Psychology Unit 2

Conciousness

Awareness of internal and external stimuli, subjective experience of world

Circadian Rhythm

Biorhythm that regulates important body functions, affected by light (Sleep-wake cycle/body temp cycle)

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Part of hypothalamus that serves as brain’s internal clock. Receives info from retina about light presence.

Sleep Consequences

Hinders cognitive abilities/reaction speed

Drowsy driving similar to drunk driving

Sleep Stages:

Stage 0, 1, 2, 3/4, 5(REM)

Stage 0

Fully awake/alert, rapid activity

Beta Waves

Stage 1

Drowsy/light sleep, will not feel you were asleep, brain activity slows

Alpha Waves

Stage 2

Stage in light sleep but falling deeper sleep, if woken become alert & aware asleep. Slower brain activity

Theta Waves

Stage 3/4

Deep sleep, difficult to wake up, feel disoriented when awakened, very slow brain activity

Delta Waves

Stage 5

REM, period of sleep marked by rapid eye movement, high brain activity, dream, cannot move (paralysis). Brain activity similar to when awake

How long is the sleep cycle

90 minutes go thru all stages, longer asleep, less deeply you sleep

Insomnia

Sleep Disorder where difficulty falling/staying asleep, 10-30% experience symptoms that disrupt daily life.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep disorder where difficulty breathing during sleep, those who experience often wake up bc cannot breathe (PAP mask can help)

Weight/Snoring are risk factors

Sleepwalking

Sleep disorder that occurs in ¾ stages, more common in children

Sleep Paralysis

Aware of surroundings but unable to move after waking up, often accompanied by frightening hallucinations, dysfunctional REM sleep

Freud’s Theory of Dreams

Dreams are unconscious wish fulfilment

Manifest Content

What you see/experience in a dream

Latent Context

What dream represents (Unconcious desires)

Cognitive Theory of Dreams

Dreams are subconscious cognitive processing/organizing info in memory. (Mull over issues/play out future scenarios)

Activation Synthesis Theory of Dreams

Dreams result of brain trying to make sense of semi-random electrical energy activating different concepts that happen when asleep.

Nightmares

No neurological difference from dream, only difference is reaction

Why People do Drugs:

Activates “reward pathway,” almost all drugs act on dopamine receptors

Dopamine

Creates pleasurable, accomplished feeling/reinforces learning. Drugs create dope deficiency over time.

Physical Dependence

Changes in body over time that cause person to need drug (Alter appearance)

Tolerance

Requiring more of drug over time to produce same pleasurable effect

Physiological Dependence

Emotional need for drug to reduce psychological stress (Can make quitting just as difficult as physical dependence (Craving)

Withdrawal

Negative symptoms experienced when person stops taking drug, ppl w physical dependence experience

Makes quitting extremely hard

Stimulants

Drugs that increase brain activity

Common effects of Stimulants:

Hyperactivity, euphoria, increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia

Illicit Stimulants:

Cocaine, Meth, MDMA (Ecstasy)

Legal Stimulants

Caffeine, Nicotine, Ritalin/Adderall

Most commonly abused drug:

Alcohol

Depressant

Drugs that decrease brain activity

Depressant Effects:

Euphoria, sedation, pain dulled/killed, loss of consciousness

Illegal Depressants

Opium, Heroin

Legal Depressants

Alcohol, Xanax and Valium, Morphine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet)

Hallucinogens

Drugs that profoundly alter sensational perception

Hallucinogen Effects:

Hallucinations/Strewed perception of time, persistent psychosis (rarely), flashbacks (rare).

Illicit Hallucinogen:

LSD, Psilocybin (shrooms), Mescaline, DMT

Legal Hallucinogens:

Ketamine, Salvia (In some states)

Marijuana

Cannabis displays characteristics of stimulants, depressants & hallucinogens

Has diff effects for diff people, some effects depend on expectations

Negative Effects of Marijuana:

Long term effect especially on adolescents: drug dependency, rate of schizo, less self-control, impaired decision making, disrupt of neurotransmitter production

Not all drugs:

In one category

Needed to classify smth as Abnormal:

Deviance, Dysfunction, Distress

Deviance

Behaviors not socially expected/accepted

Dysfunction

Behavior interferes with ability to perform day-to-day.

Distress

Behavior causes signif personal suffering, puts individual at risk of signif personal suffering

Diathesis Stress Model

Diathesis + Stress = Develop of Disorder (Stronger diathesis, less stress needed to produce disorder)

Diathesis

Predisposition of vulnerability (Inherited)

Biopsychosocial Model

Bio/Psycho/Sociological factors that influence development of a disorder.

