AP PSYCHOLOGY FULL VOCAB LIST

lobotomy

a surgical procedure once used to treat severe mental illness by severing connections in the brain's frontal lobes

dysfunction

impairment in normal psychological social or occupational functioning

distress

emotional suffering that interferes with daily life

deviation

behavior that differs from accepted social or cultural norms

danger

behavior that may cause harm to self or others

duration

the length of time symptoms continue

disorder

a pattern of behavior or mental processes causing significant impairment

diagnosis

the identification of a disorder based on symptoms

positive symptoms

behaviors added to normal functioning such as hallucinations

negative symptoms

loss of normal behaviors such as emotion or speech

DSM-V TR (APA)

the American Psychiatric Association manual for diagnosing mental disorders

ICD (WHO)

the World Health Organization system for classifying diseases and disorders

eclectic approach

therapy that combines techniques from different psychological approaches

diathesis-stress model

theory that disorders result from predisposition combined with stress

neurodevelopmental disorders

disorders that begin in childhood and affect development

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

disorder involving inattention hyperactivity and impulsivity

autism spectrum disorder

developmental disorder affecting social interaction and communication

schizophrenia spectrum disorders

disorders involving psychosis and disrupted thinking

delusion

a false fixed belief despite evidence against it

hallucination

a false sensory experience without external stimulation

disorganized thinking

confused and illogical thought patterns

disorganized behavior

unusual behavior that disrupts functioning

disorganized speech

speech that is incoherent or difficult to understand

catatonia

disturbed movement ranging from immobility to agitation

dopamine hypothesis

theory that excess dopamine contributes to schizophrenia

depressive disorders

disorders involving persistent sadness and loss of interest

major depressive disorder

severe depression lasting at least two weeks

persistent depressive disorder

long lasting depression lasting two years or more

bipolar disorders

disorders involving extreme mood swings

mania

abnormally elevated mood energy and activity

bipolar I disorder

disorder involving full manic episodes

bipolar II disorder

disorder involving hypomania and depression

anxiety disorders

disorders involving excessive fear or worry

phobia

irrational fear of a specific object or situation

agoraphobia

fear of situations where escape may be difficult

panic disorder

repeated unexpected panic attacks

social anxiety disorder

intense fear of social situations

generalized anxiety disorder

persistent excessive worry about many things

obsessive-compulsive disorders

disorders involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions

obsessive-compulsive disorder

disorder involving obsessions and compulsions

hoarding disorder

persistent difficulty discarding possessions

dissociative disorders

disorders involving disruptions in identity or memory

dissociative amnesia

memory loss caused by trauma or stress

fugue

sudden travel with memory loss about identity

dissociative identity disorder

presence of multiple distinct identities

trauma and stressor-related disorders

disorders caused by traumatic experiences

hypervigilance

constant heightened awareness of possible danger

feeding and eating disorders

disorders involving unhealthy eating patterns

anorexia nervosa

self-starvation due to fear of gaining weight

bulimia nervosa

binge eating followed by purging

personality disorders

inflexible patterns of behavior causing problems

Cluster A

odd or eccentric personality disorders

paranoid personality disorder

extreme distrust of others

schizoid personality disorder

detachment from social relationships

schizotypal personality disorder

odd beliefs and discomfort with relationships

Cluster B

dramatic emotional or erratic personality disorders

antisocial personality disorder

disregard for rights of others

histrionic personality disorder

excessive emotionality and attention seeking

narcissistic personality disorder

inflated self-importance and lack of empathy

borderline personality disorder

unstable emotions relationships and identity

Cluster C

anxious or fearful personality disorders

avoidant personality disorder

social inhibition due to fear of rejection

dependent personality disorder

excessive need for others' care

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

extreme perfectionism and control

meta-analysis

a statistical method combining results of multiple studies

therapeutic alliance

trust and cooperation between therapist and client

psychotropic medication

drugs that affect mood thought or behavior

deinstitutionalized

release of patients from long-term psychiatric hospitals

nonmaleficence

ethical principle to do no harm

fidelity

ethical responsibility to build trust

integrity

ethical principle of honesty in professional work

respect for rights and dignity

valuing client autonomy and confidentiality

free association

saying thoughts freely in psychoanalysis

dream interpretation

analyzing dreams for unconscious meaning

cognitive therapy

therapy that changes unhealthy thought patterns

cognitive restructuring

replacing irrational thoughts with healthier ones

fear hierarchies

ranking feared situations from least to most scary

maladaptive thinking

harmful or distorted thought patterns

cognitive triad

negative views of self world and future in depression

applied behavioral analysis

behavior therapy using reinforcement to teach skills

exposure therapy

gradual contact with feared objects or situations

systematic desensitization

relaxation paired with gradual exposure to fear

aversion therapy

pairing unwanted behavior with unpleasant stimulus

token economy

rewarding desired behavior with exchangeable tokens

biofeedback

monitoring body functions to gain control over them

cognitive-behavioral therapy

therapy combining thought and behavior change

psychodynamic therapy

therapy exploring unconscious conflicts

humanistic therapy

therapy emphasizing growth and self-awareness

active listening

empathetic listening and reflection by therapist

unconditional positive regard

acceptance without judgment

hypnosis

altered state of focused attention and suggestibility

antidepressant drugs

medications used to reduce depression symptoms

antianxiety drugs

medications that reduce anxiety symptoms

lithium

medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder

antipsychotic drugs

medications used to reduce psychotic symptoms

tardive dyskinesia

involuntary movements caused by long-term antipsychotic use

invasive therapy

biological treatment involving direct intervention in the body

psychosurgery

brain surgery used to treat severe mental disorders

lesioning

destroying small areas of brain tissue

transcranial magnetic stimulation

magnetic pulses used to stimulate the brain