PSYCH 127A: Lecture 2

Flashcards covering key concepts related to psychological disorders and their development.

Etiology

The study of origins or causes of a disorder.

Equifinality

The concept that a behavior or disorder may have several different causes.

Multifinality

The notion that a particular history may lead to very different outcomes in different individuals.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A psychological theory that explains how biological and/or psychological vulnerabilities interact with stress to result in a psychological disorder.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain that influence psychological processes and behavior.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors affect gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Genetic Vulnerabilities

The predisposition to develop certain disorders based on genetic factors.

Neural Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experience and environment.

HPA Axis

A system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that regulates stress responses.