ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM ONE

harmful dysfunction

a theory that mental disorders stem from a physical or mental system not functioning the way it should and causing harm to the individual or others

syndrome

a group of symptoms that appear together and are assumed to represent a specific type of disorder

epidemiology

the scientific study of the frequency and distribution of disorders within a population

comorbidity

The presence of more than one condition within the same period of time

hypothesis

an educated guess about the expected outcome in experiment

clinical psychology

a field concerned with the application of psychological science to assessment and treatment of mental disorders

psychosis

a phenomenon occurring in severe mental disorders in which the person is considered to be out of contact with reality

null hypothesis

a prediction that the experimental hypothesis is not true

mental disorder

a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s behavior, behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive process

case study

an in-depth look at the symptoms and circumstances surrounding one person

psychopathology

The symptoms and and signs of a mental disorder

incidence

the number of new cases of a disorder that appear in a population during a specific time period.

social work

a field that emphasizes assisting individuals in a variety of social settings, along with giving them care with psychological problems

prevalence

the number of active cases, old and new, that are present in a population during a certain period

psychiatry

the branch of medicine that is concerned with the study and treatment of mental disorders

correlational study

research in which the relation between two factors is studied systematically

equifinality

when there are many routes to the same outcome

evolutionary psychology

the application of the principles of evolution to understanding the animal and human mind

classical conditioning

learning through association that involves conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses

extinction

when a conditioned stimulus no longer is paired with an unconditioned stimulus

concordance rate

probability that two people will have certain characteristics

endocrine system

a collection of glands found at various locations around the body

biological paradigm

a theory of psychology that looks for biological abnormalities that cause abnormal behavior, for example brain diseases, brain injuries, or genetics

hysteria

an outdated term used when unusual physical symptoms occur in the absence of physical impairment or when a person displays exaggerate emotions.

phenotype

outward expression of genotype

reductionism

a concept that attempts to understand problems by focussing increasingly smaller units, suggesting that the smaller unit is the actual case

dualism

the philosophic concept that mind and body are separate

lateralized

when functions are controlled by only one side of the brain

etiology

the cause of something, typically a disease or disorder

premorbid history

a pattern of disorder that precedes the onset of the disorder

developmental norms

behavior that is typical for children at that age

reliability

when scientists or clinicians agree on the analysis of the problem.

gene-environment condition

an association between inborn propensities and environmental experience

ventricles

connected chambers of an organ, such as the brain and the heart

cerebral hemispheres

left- language and related functions, right- spacial organizations and analysis

hypothalamus

controls basic urges such as eating, drinking, and sxual activity

humanistic paradigm

a philosophical that human behavior is the product of free will

psychodynamic paradigm

a theory that abnormal behavior is caused by unconscious mental conflicts that have roots in early childhood experience

behaviorism

a theory of psychology that focuses on conditioning and altering behavior to address mental disorders

reciprocal causality

mutual influences where cause and effect sometimes are matters of perspective

identity

an integrated definition of self

behavioral genetics

study of broad genetic influences on individual differences in normal and abnormal behavior, usually studying twins or family members who differ in terms of shared genes or experiences. also to provide the effect of environmental factors

anxious attachments

insecure attachment type often the result of inconsistent parenting

automatic nervous system

the part of the nervous system that is controlled involuntarily, like the heart and digestion.

defense mechanisms

unconscious self-deceptions that reduce conscious anxiety by distorting anxiety creating memories, emotions, and impulses

proband

the first familial case, also known as index cases

cognitive behavioral paradigm

a theory of psychology that views abnormal behavior as a product of learning

reverse causality

when causation operates in the opposite direction from that expected.

reuptake

when a substance is reabsorbed

attachements

a persons attachement to primary caregiver

operant conditioning

learning through consequences like rewards and punishment

modeling

learning through imitation

labeling theory

a theory that suggests some actions conform to the expectation created by social scripts

psychophysiology

the study of changes in the functioning of the body due to psychological experiences

limbic system

a variety of brain structures, including the thalamus and hypothalamus, that are central to the regulation of emotion and the basic learning processes

cerebral cortex

site in the brain of the control and integration of sophisticated memory, sensory, and motor functions

systems theory

a holistic approach that embraces multiple contributions to causality and interdependence of these elements

biopsychosocial model

a model that integrates evidence on certain biological, psychological, and social contributions to mental disorders.

