AP Psychology Unit 5 Vocabulary

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

stressful or traumatic events experienced during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction, that can have long-term effects on health and behavior

alarm

the first stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), in which the body experiences a sudden reaction to a stressor, activating the sympathetic nervous system

catharsis

the emotional release of aggressive energy through action or fantasy, believed to relieve aggressive urges

coping

the process of managing stress through emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods

coronary heart disease

the clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle, often linked with stress and lifestyle factors

distress

negative stress that is perceived as overwhelming and leads to physical and psychological strain

emotion-focused coping

a strategy for managing stress by addressing emotional responses to a stressor rather than the stressor itself, often through techniques like relaxation or seeking social support

eustress

positive stress that motivates and enhances performance, helping to meet challenges and reach goals

exhaustion

the third stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), when the body’s resources are depleted, making it more vulnerable to illness and breakdown

external locus of control

the belief that external forces, such as luck or fate, determine one’s outcomes

fight-flight-freeze response

an automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat, involving increased heart rate, adrenaline release, and heightened alertness to prepare for defense or escape

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

health psychology

a subfield of psychology that studies how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness

hypertension

chronically high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke

immune suppression

the weakening of the immune system’s ability to fight off illness, often linked to chronic stress

internal locus of control

the belief that one controls their own fate through their actions and decisions

learned helplessness

the passive resignation learned when a person repeatedly faces uncontrollable, stressful situations and feels powerless to change them

meditation

a practice involving focused attention, relaxation, and mindfulness to reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being

personal control

the sense of having influence over one’s environment and outcomes

problem-focused coping

a strategy for managing stress by directly addressing the stressor and finding solutions to solve the problem

psychoneuroimmunology

the study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes affect the immune system and health

resistance

the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), when the body attempts to cope with the stressor and maintain balance

self-control

the ability to regulate impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals

stress

the process of appraising and responding to a challenging or threatening event

tend-and-befriend theory

the theory that under stress, people (especially women) are more likely to provide care and seek social support as a coping mechanism

adaptation-level phenomenon

our tendency to judge various stimuli relative to those we have previously experienced

aerobic exercise

sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; may also alleviate depression and anxiety

broaden-and-build theory

a theory proposing that positive emotions broaden our attention and thinking, enabling novel solutions to arise; over time, this expanded thinking builds personal resources

character strengths

positive traits reflected in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, such as creativity, bravery, or kindness

courage

the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

people's tendency to be helpful when already in a good mood

gratitude

a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

humanity

virtues associated with interpersonal strengths, including love, kindness, and social intelligence

justice

virtues that underlie healthy community life, such as fairness, leadership, and teamwork

mindfulness meditation

a reflective practice in which people attend to current experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner

positive psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

relative deprivation

the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself

resilience

the personal strength that helps most people cope with stress and recover from adversity and even trauma

signature strengths

positive traits that a person owns, celebrates, and frequently exercises

subjective well-being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life

temperance

virtues that protect against excess, including forgiveness, humility, prudence, and self-regulation

transcendence

virtues that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning, such as appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality

virtues

core characteristics valued by moral philosophers and religious thinkers: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence

well-being

a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity; includes physical, mental, and social aspects

wisdom

virtues that involve acquiring and using knowledge, such as creativity, curiosity, judgment, love of learning, and perspective

American Psychiatric Association

the organization responsible for developing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which classifies and provides criteria for diagnosing psychological disorders

behavioral perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that focuses on maladaptive learned associations between stimuli and responses

biological perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that focuses on physiological or genetic causes of mental health issues

biopsychosocial model

a model that assumes that biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors interact to produce psychological disorders

cognitive perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that focuses on maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes

diathesis

a biological predisposition or vulnerability to developing a psychological disorder

diathesis-stress model

a model that explains the development of psychological disorders as the result of a genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with environmental stressors

