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Chapter 37: Problem 2

If abnormality is defined 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-floor office to the top floor of a tall office 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.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The man from scenario C, who believes that friendly spacemen visit his house every week, is the most likely to need treatment. This belief could cause him distress or could result in some form of harm to himself or others.

Step by step solution

01

Analyzing First Person

The first scenario involves an executive who is afraid to accept a promotion because it would involve moving to an upper floor in a tall building. This fear could be causing him personal discomfort. However, it's not clear if it's causing harm to others, therefore we can't definitively label this as abnormal behavior that requires treatment.
02

Analyzing Second Person

The second scenario describes a woman who has chosen to quit her job to live a simple life on the streets. While this decision might be perceived as unusual by societal standards, it doesn’t cause her discomfort nor harm others.
03

Analyzing Third Person

In the third scenario a man believes friendly spacemen visit him every week. This belief, not rooted in reality, could cause him distress or could result in harm to himself or others if he reacts to this delusional scenario in a harmful way. This falls under the definition of abnormal behavior.
04

Analyzing Fourth Person

Lastly, a photographer living in a small apartment with 19 cats may lead to unhealthy living environment which can possibly harm the cats or neighbors. However it is stated that she is lovingly caring for them, which implies no harm is ongoing. Hence, she is not causing harm to herself or to others.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

One problem in defining 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 measuring tool. d. All of the above.

Which of the following is a strong argument against the medical perspective on abnormality? a. Physiological abnormalities are almost always impossible 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 responsibility away from the individual for changing his or her behavior.

Cheryl is painfully shy. According to the behavioral perspective, the best way to deal with her "abnormal" behavior is to a. Treat the underlying physical problem. b. Use the principles of learning theory to modify her shy behavior. c. Express a great deal of caring. d. Uncover her negative past experiences through hypnosis.
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