attributions

perceived causes, peoples beliefs about cause-effect relations.

paradigm

a set of shared assumptions that includes both the substance of a theory and beliefs about how a scientists should collect data and test hypotheses

multifinality

when the same event leads to different outcomes

prognosis

a predicted course for the future of the disorder

developmental psychopathology

an approach to mental disorder that emphasizes how abnormal behavior develops and changes over time

psychoanalytic theory

theory proposed by Sigmund freud that mental disorder are caused by unconscious conflict

cognitive-behavior therapy

a form of therapy that focuses on the present and on teaching more adaptive thoughts, behaviors, and feelings

meta-analysis

a statistical procedure that allows researchers to combine the results form different studies in a standardized way

external validity

whether findings of an experiment generalize to other circumstances

systematic desensitization

A multistep technique for eliminating fears involving muscle relaxation, constructing a hierarchy of fears, and progressively facing fears

cognitive therapy

A psychotherapy technique and important part of cognitive behavior therapy that was developed by Aaron Beck specifically as a treatment. Becks cognitive therapy involves challenging negative cognitive distortions through a technique called collaborative empiricism

allegiance effect

The tendency of clinicians to find that their favorite form of treatment is the most effective

therapeutic allience

a bond between therapist and client

interpersonal therapy

A form of therapy that focuses on changing emotional styles of interacting in close relationships

psychotherapy

The use of psychological techniques and the therapist-client relationship to produce emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change

humanistic psychotherapy

a form of therapy that encourages people to recognize and experience their true feelings

cultural concepts of distress

Patterns of erratic or unusual thinking and behavior that have been identified in diverse societies and do not fit easily into other diagnostic categories

projective tests

A projective test uses ambiguous stimuli to assess personality (ink blot)

A projective test uses ambiguous stimuli to assess personality

A way of classifying that assumes that distinctions among members of different categories fall along continuous dimensions

transdiagnostic factors

Dimensions of experience that cut across specific DSM diagnostic categories

categorical approach to classification

A way of classifying that assumes that distinctions among members of different categories are qualitative

Barnum effect

The practice of saying things about a specific person that are true of virtually all people

psychomotor retardation

slowing down of moments

hypomania

Episodes of increased energy that are not sufficiently severe to qualify as full-blown mania

dysthymia

persistent mild depression

mood disorders

A disorder in which a person experiences episodes of manic or depressed mood

analogous study

A study into a condition that is similar, or analogous, to the clinical disorder in question

seasonal affective disorder

A mood disorder in which the onset of episodes is regularly associated with changes in seasons

bipolar II disorder

A mood disturbance severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning that includes at least one major depressive episode, at least one hypomanic episode, and no full-blown manic episodes

somatic systems

Symptoms that manifest themselves physically rather than emotionally or psychologically

dysphoric

ill at ease and having a general dissatisfaction with life w/ life

cyclothymia

a chronic but less severe version of bipolar

melancholia

a severe type of depression

clinical depression

An intense low mood with a combination of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function and enjoy life

bipolar I disorder

A mood disturbance severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning that includes at least one full-blown manic episode

affect

A temporary feeling state, which is often identified by a pattern of observable behaviors, such as facial expression, that are associated with these subjective feelings

preparedness model

a theory about how fears evolved using prepared modules shaped by evolutionary process.

neuroticism/negative effect

A theory about how fears evolved using prepared modules shaped by evolutionary pressures

concordance rate

The rate, often a percentage, at which two related individuals are found to both have a disorder or problem or neither has a disorder or problem, i.e., they are concordant. In discordant pairs, only one individual is disordered. Concordance rates often are computed for twin pairs

general anxiety disorder

Excessive fear and worry that lead to significant distress or impairment in occupational or social functioning

Taijin kyofusho

the title of a social anxiety disorder specific to certain asian countries involving a fear of interpersonal relations

decatastrophizing

a cognitive-behavioral therapy technique designed to reduce anxiety by challenging exaggerated, "worst-case scenario" thoughts