Abnormal Psychology

A series of flashcards covering key terminology and concepts from the lecture on Abnormal Psychology.

Mental Disorder

A syndrome with clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.

Developmental Psychopathology

The study of origins and course of maladaptive behavior, focusing on how developmental processes and context contribute to these origins and course.

Neural Plasticity

The malleability of the brain, where neural structures and networks are shaped by environmental experiences.

Neurotransmitters

Substances that establish communication between nerve cells.

Autonomic Nervous System

Operates without conscious control and regulates visceral activity; includes sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Endocrine System

A system of glands that secrete hormones, including the pituitary gland, which regulates various body activities.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A set of bodily changes designed to counteract stress-related effects, involving pathways activated by the hypothalamus.

Operant Learning

A learning process through consequences of behavior, involving reinforcement and punishment.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where an unconditioned stimulus is paired with a conditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Social Cognitive Model

A cognitive framework involving encoding, interpretation, selecting a response, and enacting that response.

Distal Factors

Factors that have a more indirect influence on behavior or conditions.

Proximal Factors

Factors that have a direct and immediate influence on behavior or conditions.