AP Psych Unit 5 Part 1 Vocab

Dysfunction

thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that significantly impair a person's ability to function in daily life, such as working, studying, or maintaining relationships

Distress

a negative, unpleasant, and often overwhelming stress response to internal or external pressures, causing significant suffering or impairment

Deviation from social norms

behavior that violates unwritten rules, expectations, and standards of acceptable conduct within a specific society or culture

Stigma

the negative attitude, stereotype, or social disapproval directed at individuals based on mental health conditions or perceived differences, often leading to discrimination, marginalization, and internalized shame

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders

the American Psychiatric Association's authoritative handbook for classifying, defining, and diagnosing mental disorders

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

a global, standardized diagnostic tool used to classify all medical conditions, including mental and behavioral disorders

Eclectic approach to diagnosis treatment

a flexible, tailored therapeutic method that combines techniques from various psychological schools (e.g., CBT, psychodynamic, humanistic) to meet a client's specific needs, rather than adhering to one single theory

Biopsychosocial model

an integrated, holistic framework that analyzes human behavior, mental processes, and health by combining three essential levels: biological, psychological, and social

Diathesis-stress model

the concept that genetic predispositions (diathesis) combine with environmental stressors (stress) to influence psychological disorder

Neurodevelopmental disorders

central nervous system abnormalities (usually in the brain) that start in childhood and alter thinking and behavior (as in intellectual limitation or a psychological disorder)

ADHD

a psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by limitation in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders

a group of disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized or unusual motor behavior, and negative symptoms (such as diminished emotional expression); includes schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder

Positive symptoms

excesses or distortions of normal functioning—behaviors or thoughts that are added to a person's experience, commonly seen in schizophrenia

Delusions (paranoid and grandiose)

firmly held, irrational, and false beliefs that are not aligned with reality and persist despite clear evidence to the contrary

Hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

Disorganized thinking or speech (word salad)

a symptom of schizophrenia (a positive symptom) characterized by a confused, incoherent, or nonsensical mixture of words and phrases

Catatonic excitement

a subtype of catatonia characterized by extreme, purposeless agitation, hyperactivity, and uncontrollable, chaotic movements

Negative symptoms

the absence or reduction of normal behaviors, emotions, and functions, typically associated with schizophrenia

Catatonic stupor

a symptom of severe schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders, characterized by a dramatic, often complete, lack of movement, verbal response, or reaction to the environment

Flat affect

a negative symptom of schizophrenia and other disorders, characterized by a severe reduction or total absence of outward emotional expression

Dopamine hypothesis

a theory proposing that schizophrenia is caused by an excess of dopamine activity (or oversensitivity of dopamine receptors) in the brain, particularly in subcortical regions

Depressive disorders

a group of disorders characterized by an enduring sad, empty, or irritable mood, along with physical and cognitive changes that affect a person's ability to function

Major depressive disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences five or more symptoms lasting two or more weeks, in the absence of drug use or a medical condition, at least one of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure

Persistent depressive disorder

a disorder in which people experience a depressed mood on more days than not for at least 2 years (formerly called dysthymia)

Bipolar I

the most severe formal in which people experience a euphoric, talkative, highly energetic, and overly ambitious state that lasts a week or longer

Bipolar II

a less severe form of bipolar in which people move between depression and a milder hypomania

Manic episodes

a distinct period (lasting at least 1 week) of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, and increased activity or energy: a core feature of Bipolar I disorder

Hypomanic episodes

a distinct period (lasting at least 4 consecutive days) of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and increased energy, milder than mania and not causing severe impairment

Anxiety disorders

a group of disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety and related maladaptive behaviors

Specific phobia

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation

Agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one may experience loss of control and panic

Panic disorder

an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of tense dread in which a person may experience terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations; often followed by worry over a possible next attack

Ataque de nervios

a cultural syndrome (or idiom of distress) commonly recognized among Latinos, characterized by sudden, intense emotional outbursts, trembling, crying, screaming, and sometimes aggression or dissociation, usually in response to severe stressors like family conflict

Social anxiety disorder

intense fear and avoidance of social situations

Taijin kyofusho

a culture-specific syndrome, primarily in Japan, characterized by an intense fear that one's body, appearance, or behavior will embarrass, offend, or displease others

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

OCD

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions), actions (compulsions), or both

Obsession vs. compulsion

obsessions are persistent, unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety, while compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to temporarily reduce that distress

Hoarding disorder

a persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their values

Dissociative disorders

a controversial, rare group of disorders characterized by a disruption of or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior

Dissociative identity disorder

a rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities (formerly called multiple personality disorder)

Dissociative amnesia

a disorder in which people with intact brains reportedly experience memory gaps; people with dissociative amnesia may report not remembering trauma-related specific events, people, places, or aspects of their identity and life history

Posttraumatic stress disorder

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

Anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight, and has an inaccurate self-perception; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise

Bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person's binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) is followed by inappropriate weight-loss-promoting behavior, such as vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

Personality disorders

a group of disorders characterized by enduring inner experiences or behavior patterns that differ from someone's cultural norms and expectations, are pervasive and inflexible, begin in adolescence or early adulthood, are stable over time, and cause distress or impairment

Cluster A

odd or eccentric disorders

Paranoid

pervasive, unwarranted distrust and suspicion of others, causing individuals to interpret motives as malevolent

Schizoid

a pervasive, lifelong pattern of detachment from social relationships, a restricted range of emotional expression, and indifference to social interaction

Schizotypal

pervasive, long-lasting patterns of eccentric behavior, severe social anxiety, discomfort with close relationships, and distorted thinking or perception

Cluster B

dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders

Antisocial

actions that violate social norms, rules, or the rights of others, often characterized by aggression, deceit, impulsivity, and a lack of remorse

Histrionic

a long-standing, pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior

Narcissistic

a personality trait or disorder characterized by an excessive, inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for admiration, and a profound lack of empathy for others

Borderline

a pervasive, long-term pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and marked impulsivity

Cluster C

anxious or fearful disorders

Avoidant

an insecure attachment style formed in infancy due to consistently unresponsive caregivers, leading children to disregard needs and prioritize self

Dependent

a state where an individual relies on a substance or behavior to function

Therapeutic alliance and cultural humility

a bond of trust and mutual understanding between a therapist and client, who work together constructively to overcome the client's problem

Deinstitutionalization

the process, begun in the late twentieth century, of moving people with psychological disorders out of institutional facilities

Decentralized treatment

the shift away from long-term, centralized institutional care (asylums/hospitals) toward community-based care and outpatient services

Psychodynamic therapies

therapy deriving from the psychoanalytic tradition; views individuals as responding to unconscious forces and childhood experiences, and seeks to enhance self-insight

Free association

in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relates and says whatever

Dream interpretation

the psychoanalytic technique of analyzing a dream's symbols to uncover unconscious desires and conflicts

Cognitive therapies

therapy that teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking; based on the assumption that thoughts intervene between events and our emotional reactivity

Cognitive restructuring

a core cognitive-behavioral therapy (CPT) used to identify, challenge, and alter irrational, self-defeating, or distorted thoughts that cause emotional distress, replacing them with more adaptive, rational, and positive perspectives

Fear hierarchies

a kind of ladder of speaking situations that trigger increasing levels of fear

Applied behavior analysis

using what we know about conditioning to address disordered behaviors

Exposure therapies

behavioral techniques, such as systematic desensitization and virtual reality exposure therapy, that treat anxieties by exposing people (in imaginary or actual situations) to the things they fear and avoid

Aversion therapies/aversive conditioning

associates an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)

Token economies

an operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange tokens for privileges or treats

Biofeedback

a system of recording, amplifying, and feeding back information about subtle physiological responses in an effort to help people control them

Cognitive-behavioral therapies

a popular integrative therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy (changing behavior)

Dialectical behavior therapy

helps change harmful and even suicidal behavior patterns

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

a confrontational cognitive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, that vigorously challenges people's illogical, self-defeating attitudes and assumptions

Humanistic therapies

a client-centered, "third-force" approach focusing on self-actualization, personal growth, and self-awareness rather than curing illness or analyzing the unconscious

Person-centered therapy

a humanistic therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, in which the therapist uses techniques such as active listening within an accepting, genuine, empathetic environment to facilitate clients' growth (also called client-centered therapy)

Active listening

empathetic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and seeks clarification. A feature of Rogers' person-centered therapy

Unconditional positive regard

a caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude, which Carl Rogers believed would help clients develop self-awareness and self-acceptance (also known as unconditional regard)

Group therapy vs. individual therapy

individual therapy involves one-on-one sessions tailored to personal needs, while group therapy uses peer support (5-15 people) to address similar challenges like addiction or anxiety

Hypnosis in therapy

a social interaction and altered state of consciousness characterized by focused attention, high suggestibility, and reduced peripheral awareness

Biological therapies (interventions)

treatments derived from the biological perspective

Antidepressants

a class of psychotropic medications to treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and OCD by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine

Antianxiety

medications used to control anxiety and agitation by depressing the central nervous system to reduce symptoms like panic attacks and fear

Lithium

a mood-stabilizing medication primarily used to treat bipolar disorder by stabilizing extreme mood swings, specifically reducing the intensity and frequency of manic episodes

Antipsychotics

a class of psychotropic drugs used to treat severe thought disorders, primarily schizophrenia, by reducing positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions

Side effects

unwanted, unintended, or secondary consequences of a medication or therapeutic intervention, often occurring alongside desired therapeutic benefits

Psychosurgeries

surgery that removes or destroys brain tissue in an effort to change behavior

Lesioning

tissue destruction. Brain lesions may occur naturally (from disease to trauma), during surgery, or experimentally (using electrodes to destroy brain cells)

Lobotomy

a psychosurgical procedure once used to calm uncontrollably emotional or violent patients. The procedure cut the nerves connecting the frontal lobes to the emotion-controlling centers of the inner brain

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

the application of repeated pulses of magnetic energy to the brain; used to stimulate or suppress brain activity

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

a biomedical therapy for severe, treatment-resistant depression and mental illnesses, involving controlled electric currents passed through the brain to induce a brief seizure