description of serious mental illness
  • D. Descriptive symptoms and methodologyTry Prep Courses

Explanation: DSM expands to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the American Psychiatric Association's classification manual for…

Correct answer: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
  • A. Major depression
  • B. Bipolar depression
  • C. Schizophrenia
  • D. Post traumatic stressEnroll In Courses

Explanation: Major depression is often called the common cold of mental illness because it is widespread and frequently encountered in clinical and…

Correct answer: Major depression
  • A. Amount of sunlight
  • B. Highway fatalities
  • C. Full moon
  • D. Flowers in bloom

Explanation: Depression rates are associated with available sunlight, partly because reduced light can disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to…

Correct answer: Amount of sunlight
  • A. anxiety
  • B. schizophrenia
  • C. Alzheimer's disease
  • D. nicotine addiction

Explanation: Dysregulated dopamine transmission, especially excessive activity in some pathways, has long been linked with schizophrenia and its…

Correct answer: schizophrenia
  • A. fasting
  • B. malnutrition
  • C. anorexia nervosa
  • D. hypoglycemia

Explanation: Anorexia nervosa involves severe restriction of food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and dangerously low body weight.

Correct answer: anorexia nervosa
  • A. a technique for assessing a man's sexual responsiveness to different types of sexual imagery
  • B. a measure of effect size
  • C. a type of lie detector test
  • D. a technique for assessing the acceptance of rape myths in rapists

Explanation: Phallometry, commonly measured with a penile plethysmograph, records changes in penile blood flow or circumference while a man views…

Correct answer: a technique for assessing a man's sexual responsiveness to different types of sexual imagery
  • A. Distal factors
  • B. Conduct disorder
  • C. Poor parenting
  • D. (b) and (c)

Explanation: In developmental accounts of violent behaviour, distal factors are background influences, while the next stage involves problems such as…

Correct answer: (b) and (c)
  • A. Cognitive interviews
  • B. Offender profiling
  • C. Being community-based
  • D. Focus on relationship with parents

Explanation: Effective offender rehabilitation is more successful when it is community-based, because skills and behavioural changes can be practised…

Correct answer: Being community-based
  • A. Trotiopath
  • B. Psychopath
  • C. Telepath
  • D. Multipath

Explanation: Psychopathy describes a severe pattern of antisocial, callous, manipulative, and often remorseless behaviour, although it is not identical…

Correct answer: Psychopath
  • A. Antisocial behavior
  • B. History of mental illness
  • C. Family criminality
  • D. A and C

Explanation: A history of antisocial behaviour and criminality in the family are established risk indicators for later aggression and violence.

Correct answer: A and C
  • A. Major depression
  • B. Scrupulosity
  • C. Checking
  • D. Repeating

Explanation: Checking, repeating, and scrupulosity are recognised obsessive-compulsive symptoms or symptom themes.

Correct answer: Major depression
  • A. Manic depression
  • B. Dysthymia
  • C. Schizophrenia
  • D. Chronic depression

Explanation: Bipolar disorder was historically called manic depression because it involves episodes of mania or hypomania and episodes of depression.

Correct answer: Manic depression
  • A. Haldol
  • B. Clozaril
  • C. Thorazine
  • D. Losec

Explanation: Haldol, Clozaril, and Thorazine are trade names for antipsychotic medicines used in treating schizophrenia.

Correct answer: Losec
  • A. Compulsions
  • B. Scrupulosity
  • C. Trichotillomania
  • D. Obsessions

Explanation: Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted and repetitive thoughts or images that cause distress and are difficult to control.

Correct answer: Obsessions
  • A. diazepam
  • B. lithium carbonate
  • C. lorazepam
  • D. flurazepam

Explanation: Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that can provide rapid, short-term relief during acute panic symptoms.

Correct answer: lorazepam
  • A. Decreased spontaneous movement
  • B. Auditory or visual hallucinations
  • C. Expression of delusional beliefs
  • D. Suspiciousness

Explanation: Decreased spontaneous movement reflects reduced normal activity and is a negative symptom of schizophrenia.

Correct answer: Decreased spontaneous movement