AP Psychology: Abnormal Behavior 3

Question 1

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is best characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors meant to reduce anxiety

Answer

OCD involves obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors that relieve anxiety).

Question 2

A combat veteran experiences flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance months after returning home. This best fits a diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Answer

PTSD follows a traumatic event and includes flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened arousal.

Question 3

Which perspective would explain a phobia as a classically conditioned association between a neutral stimulus and a fear response?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral perspective

Answer

The behavioral perspective sees phobias as learned through classical conditioning.

Question 4

Anorexia nervosa is most accurately defined by:

Accepted Answer

Significantly low body weight and intense fear of gaining weight

Answer

Anorexia nervosa involves restricting food intake, very low body weight, and fear of weight gain.

Question 5

A clinician using the psychodynamic perspective would most likely attribute a disorder to:

Accepted Answer

Unconscious conflicts from early childhood

Answer

Psychodynamic theory traces disorders to unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood.

AP Practice Test