Behavioral Psychology in Abnormal Psychology: Exam on Treatments MCQs

Test your knowledge of behavioral psychology in abnormal psychology. Explore behavioral therapy techniques, treatment strategies and their application in mental health disorders.

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1. Which of the following is the main focus of behavioral therapy in abnormal psychology?

  • To identify unconscious thoughts
  • To change problematic behaviors through reinforcement and punishment
  • To explore past childhood experiences
  • To focus on the emotional state of the individual

2. In behavioral therapy, what is used to reduce undesirable behaviors?

  • Positive reinforcement
  • Classical conditioning
  • Punishment
  • Cognitive restructuring

3. Which technique is often used in behavior therapy to help a client confront fears?

  • Systematic desensitization
  • Free association
  • Dream analysis
  • Cognitive restructuring

4. What is the primary goal of operant conditioning in the treatment of abnormal behavior?

  • To increase the frequency of positive behaviors
  • To decrease anxiety levels
  • To explore the unconscious mind
  • To achieve insight into past trauma

5. In the context of abnormal psychology, what is the focus of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?

  • Using medications to alter brain chemistry
  • Exploring childhood experiences
  • Increasing awareness of the unconscious
  • Changing negative thought patterns and behaviors

6. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement in treating abnormal behavior?

  • Praising a patient for using coping strategies
  • Giving a time-out for undesirable behavior
  • Ignoring a patient’s negative behavior
  • Offering a punishment for non-compliance

7. What does systematic desensitization primarily target in treating abnormal psychology?

  • Eating disorders
  • Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
  • Panic attacks and phobias
  • Depressive thoughts

8. Which of the following is a key component of exposure therapy for anxiety disorders?

  • Gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli in a controlled way
  • Challenging irrational thoughts directly
  • Reducing anxiety with medication
  • Focusing on dream analysis

9. In cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), what technique is used to help clients change distorted thinking patterns?

  • Thought records and cognitive restructuring
  • Free association
  • Dream interpretation
  • Meditation and mindfulness

10. What is the main principle behind token economies in behavioral therapy?

  • Focusing on the patient’s emotional insight
  • Offering tangible rewards for desirable behaviors
  • Reducing negative emotions through relaxation
  • Fostering self-awareness through journaling

11. In treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), what behavioral technique is commonly used?

  • Exposure and response prevention
  • Free association
  • Self-hypnosis
  • Cognitive restructuring

12. What is the role of reinforcement in treating addiction through behavioral therapy?

  • To reward positive behaviors such as sobriety
  • To increase stress levels for better self-control
  • To punish the individual for relapsing
  • To ignore the behaviors entirely

13. Which of the following is an example of cognitive distortion in abnormal psychology?

  • Overgeneralization
  • Exposure to a stressful event
  • Developing new coping strategies
  • Gaining emotional insight

14. How does behavioral therapy aim to treat depression?

  • By focusing on unconscious conflicts
  • By exploring childhood trauma
  • By increasing reinforcement for positive behaviors and reducing avoidance
  • By using medications to alter brain chemistry

15. In treating phobias, what is the primary goal of flooding therapy?

  • To expose the individual to the feared stimulus all at once to reduce anxiety
  • To gradually expose the individual to feared stimuli in stages
  • To alter the individual’s cognitive patterns
  • To provide emotional support through discussion

16. Which type of reinforcement is most often used in the treatment of abnormal behavior?

  • Punishment
  • Negative reinforcement
  • Positive reinforcement
  • None of the above

17. What is the purpose of behavioral contracting in therapy?

  • To establish clear goals and reinforcement contingencies for clients
  • To explore the client’s emotions through discussion
  • To expose the client to traumatic memories
  • To analyze the client’s dreams

18. Which of the following is an example of punishment in behavior therapy?

  • Praising a client for good actions
  • Giving a reward for good behavior
  • Ignoring a negative behavior
  • Giving a time-out for misbehavior

19. In treating an individual with borderline personality disorder, what behavioral therapy technique is often used?

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive restructuring
  • Person-centered therapy
  • Psychoanalysis

20. How is behavioral activation used in the treatment of depression?

  • By increasing engagement in positive, rewarding activities
  • By focusing on unconscious memories
  • By using dream interpretation to explore the past
  • By providing relaxation techniques

21. Which behavior therapy technique involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior?

  • Modeling
  • Shaping
  • Flooding
  • Systematic desensitization

22. What is the primary focus of applied behavior analysis (ABA)?

  • Using reinforcement and punishment to modify behaviors
  • Exploring the unconscious mind
  • Enhancing emotional awareness
  • Providing insight into past experiences

23. Which of the following is an example of behavioral therapy in treating anxiety?

  • Taking medication to reduce anxiety
  • Discussing past trauma with a therapist
  • Gradual exposure to anxiety-inducing situations to reduce fear
  • Analyzing dreams to uncover unconscious fears

24. In behavior therapy, which of the following is considered an “aversive” stimulus?

  • A loud noise used to discourage an undesirable behavior
  • A reward used to encourage good behavior
  • Positive praise for appropriate actions
  • A comforting environment to reduce stress

25. What is the goal of contingency management in behavioral therapy?

  • To explore unconscious thoughts
  • To provide emotional support through discussion
  • To reward positive behavior with tangible incentives
  • To promote self-awareness through reflection

26. In the treatment of abnormal behavior, what does "response cost" refer to?

  • Taking away a previously earned reward as a consequence of negative behavior
  • Giving a reward for positive behavior
  • Using relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety
  • Allowing the individual to avoid unpleasant stimuli

27. What is a key feature of contingency management in treating addiction?

  • Using cognitive restructuring
  • Focusing on emotional insight
  • Exploring unconscious thoughts
  • Rewarding abstinence from drugs with vouchers or privileges

28. Which therapy focuses on changing self-defeating behavior patterns by using rewards and punishments?

  • Behavioral therapy
  • Psychodynamic therapy
  • Humanistic therapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy

29. Which of the following best describes the use of reinforcement in behavior therapy?

  • Increasing the likelihood of a behavior by rewarding it
  • Decreasing the likelihood of a behavior by punishing it
  • Focusing on understanding the root cause of behavior
  • Helping the individual process past trauma

30. In which of the following disorders is exposure therapy most commonly used in behavior therapy?

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Phobias
  • Depression