Abnormal Psychology Practice Test: Exam 1
Quick, free abnormal psychology quiz. Instant results.
This Abnormal Psychology Exam 1 quiz helps you check core ideas, key terms, and common symptom patterns. After you finish, review weak spots and explore related drills like the clinical psychology quiz, psychology 100 exam 1, and a broader psychology practice test. Work at a calm pace and focus on why each answer is correct.
Study Outcomes
- Understand Foundational Concepts -
Grasp the core definitions and criteria used in abnormal psychology exam 1, including what constitutes abnormal behavior and its dimensions.
- Identify Diagnostic Criteria -
Recognize key DSM-5 diagnostic categories and criteria for common mental disorders covered in abnormal psych exam 1.
- Recall Historical Perspectives -
Summarize major historical approaches and milestones in the development of abnormal psychology theories.
- Differentiate Theoretical Models -
Contrast biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive models to explain abnormal behavior.
- Apply Case Analysis Skills -
Use diagnostic criteria to evaluate brief case vignettes and determine likely disorder classifications.
- Evaluate Conceptual Foundations -
Assess strengths and limitations of various abnormal psych frameworks to support more nuanced understanding.
Cheat Sheet
- The Four Ds of Abnormality -
Foundational for any abnormal psychology exam 1 review, the Four Ds - Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger - help you distinguish normal from abnormal behavior. Use the mnemonic "4 D's make a disorder" to recall that behavior must deviate from norms, cause personal distress, impair daily functioning, or pose danger. These criteria are drawn from DSM-5 guidelines at the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
- DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria -
In abnormal psychology test 1, you'll need to know that the DSM-5 uses specific symptom counts, duration thresholds, and severity ratings for each disorder (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder requires five of nine symptoms for at least two weeks). Reliability and validity are key: reliable diagnoses reproduce consistent results across clinicians, while validity ensures you're measuring what you intend. Check the APA's official manual or university psychology department resources for sample criteria tables.
- Historical Perspectives -
Understanding exam 1 abnormal psychology questions often means tracing concepts from supernatural (demonology) to early biological explanations (Hippocrates' four humors) and finally psychoanalytic theory (Freud's id, ego, superego). For a quick study hack, use a timeline chart mapping key figures and dates - e.g., 400 BC Hippocrates, 18th c. Pinel, 1900s Freud. This contextualizes how definitions of "abnormal" have evolved.
- Major Theoretical Models -
Abnormal psychology exam 1 will test your grasp of psychodynamic (Freud), behavioral (Pavlov's classical conditioning, Skinner's operant conditioning), cognitive (Beck's distortions), and humanistic (Rogers) frameworks. Remember "PBCH" (Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic) as an acronym to nail theory comparison questions. University lecture slides and peer-reviewed articles often include helpful model diagrams.
- Diathesis-Stress & Biopsychosocial Model -
A cornerstone of abnormal psychology test 1, the diathesis-stress model explains disorders as the result of genetic vulnerability plus environmental stressors (e.g., 5-HTTLPR gene + life adversity → depression). Expand this into the broader biopsychosocial approach by adding biological, psychological, and social factors - often illustrated in a Venn diagram you can sketch in seconds. Harvard Medical School and NIH summaries provide case studies for practice.