Psychological Disorders and Personality Theories

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to psychological disorders, personality theories, and social psychology.

DSM-5

Standard manual used to diagnose mental disorders.

4 D’s

Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger - criteria for diagnosing psychological disorders.

Cultural Context

The idea that behaviors may be normal in one culture but abnormal in another.

Stigma

Negative labels that can affect treatment and social perception.

Pros of Diagnosis

Benefits such as aiding in treatment, research, and insurance coverage.

Cons of Diagnosis

Drawbacks including labeling, bias, and oversimplification.

Rosenhan Study

Research that demonstrated how labels influence perception in psychiatric settings.

GAD

Generalized Anxiety Disorder; persistent and excessive worry about various life aspects.

Social Anxiety

Fear of embarrassment or judgment in social situations.

Phobias

Irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

Panic Disorder

A mental health condition characterized by sudden, intense fear with physical symptoms.

OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; characterized by obsessions (thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors).

Exposure Therapy

A treatment method involving gradual exposure to fears using a fear hierarchy.

Major Depression

A mood disorder marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and fatigue.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental disorder involving alternating episodes of depression and mania.

Mania

An elevated mood state characterized by impulsivity and reduced sleep need.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder involving positive symptoms like hallucinations and negative symptoms like emotional flatness.

Positive Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that include hallucinations and delusions.

Negative Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that involve emotional flatness and withdrawal.

Cognitive Symptoms

Disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia.

Dissociative Disorder

A group of disorders characterized by disturbances in memory, identity, or perception.

Amnesia

Memory loss often related to trauma.

Fugue

A dissociative disorder characterized by sudden travel and assumption of a new identity.

DID

Dissociative Identity Disorder; involves multiple distinct identities.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Characterized by lack of empathy and manipulative behaviors.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Marked by emotional instability and fear of abandonment.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; triggered by trauma and includes symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

Psychodynamic Theory

Focuses on the unconscious mind and the interplay between id, ego, and superego.

Trait Theory

Personality framework based on traits, exemplified by the Big Five (OCEAN).

Social-Cognitive Theory

Emphasizes reciprocal determinism and locus of control in personality.

Humanistic Theory

Focuses on self-actualization and personal growth.

Biological Theory

Examines how genetics and brain function influence personality.

Personological Theory

Focus on individual life stories and experiences in understanding personality.

Projective Tests

Assessment tools involving ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts.

Self-Report

Questionnaires used to assess personality traits directly.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in groups.

Reducing Bystander Effect

Assigning responsibility directly to individuals to increase helping behavior.

Conformity

The act of aligning attitudes and behaviors with group norms.

Asch Study

Research demonstrating that people often conform to incorrect answers given by a group.

Obedience

Compliance with the commands of authority figures, exemplified in the Milgram study.

Group Behavior

Patterns of behavior that emerge when individuals work in a group, including social loafing and groupthink.

Stereotypes

Cognitive beliefs or ideas about specific groups.

Prejudice

Emotional attitudes toward a group, often negative.

Discrimination

Behavioral actions that treat people unfairly based on their group membership.

Attraction

Factors that influence interpersonal attraction, such as proximity and similarity.