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that classifies and provides criteria for diagnosing psychological disorders

distress

intense negative feelings or suffering that interfere with a person’s daily functioning

dysfunction

impairment in functioning in daily life due to a psychological or mental health condition

eclectic approach

a therapeutic approach that combines methods and insights from multiple psychological perspectives to diagnose and treat psychological disorders

epigenetics

the study of how environmental influences can trigger or block the expression of genes without altering the underlying DNA

evolutionary perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that focuses on how certain behaviors and mental processes may have evolved because they were adaptive for survival

humanistic perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that emphasizes the importance of social support and the ability to fulfill one’s potential

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

a classification system for mental disorders developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that provides criteria for diagnosing psychological disorders

maladaptive behaviors

patterns of behavior that are counterproductive to a person’s well-being or ability to function in daily life

maladaptive relationships

dysfunctional social or interpersonal patterns that contribute to psychological distress or disorder

maladaptive thoughts

negative or distorted thinking patterns that interfere with emotional and mental well-being

medical model

the concept that psychological disorders are caused by biological factors and can be diagnosed, treated, and cured through medical interventions

psychodynamic perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that focuses on unconscious thoughts and experiences, often stemming from early childhood

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a person’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior

sociocultural perspective

an approach to understanding psychological disorders that emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors, including norms, expectations, and relationships

stigma

negative attitudes and beliefs that lead to discrimination and social rejection of individuals with mental health issues

stress

a psychological and physiological response to a challenging or threatening situation

World Health Organization

an international health agency that develops the International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD) and provides global health guidelines

acrophobia

an intense fear of heights

acute schizophrenia

a form of schizophrenia characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms, often in response to stress, with a higher likelihood of recovery

agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder involving intense fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, leading to avoidance of such situations

anxiety disorders

a group of psychological disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear, including disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias

ataque de nervios

a culture-bound syndrome, primarily observed in Latin American cultures, characterized by symptoms such as uncontrollable shouting, attacks of crying, trembling, and verbal or physical aggression, often in response to stressful events

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities

bipolar disorders

mood disorders characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania or hypomania

bipolar I disorder

a type of bipolar disorder marked by at least one manic episode, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or depressive episodes

bipolar II disorder

a type of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, without any full manic episodes

catatonia

a behavioral syndrome associated with inability to move normally, which may involve stupor, rigidity, or excessive motor activity

catatonic stupor

a state of unresponsiveness in a person who is otherwise awake, often characterized by a lack of movement and speech

chronic schizophrenia

a form of schizophrenia characterized by a slow development of symptoms, with a lower likelihood of recovery

compulsions

repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules, aimed at reducing distress or preventing a feared event

culture-bound anxiety disorder

anxiety disorders that are specific to certain cultural contexts, such as ataque de nervios in Latin American cultures or taijin kyofusho in Japanese culture

delusions

false beliefs held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary, often found in psychotic disorders

delusions of grandeur

false beliefs about one's own importance, power, or identity, such as believing oneself to be a famous person

delusions of persecution

false beliefs that one is being targeted, harassed, or conspired against by others

depression

a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities

depressive disorders

a group of disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest, affecting daily functioning

disorganized motor behavior

behavior that is markedly abnormal, including agitation, lack of movement, or inappropriate actions, often seen in schizophrenia

disorganized thinking or speech

disjointed and incoherent thought processes, leading to speech that is difficult to understand, often observed in schizophrenia

dopamine hypothesis

the theory that schizophrenia is linked to an overactivity of dopamine transmission in the brain

flat affect

a severe reduction in emotional expressiveness, often observed in individuals with schizophrenia

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life

hallucinations

perceptions in the absence of external stimuli, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present

major depressive disorder

a mood disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities

mania

a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level, often seen in bipolar disorder

negative symptoms

symptoms that reflect a decrease or loss of normal functions, such as reduced emotional expression or lack of motivation, commonly associated with schizophrenia

neurodevelopmental disorders

a group of disorders that manifest early in development, characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning