Psychometrics and Trauma in Psychology Study Guide

Intelligence Tests

Measure intellectual abilities.

Charles Spearman

Proposed 'g' for general (single) intelligence.

Louis Thurstone

Described plural abilities that may not relate to each other.

Crystallized intelligence

Body of knowledge accumulated through life experience.

Fluid intelligence

Ability to reason when faced with novel problems.

Cattell's Intelligence Theory

Proposes two separate intelligences: crystallized and fluid.

Multiple intelligences

Theory that intelligence is not a single entity but a collection of different abilities.

Hierarchical models

Blend singular and plural theories of intelligence.

Ranked abilities

Categorization of intelligence into general, group, and individual levels.

Fluid = Flexible Thinking

A description of fluid intelligence emphasizing adaptability in reasoning.

Crystallized Intelligence

Knowledge accumulated from past experiences.

Fluid Intelligence

Ability to solve novel problems quickly.

Wechsler Intelligence Tests

IQ tests created by David Wechsler in the early 1900s.

WAIS-IV

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale for ages 16-89.

WISC-IV

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children for ages 6-16.

WPPSI-III

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence for ages 2-7.

Full-scale intelligence score

A single score yielded by all Wechsler IQ tests.

Mean score

The average score of 100 for full scale and index scores.

Verbal Comprehension Index

Measures words and understanding.

Perceptual Reasoning Index

Measures solving visual puzzles and orienting shapes in mind.

Working Memory Index

Measures the ability to hold and use information in the moment.

Processing Speed Index

Measures how fast you think and react.

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales

Dominated early 1900s, providing a single overall IQ score.

Fluid reasoning

Ability to solve novel problems with flexible thinking.

Quantitative reasoning

Ability to solve numerical problems.

Visual-spatial processing

Ability to analyze visually presented information.

Knowledge

General information accumulated over time.

Achievement Tests

Measure accomplishments in academic areas.

Specific Learning Disorders

Discrepancy between achievement and expected levels of achievement.

Neuropsychological Tests

Focus on cognitive dysfunction often from brain injury or illness.

Cognitive functioning

Measures the brain's cognitive capabilities.

Head injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury affecting cognitive functions.

Prognosis

Expected outcome of a diagnosis.

Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test (BVMG)

Most commonly used neuropsychological screen.

Pros of BVMG

~6 minutes to administer (quick), simple copying test using 9 geometric designs.

Cons of BVMG

Can suggest brain damage in a diffuse, but not specific, way; may need additional testing.

Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test

Brief pencil-and-paper drawing task involving a single, more complex figure with a memory component.

Brain scans

Able to determine specific damage and location of brain damage.

Common types of brain scans

EEG, CT, MRI, PET.

EEG

Electroencephalography; measures brain waves and electrical activity.

CT

Computed tomography; used for brain death, tumor, lesion; looks for gross pathology.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging; very expensive; sees slices of body.

PET

Positron emission tomography; detailed; looks at blood flow functioning.

Trauma & Crisis

Extraordinary stress and trauma can play a central role in psychological disorders.

Fight or Flight responses

Activated when faced with extraordinary stress or danger.

Brain areas involved in stress response

Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus.

Neurotransmitters involved in stress

Adrenalin, cortisol, norepinephrine.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Includes sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

Dysfunctional trauma response

History of trauma leading to mental health issues.

Common exposures to trauma

Accident, assault, child abuse, combat, disaster, incarceration, isolation, medical trauma.

Big T and small t traumas

Big 'T' trauma includes war, accidents, abuse; small 't' trauma includes phobia exposure, bullying.

Associated Diagnosis & Risk Factors

Common diagnoses associated with trauma include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and others.

Complex-PTSD

A diagnosis related to prolonged trauma exposure.

Dissociative identity disorder

A mental health condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Schizophrenia (Diathesis-Stress-Model)

A model explaining the development of schizophrenia through genetic predisposition and stress.

Exposure to trauma

89% of US adults have been exposed to trauma.

