ABPSYCH CH. 1

Psychological Disorder

Dysfunction in cognition, emotion, or behavior causing distress or impairment.

Abnormal Behavior

Actions that deviate from cultural norms, causing dysfunction.

Phobia

An irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Psychopathology

The study of psychological disorders.

Scientist-Practitioner

A mental health professional who integrates scientific research into practice.

Clinical Description

A detailed summary of a disorder, including symptoms and history.

Prevalence

The proportion of a population with a disorder at a given time.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder in a specific period.

Course

The pattern of development and change of a disorder over time.

Prognosis

The expected future course of a disorder.

Etiology

The study of the causes of disorders.

Exorcism

Ritualistic expulsion of demons from a person.

Psychosocial Treatment

Therapy focusing on social and psychological factors.

Moral Therapy

A humane psychological treatment approach from the 18th century.

Mental Hygiene Movement

A movement for humane mental health treatment.

Psychoanalysis

Freud’s theory emphasizing the unconscious mind.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach focusing on observable behaviors.

Unconscious

Thoughts and feelings outside conscious awareness.

Catharsis

Emotional release linked to unconscious conflicts.

Psychoanalytic Model

A framework explaining behavior through unconscious forces.

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud’s structures of personality.

Intrapsychic Conflicts

Conflicts between the id, ego, and superego.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies to manage stress and anxiety.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

Freud’s stages of childhood development.

Neurosis

A non-psychotic psychological disorder.

Ego Psychology

A focus on the ego’s role in behavior.

Self-Psychology

The study of how the self develops.

Object Relations

How early relationships shape psychological development.

Collective Unconscious

Jung’s theory of shared human memory.

Free Association

A psychoanalytic technique where patients say whatever comes to mind.

Dream Analysis

Interpretation of dreams to uncover unconscious thoughts.

Psychoanalyst

A professional trained in psychoanalysis.

Transference

Patients projecting feelings onto their therapist.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Modern therapy based on psychoanalytic principles.

Self-Actualizing

Achieving one’s full potential.

Person-Centered Therapy

Therapy focused on empathy and acceptance.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting and supporting clients without judgment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Model

A therapy model integrating thoughts and behaviors.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through associations (Pavlov).

Extinction

The process of unlearning a conditioned response.

Introspection

Examining one’s own thoughts and feelings.

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure therapy for phobias.

Behavior Therapy

Therapy focusing on changing behaviors.

Reinforcement

Reward-based behavior modification.

Shaping

Gradually reinforcing closer approximations of a desired behavior.