Psychological Development Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture notes on psychological development, typical and atypical behavior, neurodiversity, and mental health support.

Typical Behavior

Behavior that would usually occur and is appropriate and expected in a given situation.

Atypical Behavior

Behavior that is not typical and differs markedly from what is expected in a given situation; uncommon behavior.

Social Norms

Widely held standards that govern what people should and should not do in different situations.

Cultural Perspectives

The influence of society and community on one’s thoughts, customs, beliefs, and traditions.

Statistical Rarity

Something that lies outside the range of statistical normality and is unusual enough to be considered significant.

Personal Distress

A strong, natural emotional response to certain events.

Adaptive Behavior

Any behavior that enables the individual to adjust to the environment appropriately and effectively.

Maladaptive Behavior

Any behavior that is detrimental, counterproductive, or interferes with the individual’s ability to successfully adjust to the environment.

Abnormality

Any deviation from what is considered normal, typical, usual, or healthy.

Neurotypicality

Neurological development and cognitive functioning that is typical, conforming to what most people would consider normal.

Neurodiversity

A perspective that recognizes neurological conditions as normal variations in brain development.

Neurodivergence

Neurological development and cognitive functioning that are atypical and deviate from what is considered typical or normal.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way people communicate and interact with others and the world.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A disorder involving a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive-impulsive behavior that adversely affects development or everyday functioning.

Disability

Any impairment that makes it significantly more difficult for a person to undertake everyday activities.

Learning Disability

Any disorder that impairs learning and results in the person learning with greater difficulty than a person without the disorder.

Dyslexia

A learning disability characterized by significant difficulties with accurate and fluent word reading, spelling, and writing words.

Dyscalculia

A condition that affects the ability to acquire mathematical concepts and skills.

Dyspraxia

A condition that affects physical coordination and sometimes speech.

Psychologist

A professional trained in the science of how people think, feel, and behave.

Psychiatrist

A qualified medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

Assessment

Collecting and interpreting information about how a person thinks, feels, and behaves in order to make a diagnosis.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying the type of disorder affecting an individual based on its signs and symptoms.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders based on recognizable signs and symptoms.

Labeling

Classifying an individual according to a specific diagnostic category.

Stigma

Social disapproval or disgrace.

Social Stigma

Negative community attitudes leading to fear, exclusion, and discrimination against those with mental disorders.

Self-Stigma

When a person internalizes negative views, leading to low self-esteem, low confidence, and a reduced belief in their own abilities.