Abnormal psychology Exam 1

What is etiology ?

The study of causes.

What are the different types of causes?

Necessary, sufficient and contributory

What are necessary causes?

A characteristic that must exist for a disorder to occur.

What are sufficient causes?

A condition that guarantees the occurrence of a disorder.

What are contributory causes?

Something that increases the chance of developing a condition but is not required.

What is comorbidity?

The presence of 2 or more disorders in the same person at the same time.

What is the DSM?

A manual of mental disorders which provides all the info. needed to diagnose mental disorders. Also having specific diagnostic criteria.

What did the DSM do?

Defined mental disorders as a life disrupting mental issue.

Why is diagnosing difficult?

There can be overlaps of symptoms leading to misdiagnosis or multiple dragnosis.

What is correlation?

When a variable is associated with an outcome of interest.

What is stress?

The response of an individual to taxing demands.

What are protective factors?

Influences that modify a persons response.

What can result from imbalanced neurochemicals?

Abnormal behavior from the over production, deactivation,abnormal sensitivity or insensitivity.

What are neurochemicals?

Substances that are required for the correct functioning of the human brain.

What are the 5 most studied neurotransmitters?

Norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, glufamire, GABA.

What is a predisposition?

A tendency to develop certain symptoms under given stress conditions.

What are projective tests?

Techniques that use various stimuli that a subject is given to interpret and from which the subjects personality characteristics can be analyzed.

What is phrenology?

The detailed study of cranium shape and size as they were believed to be an indicator of mental faculties and character.

Psychological testing must always be?

Valid - must have appropriate reasoning.

Reliable - must produce the same measure of results every time.

Standardized - must be administered, scored, and interpreted in a consistent manner.

Describe early asylums.

There was a recognition for special treatment of mental illness, in the 16th century institutionalization led to isolation and mistreatment of patients.

What is the biological perspective?

How biological factors influence behaviors.

What is the behavioral perspective?

How observable behaviors are learned through environmental interactions.

What is the cognitive perspective?

The view of mental processes and how information is processed.

What is the psychodynamic perspective?

Describes the role of the unconscious, desires, and childhood experiences in shaping behaviors.

What is the social perspective?

How social factors share behaviors.

What is the cultural perspective?

How culture influences behaviors.