5.3 Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorder

A pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that disrupts functioning.

Dysfunction

Impairment in the ability to perform daily activities.

Distress

Emotional suffering or pain that disrupts a person's life.

Stigma

Negative attitudes or beliefs about individuals with mental health issues.

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

The professional organization representing psychiatrists in the U.S., responsible for the DSM.

Eclectic Approach

Using multiple therapeutic methods to treat psychological disorders.

Behavioral Perspective

Focus on observable behaviors and the effects of learning.

Maladaptive Behaviors

Behaviors that are harmful and hinder personal functioning.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Emphasizes unconscious processes and early life experiences.

Humanistic Perspective

Focus on individual potential and self-actualization.

Cognitive Perspective

Examines how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors.

Maladaptive Thoughts

Negative thought patterns that contribute to psychological disorders.

Medical Model

Views psychological disorders as diseases with biological causes.

Biopsychosocial Model

Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding disorders.

Diathesis-Stress Model

Proposes that psychological disorders develop from a combination of genetic predisposition and stress.

Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders.

World Health Organization (WHO)

An agency that provides global health guidelines and classifications.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A global health classification system used for diagnosing and researching mental disorders.

Evolutionary Perspectives

Examines how evolutionary processes influence psychological traits.

Sociocultural Perspective

Focus on how social and cultural factors affect mental health.

Maladaptive Relationships

Relationships that negatively impact an individual's mental health.

Biological Perspective

Emphasizes the role of genetics and biological processes in mental disorders.

Diathesis

A predisposition or vulnerability to develop a disorder.

Stress

Environmental or situational factors that trigger or exacerbate disorders.

Epigenetics

The study of how environment influences gene expression.