Psych 223 Test 1

Normal (Statistically)

The average, mean or mode within a given population.

Normal (Socially)

Conforming to the standard or common type within a particular social context or for a person.

Abnormal (Statistically)

Conditions that deviate significantly from the average, such as a very low or high IQ.

Abnormal (Socially)

Behaviors or conditions that are considered unusual or atypical in a cultural context, such as philately.

Dysfunction

An impairment in function that hinders normal performance, such as a heart attack impairing cardiac function.

Malfunction

A function that occurs incorrectly, as in cancer where cells perform abnormal processes.

Subjective Distress

An individual's personal reports of pain, suffering, upset, or emotional discomfort.

Malingering

The act of pretending to have a disorder that one does not actually have, often for personal gain.

Neurodiversity

The concept that variations in the human brain relate to learning, attention, mood, and other cognitive functions, emphasizing strengths rather than deficits.

Harmfulness (Social) in Behavioral Disorders

An impairment perceived as harmful to the individual and/or society.

Dysfunction (Biological) in Behavioral Disorders

A breakdown or impairment in the natural function of behavior.

Preparedness Theory of Phobias

The notion that individuals are predisposed to fear certain stimuli due to evolutionary pressures.

Two Factor Theory of Anxiety

A model combining classical and operant conditioning to explain the acquisition and maintenance of anxiety-related behaviors.

Panic Disorder (Key Feature)

Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks with persistent concern about additional attacks or their implications.

Agoraphobia

A fear of being in places where escape may be difficult or help unavailable in case of a panic attack.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Characterized by chronic and uncontrollable worry that is excessive and unrealistic, often linked to minor events.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

A marked fear of social or performance situations where the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.

Phobias

Marked and disproportionate fear of specific objects or situations, often leading to avoidance behaviors.

Insidious Acquisition

A slow process of learning responses to stimuli over time.

Vicarious Conditioning (Modeling)

Learning fears or anxieties through observing others rather than direct experience.

Interoceptive Conditioning

Conditioning of bodily sensations that may lead to further arousal or anxiety.

Descriptive Pathology

A function of classification focusing on observing and describing mental health phenomena.

The Moral Model

The perspective that behavior disorders are a choice and imply moral failing.

Theoretical Agnosticism

A position in DSM-III that avoids committing to a specific theoretical approach to mental illness.