test for psychopathy

Agoraphobia

Fear or avoidance of places where escape may be difficult or help unavailable during panic symptoms.

Anhedonia

Inability to feel pleasure in previously enjoyable activities.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new long-term memories after brain injury.

Anxiety Sensitivity

Fear of anxiety-related sensations due to beliefs they signal danger or harm.

Benzodiazepines

Anti-anxiety medications that calm the nervous system by enhancing GABA activity.

Bipolar II Disorder

Alternating periods of major depression and hypomania (milder mania).

Biological Approach to Abnormality

Explains abnormal behavior through genetics, brain chemistry, and biology.

Catharsis

Emotional release of repressed feelings, often providing relief in therapy.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association between two stimuli.

Clinical Psychologist

Professional trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders using therapy and assessments.

Cognitive Theories of Depression

Depression results from negative thought patterns and distorted beliefs about oneself and the world.

Compulsion

Repetitive behavior or mental act aimed at reducing anxiety caused by obsessions.

Content Validity

Degree to which a test measures all relevant parts of the concept.

Context of PTSD

PTSD develops after exposure to trauma; includes flashbacks, avoidance, and hyperarousal.

Conversion Disorder

Psychological conflict producing physical symptoms (e.g., paralysis, blindness) with no medical cause.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding abnormal behavior within the norms and values of a person’s culture.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

Combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness to improve emotion regulation.

Deinstitutionalization

Transition from psychiatric hospitals to community-based mental health treatment.

Delusions

False, fixed beliefs resistant to contrary evidence.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Presence of two or more distinct identities within one person, often linked to trauma.

Direct Behavioral Observation

Assessing behavior by directly watching and recording actions.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

Standardized classification system for diagnosing mental disorders.

Dysfunction (part of 4 D’s)

Behavior that interferes with daily functioning.

Face Validity

Whether a test appears to measure what it’s supposed to measure.

Factitious Disorder (Münchausen’s)

Faking or inducing illness for attention, not for external rewards.

Fight-or-Flight

Physiological response preparing the body for danger or stress.

Flooding

Rapid and intense exposure to feared stimuli until anxiety subsides.

4 “D’s” of Abnormality

Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger — criteria for identifying abnormal behavior.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Chronic, excessive worry about various life areas lasting at least six months.

Gender Differences in Suicide

Men complete suicide more often; women attempt more frequently.

Gene/Environment Interaction

How genes and environmental factors combine to influence behavior and mental health.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that appear real but occur without external stimuli.

Hormone

Chemical messenger released by glands into the bloodstream to regulate body processes.

Hypomania

Milder, functional form of mania with elevated mood and energy.

Intelligence Tests

Assess reasoning, problem-solving, and general cognitive ability.

IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

Numerical measure of intelligence compared to population norms (average = 100).

Learning Disorders

Persistent difficulties in reading, writing, or math not due to low intelligence.

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness lasting at least two weeks.

Mood Disorders

Disorders involving disturbances in mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Neurotransmitter

Brain chemical transmitting signals between neurons.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

Intentional harm without suicidal intent, used to manage emotional pain.

Obsession

Persistent, intrusive thoughts or urges causing anxiety.

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

Disorder involving obsessions and compulsions that interfere with daily life.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequences such as reinforcement and punishment.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Long-term, mild depression lasting for two years or more.

Predictive Validity

How well a test predicts future performance or outcomes.

Psychiatric Nurse

Provides psychiatric care and medication management under medical supervision.

Psychopathology

The scientific study of mental disorders, their development, and treatment.

Psychological Approach

Explains abnormality through cognition, emotions, and learned behavior.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Psychological distress after trauma with symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

Reuptake

Process of reabsorbing neurotransmitters after neural transmission.

Retrograde Amnesia

Inability to recall past memories before trauma or injury.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of embarrassment or judgment in social situations.

Sociological Approach

Views abnormal behavior as influenced by social, cultural, and environmental factors.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Distressing physical symptoms without clear medical cause.

Structured Clinical Interview

Standardized set of questions to diagnose mental disorders reliably.

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure to fear combined with relaxation techniques