Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

E VA LU AT E
1. One problem in defi ning abnormal behavior is that
a. Statistically rare behavior may not be abnormal.
b. Not all abnormalities are accompanied by feelings of 
discomfort.
c. Cultural standards are too general to use as a measur-
ing tool.
d. All of the above.
2.
If abnormality is defi ned as behavior that causes personal 
discomfort or harms others, which of the following people 
is most likely to need treatment?
a. An executive is afraid to accept a promotion because it 
would require moving from his ground-fl oor offi ce to 
the top fl oor of a tall offi ce building.
b. A woman decides to quit her job and chooses to live on 
the street in order to live a “simpler life.”
c. A man believes that friendly spacemen visit his house 
every Thursday.
d. A photographer lives with 19 cats in a small apartment 
lovingly caring for them.
3. Virginia’s mother thinks that her daughter’s behavior is 
clearly abnormal because, despite being offered admission 
to medical school, Virginia decides to become a waitress. 
What approach is Virginia’s mother using to defi ne abnor-
mal behavior?
4. Which of the following is a strong argument against the 
medical perspective on abnormality?
a. Physiological abnormalities are almost always impossi-
ble to identify.
b. There is no conclusive way to link past experience and 
behavior.
c. The medical perspective rests too heavily on the effects 
of nutrition.
d. Assigning behavior to a physical problem takes respon-
sibility away from the individual for changing his or 
her behavior.
5.
Cheryl is painfully shy. According to the behavioral 
perspective, the best way to deal with her “abnormal” 
behavior is to