DSM-5-TR

American Psychiatric Association System to diagnose/classify abnormal behavior. Has to meet 5/8 qualifications for disorder

Comorbity

Simultaneous presence of multiple medical conditions in one person

Anxiety Disorders

Uncontrollable, disproportionate to actual danger, disruptive to everyday life

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive anxiety/worry occurring at least 6 months about multiple things

GAD symptoms

Restlessness, easily fatigued, trouble focusing, irritability, muscle tension, disturbed sleep

Panic Disorder

Repeated, unexpected panic attacks (Abrupt surge of intense fear/discomfort)

Panic Disorder Symptoms:

Pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, fear of death

Phobia

Intense, irrational fear disproportionate with actual danger, associated with specific stimulus/trigger

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Consists of obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions

Thoughts/urges intrusive/unwanted, generally cause distress

Obsession Examples:

Fear of germs, thoughts of violence, need for order/symmetry

Compulsion

Need to engage in repetitive behaviors/mental acts, behaviors can be “ritualistic,” usually try to minimize distress caused by obsession

Compulsion Examples:

Washing hands/belongings, putting everything in very specific place, counting behaviors

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived flaw in physical appearance, flaw is either non-existent/barely visible to others

Body Dysmorphia Effects:

Compulsive behaviors (Looking in mirror/hiding body part, cosmetic surgery)

Hoarding Disorder

Compulsively collecting items/refusing to part with personal possessions. Believe everything useful later/sentimental

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD/Depression)

Mood disorder of severe depression that lasts 2+ weeks.

Episodes usually 6-9 months.

Depression Symptoms

Diff symptoms for all

Sad, empty/hopeless, less pleasure in all/almost all activities, weight gain/loss, insomnia/hypersomia, worthlessness/guilt, suicidal/death thoughts

What isn’t depression:

Symptoms from loss/other major negative events, grief not equal depression

Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorder, extreme mood swings with 1+ episodes of mania, swing btwn depress/manic episodes, last at least 1 week.

Depressive Episodes of Bipolar

Same symptoms as MDD

Manic Episodes of Bipolar

Period of increased energy/hyperactivity

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mood disorder, intrusive distressing memories (flashbacks) that develop as result of trauma event

Trauma

Exposure to actual/threatened death, serious injury/sexual violence.

Direct Experience, witnessing in-person, learning of events that happen to close ones, repeated/extreme exposure to aversive details of traumatic events

PTSD Symptoms

Flashback, avoidance of event stimuli, persistent neg emotional state, detachment from others, prone to outbursts, jumpiness

Flashback

State individual relives event as if currently happening, last for seconds - several days

Schizophrenia

Disturbances of thought/language, inability to distinguish what is real/not, diagnosed by early adulthood.

Most schizos not violent, do not entail multi personalities

Delusions

Fixed (False) beliefs that do not change in face of conflicting evidence

Hallucinations

Perceptions that occur w/o external stimuli. Vivid/involuntary

Schizophrenia Symptoms

Positive: Delusions, Hallucinations, disorganized thought/speech (jumping topics), abnormal movements (twitching, catatonia)

Negative: Lack of normal function, blunt/diminished emotions, monotone/diminished response, decreased pleasure.

Dissociation

Dissociative disorder, disconnection/lack of continuity btwn thoughts/memories, surroundings, actions and identity.

Often from extreme stress/trauma

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to remember important autobiological memories, follows extreme stress/trauma

Dissociative Fugue

Wandering away from home/normal life, showing confusion about identity

Dissociative Identity Disorder

2+ distinct personalities/identities within same person. “Losing time”

“Losing Time”

Gaps in memory inconsistent with normal forgetting

Personality Disorder

Inflexible, maladaptive personality traits make function difficult in society

Roots in childhood, present several years, hard to treat

Cluster A Disorders

Odd/Eccentric

Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

Cluster B Disorders

Dramatic/Emotional/Erratic

Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic

Cluster C

Anxious/Fearful

Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Cluster A, distrusting/suspicious of others, sensitive to rejection, high monitoring for insult/trust

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Cluster A, Lack of interest in relationships, limited interests, emotional coldness/bluntness

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Cluster A, odd/eccentric behavior confused and unrealistic goals, difficulty developing close relationships

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Cluster B, disregard for/violation of rights of others

Deceitful, impulsivity, aggressiveness, disregard for safety self/others, lack remorse

Borderline Personality Disorder

Cluster B, pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image/affect

Impulsive, fear of abandonment, intense/unstable relationships, mood swings, can’t control anger

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Cluster B, pattern of excessive emotionality/attention seeking.

Uncomfortable not being center of attention, rapidly shift emotion, use of physical appearance to draw attention, self-dramatization

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Cluster B, pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy

Believes is special, entitled, exploitative, arrogant

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Cluster C, social inhibition, feeling inadequate, hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

Avoid ppl unless certain are liked, restraint in intimate relationships.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Cluster C, need to be taken care of, submissive/clingy/fear of separation

Can’t make decisions without reassurance, can’t disagree

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Cluster C, preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, mental/interpersonal control

Personality Disorders develop:

Combination of genetic predisposition/childhood experience

Nature: 50% Heritability, certain genes linked to disorders

Environment: Trauma, stressors