Answers must be paraphrased (restated in your own words with
no quoting permitted), properly source credited, using APA formatting requirements – including within-answer citations and a list of references included at the end of each answer – and at least 600 words each, not counting source citations and references. Answers should be succinct, thorough, articulated in well-organized paragraphs (lists, sentence fragments and bulleted items are not permitted), and more substantive than just definitions of terms, procedures, or issues.
To complete this exam, save a copy of it on your hard drive, construct your answers below each question on a
separate page per question, attach a cover page to the front and a reference list to the end .
Questions:
- Psychological abnormality may include deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. First, briefly explain what each term means in this context. Then, for each term, provide a specific example of when it (e.g., distress) would be considered “normal” and, separately, an example of when it would be considered “abnormal”. Last, explain why is it important to understand this distinction.
- Your nephew is taking Intro to Psych as a high school senior and is confused about which of the models is “best” at explaining abnormality. Describe for him, in no more than 100 words per model and using terms he (as a layperson) can understand, the six major theoretical models of abnormality AND the biopsychosocial model. Then, briefly answer his question – which model do you think is best and why? Be sure to support your answer.
- Answer both parts of this question. Imagine you are an intake clinician at a community mental health clinic:
- If you had 30 minutes to conduct a preliminary clinical interview, what information would you be sure to try to get, and why? Be sure to support your answer using the text.
- You’ve been tasked to give a lecture to new clients explaining the format and major characteristics of DSM-5. What are the main points you want to be sure to cover?
- For EACH of the following disorders, characterize three specific factors you believe are most important for a basic understanding of them. Be sure to justify your choices using only about 100-150 words for each:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Compare and contrast each of Shneidman’s categories of suicide and discuss their implications for prevention and post-vention efforts.