All Free Psychology MCQs with Answers

Every Psychology question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

3,519 questions · page 6 of 176

  • A. culturally absolute
  • B. learned
  • C. maladaptive
  • D. dependent on age

Explanation: Abnormal behavior is generally identified partly by its maladaptive effect, meaning it interferes with effective functioning or…

Correct answer: maladaptive
  • A. phobic disorder
  • B. paranoia
  • C. delusional disorder
  • D. obsessive-compulsive disorder

Explanation: Persistent unwanted thoughts about contamination are obsessions, while repeated cleaning is a compulsion performed to reduce anxiety.

Correct answer: obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • A. dissociative reaction
  • B. mood disorder
  • C. somatoform disorder
  • D. anxiety disorder

Explanation: Exaggerated or prolonged sadness, despondency, and a persistently negative self-view point to a mood disorder, especially a depressive…

Correct answer: mood disorder
  • A. obsessions: compulsions
  • B. compulsions; obsessions
  • C. compulsions; defense mechanisms
  • D. defense mechanisms; obsessions

Explanation: Compulsions are repetitive acts a person feels driven to perform, such as excessive washing, and they are used to reduce anxiety produced…

Correct answer: compulsions; obsessions
  • A. dissociative
  • B. anxiety
  • C. psychotic
  • D. schizophrenic

Explanation: Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in memory, identity, or consciousness, including temporary amnesia and the older description of…

Correct answer: dissociative
  • A. rapid and unpredictable changes in emotion
  • B. delusions of persecution and somatic complaints
  • C. blunted or in appropriate emotions and withdrawal
  • D. high levels of anxiety coupled with a lack of conscience

Explanation: Schizophrenia commonly includes psychotic symptoms along with social withdrawal, reduced emotional expression, and sometimes inappropriate…

Correct answer: blunted or in appropriate emotions and withdrawal
  • A. histrionic
  • B. obsessive-compulsive
  • C. schizoid
  • D. avoidant

Explanation: Obsessive-compulsive personality is marked by excessive concern with order, perfectionism, control, and rigid routines.

Correct answer: obsessive-compulsive
  • A. a conversion reaction
  • B. hypochondriasis
  • C. a traumatic disorder
  • D. an obsession

Explanation: Hypochondriasis, now more commonly discussed as illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom-related illness anxiety, involves persistent…

Correct answer: hypochondriasis
  • A. illusions
  • B. hallucinations
  • C. delusions
  • D. affect episodes

Explanation: A hallucination is a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus, such as hearing a voice when no one is speaking.

Correct answer: hallucinations
  • A. dependent
  • B. antisocial
  • C. narcissistic
  • D. paranoid

Explanation: Paranoid personality is characterized by pervasive distrust, suspicion, hypersensitivity, and guardedness toward others.

Correct answer: paranoid
  • A. psychotic
  • B. manic
  • C. anxiety
  • D. mood

Explanation: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, panic attacks, and phobias traditionally fall under anxiety disorders because excessive fear or anxiety is…

Correct answer: anxiety
  • A. mood disorder
  • B. schizophrenia
  • C. organic brain pathologies
  • D. somatoform disorder

Explanation: Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms or illness concerns that cannot be adequately explained by an identifiable medical…

Correct answer: somatoform disorder
  • A. hallucination
  • B. delusion
  • C. auditory regression
  • D. depressive psychosis

Explanation: Hearing voices without an actual sound source is an auditory hallucination, a type of hallucination involving perception in the absence of…

Correct answer: hallucination
  • A. refers to very severe psychotic behavior episodes
  • B. is a legal, not a psychological, term
  • C. has no formal psychological meaning
  • D. refers to a serve, but transistent, depression

Explanation: “Nervous breakdown” is a popular expression rather than a recognized formal psychological diagnosis, so its meaning varies with context.

Correct answer: has no formal psychological meaning
  • A. physical flight to escape conflict
  • B. severe depression
  • C. hallucinations
  • D. obsessive behavior

Explanation: Dissociative fugue traditionally involves unexpected travel or wandering away from home, often accompanied by amnesia for one’s identity…

Correct answer: physical flight to escape conflict
  • A. social
  • B. family
  • C. psychological
  • D. biologicalTry Prep Courses

Explanation: Homelessness is a social and environmental stressor that can increase vulnerability to mental disorders, including psychosis.

Correct answer: social
  • A. dissociative amnesia
  • B. dissociative fugue
  • C. dissociative identity disorder
  • D. multiple personality disorder

Explanation: Dissociative amnesia involves an inability to recall important personal information, such as one’s identity.

Correct answer: dissociative amnesia
  • A. a conversion reaction
  • B. somatization disorder
  • C. a traumatic disorder
  • D. an obsessionDiscover Lesson Plans

Explanation: Somatization disorder involves repeated physical complaints across time, often without adequate medical explanation.

Correct answer: somatization disorder
  • A. insanity
  • B. psychopathology
  • C. self - destructiveness
  • D. social nonconformity

Explanation: Psychopathology refers to patterns of thought or behavior that impair personal functioning or conflict with the well-being of society.

Correct answer: psychopathology
  • A. paraphilia
  • B. sexual dysfunction
  • C. gender identity disorder
  • D. androgyny

Explanation: In the older diagnostic terminology used by this question, a persistent mismatch between experienced gender identity and assigned physical…

Correct answer: gender identity disorder