Serious disorder development

Up to 6% will develop a serious disorder.

Demographics of trauma

More common among women and people with poor financial status or discrimination experiences.

Physical trauma prevalence

Physical trauma affects 45% of women and 42% of men.

Sexual trauma prevalence

Sexual trauma affects 42% of women and 16% of men.

Age and trauma

Trauma can occur at any age and affect all aspects of life.

Suicide attempts

More than 20% of individuals exposed to trauma attempt suicide.

CPS/DCFS investigations

3.5 million US children received an investigation or services through CPS/DCFS.

Acute stress disorder

Symptoms begin within four weeks of the event and last less than one month.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms start anytime after the event and continue longer than one month.

Delayed PTSD development

25% of people with PTSD do not develop a full clinical syndrome until 6 months after trauma.

Acute stress disorder progression

50% of all cases of acute stress disorder develop into PTSD.

Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)

CPTSD is recurring and complex, often connected to a relationship.

Symptoms of acute stress disorders and PTSD

Aside from differences in onset and duration, symptoms are almost identical, including increased arousal, anxiety, guilt, re-experiencing the traumatic event, partial flashbacks, sudden fight or flight response, reduced responsiveness, and avoidance of people/triggers.

Biological factors

Factors related to the biological aspects of an individual that may contribute to psychological conditions.

Brain overactive to anxiety

A condition where the brain exhibits heightened activity in response to anxiety.

Childhood experiences

Events and situations encountered during childhood that can influence psychological development.

Cognitive factors and coping styles

Mental processes and strategies individuals use to manage stress and anxiety.

Type A personality

A personality type characterized by competitiveness, urgency, and a high level of stress.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Social support systems

Networks of family, friends, and community that provide emotional and practical support.

Severity and nature of traumas

The intensity and characteristics of traumatic experiences that affect the likelihood of developing PTSD.

Trauma-Informed Treatment

Evidence-based treatments specifically designed to address the effects of trauma.

Drug therapy

Use of medications to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and trauma, though it does not erase memories of trauma.

Antidepressant

A type of medication used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

Antipsychotic

Medications used to manage psychosis and other severe mental health conditions.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

A brief therapy (3-6 months) that helps clients identify, challenge, and replace unhelpful thoughts about trauma.

Three phases of CPT

1. Psychoeducation and identification, 2. Process and learn skills (CBT skills), 3. Practice skills and work on deep issues.

Narrative exposure therapy (NET)

A therapeutic approach where the client creates a chronological narrative of their life, focusing on traumatic experiences.

Trauma focus CBT (tfCBT)

A trauma-informed therapy that emphasizes the prevalence and impact of trauma and promotes holistic responses.

Safety & Crisis Assessment

An evaluation process to determine the risk of harm to oneself or others, especially in cases of child abuse or psychosis.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

A therapeutic approach based on Freudian theories of unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Freud's Psychosexual stages

Five stages of psychosexual development that influence personality and behavior.

Oral stage (0-2)

The first stage of psychosexual development where gratification is derived from oral activities.

Anal stage (2-4)

The second stage of psychosexual development characterized by gratification through anal control.

Phallic stage (4-6)

The third stage of psychosexual development where children experience gratification from their genitals.

Latency stage (6-puberty)

The fourth stage of psychosexual development where sexual feelings are dormant and focus shifts to skills and interests.

Genital stage (puberty-maturity)

The final stage of psychosexual development where individuals seek relationships with the opposite sex.

Structural theory and ego dynamics

A theory that explains the interactions between the ID, ego, and superego in shaping behavior.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious techniques created by the ego to handle conflicts between the ID and superego.

Repression

A defense mechanism where an individual keeps unwanted impulses in the unconscious.

Projection

A defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own impulses to others.

Reaction formation

A defense mechanism where an individual behaves in the opposite way to their impulses.

Displacement

A defense mechanism where an individual redirects their impulses onto someone else.

Sublimation

A defense mechanism where negative impulses are redirected to benefit others.