PYC3702 - Abnormal Behaviour And Mental Health (PYC3702)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Book
Understanding Abnormal Behavior
Assignment 1 = 7 assignments and Assignment 2 = 7 assignments all assignments include QUESTIONS +ANSWERS + EXPLANATIONS based on tutorial letters 201 and 202 () use as a guideline to complete assignments and study for final exams. In total 14 Assignments.
Which one of the following statements about abnormal psychology is accurate?
1. Abnormal psychology seeks to describe, explain, predict and control unusual behaviours.
2. Although abnormal psychology has made several gains in the past 20 years, it is not yet a
scientific field of study.
3. The subject matter of abnormal psychology is restricted to extremely bizarre behaviour.
4. The subject matter of abnormal psychology is restricted to common behaviours that
cause people mild distress.
The correct answer is alternative 1.
Explanation: The subject matter of abnormal psychology includes mild distress as well as
extremely bizarre behaviour, as well as being a scientific field of study. Alternative 1 is therefore
the most accurate statement.
Question 2
A psychodiagnosis is an attempt to - - - - -
1. modify a client’s behavioural, affective and/or cognitive state by following a programme of
systematic intervention.
2. describe, assess, and systematically draw inferences about an individual’s psychological
disorder.
3. predict the kinds of problems an individual might face in psychotherapy and the kinds of
symptoms he/she will display.
4. identify and address the causes that lead to the development of an individual’s abnormal
behaviour.
The correct answer is alternative 2.
Explanation: A psychodiagnosis is the result of describing abnormal behaviour. It entails the
following: systematically observing the abnormal behaviour, adding and integrating the information
from psychological tests, as well as taking the person’s psychological history into consideration
(Refer to p. 2 of prescribed textbook).
Alternative 3 is incorrect. Prognosis refers to the likely course of a disorder.
Alternative 4 is incorrect. Aetiology refers to the causes of disorders (Refer to p. 34 of prescribed
textbook). Alternative 1 is incorrect. Therapy refers to a programme of systemic intervention
whose purpose is to modify a client’s behavioural, affective (emotional), and/or cognitive states
(Refer to p. 4 of prescribed textbook).
,Question 3
Clinician A says: Abnormal behaviour can only be identified and understood if the individual’s
cultural context is taken into consideration. Clinician B says: Abnormal behaviour is consistent
across different cultures and as such uniform treatment can be applied to all individuals
irrespective of their racial and cultural background. Clinician A adopts a - - - - - approach to
abnormal behaviour, whereas clinician B adopts a/an approach to abnormal behaviour.”
Explanation: Clinician A adopts a relativistic approach to abnormal behaviour by identifying and
understanding abnormal behaviour in relation to the cultural context in which that behaviour
occurs. Abnormality is thus seen as relative to the context of different cultures with regard to what
is considered to be normal or abnormal in an individual’s particular culture.
Clinician B adopts a universalist approach to abnormal behaviour by basing his/her criteria for
abnormality on the assumption that there are universal biological commonalities between all
members of the human race, irrespective of their racial and cultural backgrounds.
Question 4
“Mentally disturbed people are not monsters inhabited by the devil. They are unfortunate, sick
individuals who have diseases of the brain”. This quote best illustrates the perspective of
abnormal behaviour.
Explanation: The biogenic perspective is based on the premise that abnormalities in human
thinking, feeling and behaviour can be referred to as an underlying malfunctioning of the brain.
People with mental disturbance are therefore considered to have a diseased brain, which makes
them sick and in need of medical treatment.
Although humanistic, moralistic and existential problems are also known to influence brain
functioning that may lead to mental disturbances, the biogenic approach ignores these initial
influences by mainly focusing on the resultant changes in brain functioning (diseases of the brain)
considering them to be the cause of mental disturbances.
, Question 5
Mr Tau’s employer is worried about his deteriorating work performance. He sees him (Mr Tau) as
not being adequately committed, but his therapist thinks that his deteriorating performance could
be as a result of a reduction in environmental reinforcements following the death of his wife. Mr
Tau’s therapist adheres to the
- - - - - perspective.
1. psychoanalytic
2. behaviouristic
3. cognitive
4. family systems
The correct answer is alternative 2.
Explanation: Alternative 2 is the correct answer because according to the behaviouristic
perspective, abnormal behaviours are acquired through association (classical conditioning) or
reinforcement (operant conditioning). Operant conditioning holds that behaviours are controlled
by the consequences that follow them. In Mr Tau’s case one can argue that his deteriorating work
performance, in terms of this perspective, can be explained as a reduction in environmental
reinforcements following the death of his wife.
Question 6
The basis of the multidimensional integrative approach to understanding psychopathology is that
each dimension on its own (psychological, biological, emotional, etc.) - - - - -
1. operates independently.
2. is sufficient to explain psychopathology.
3. builds on the dimension that precedes it.
4. is influenced by the other dimensions.
The correct answer is alternative 4.
Alternative 4 is correct as the multidimensional model involves looking at biological, psychological,
social and sociocultural factors together/integratively in an attempt to understand how a disorder
manifests. (Refer to pp. 36-38 of prescribed textbook.)
Alternatives 1, 2 and 3 are incorrect as no one dimension can sufficiently explain the aetiology of
mental disorders, nor is one dimension necessarily superior to the other. It is important to
recognise the reciprocal influence of each dimension towards the others and that the factors
interact with one another to arrive at a holistic understanding/framework of the aetiology of mental
disorders (pgs. 36-38 of prescribed textbook).
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