Abnormal Psychology Ch 2

neuron

a nerve cell

glia

neuron support cells

dendrite

antenna-like extensions located at one end or the neuron

axon

a long fiber extending from the neuron’s body

nerve ending

end of the axon

synapse

a tiny space between the nerve ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another

neurotransmitter

a chemical that, released by one neuron, crosses the synaptic space to be received at receptors on the dendrites of neighboring neurons

receptor

a site on a neuron that receives a neurotransmitter

hormones

the chemicals released by endocrine glands into the blood stream

Huntington’s disease

a disorder marked by involuntary body movements, violent emotional outbursts, memory loss, suicidal thinking, and highly distorted beliefs

brain circuts

a network of particular brain structures that work together, triggering each other into action to produce a distinct kind of behavioral, cognitive, or emotional reaction

genes

chromosome segments that control the characteristics and traits we inherit

mutation

an atypical form of the appropriate gene that emerges unexpectedly

psychotripic medications

drugs that mainly affect the brain and reduce many symptoms of mental dysfunction

antianxiety drugs

drug that helps reduce tension and anxiety

antidepressant drugs

drug that helps improve the function of people with depression and certain other disorders

antibipolar drugs

drug that helps steady the moods of those with a bipolar disorder

bipolar disorder

a condition marked by mood swings from mania to depression

antipsychotic drugs

drug to help reduce the confusion, hallucinations, and delusions that often accompany psychosis

psychosis

a loss of contact with reality found in schizophrenia and other disorders

brain stimulation

interventions that directly or indirectly stimulate the brain in order to bring about psychological improvement

electroconvulsive therapy

a biological treatment in which a brain seizure is triggered when an electric current passes through electrodes attached to the patient’s forehead

psychosurgery

brain surgery for mental disorders

biological model

Biological theorists look at biological processes to explain psychopathology, pointing, for example, to irregularities in brain chemistry, structures, or circuitry. Such irregularities are sometimes the result of genetic inheritance of atypical gene structures or ordinary evolution. Biological therapists use physical and chemical methods to help people overcome their psychological difficulties. The leading methods are drug therapy, brain stimulation, and psychosurgery.

id

according to Freud, the psychological force that produces instinctual needs, drives, and impulses

ego

according to Freud, the psychological force that employs reason and operates in accordance with the reality principle

ego defense mechanisms

according to psychoanalytic theory, strategies developed by the ego to control unacceptable id impulses and to avoid or reduce the anxiety they arouse

superego

according to Freud, the psychological force that represents a person’s values and ideals

morality principle

a sense of what is right and what is wrong

fixated

according to Freud, a condition in which the id, ego, or superego do not mature properly and are frozen at an early stage of development

self theory

the psychodynamic theory that emphasizes the role of the self: our unified personality

object relations theory

the psychodynamic theory that views the desire for relationships as the key motivating force in human behavior

free association

a psychodynamic technique in which the patient describes any thought, feeling, or image that comes to mind, even if it seems unimportant

resistance

an unconscious refusal to participate

catharsis

a reliving of past repressed feelings

psychodynamic model

Psychodynamic theorists believe that an individual’s behavior, whether functional or dysfunctional, is determined by underlying psychological forces. They consider psychological conflicts to be rooted in early parent–child relationships and traumatic experiences. The psychodynamic model was formulated by Sigmund Freud, who said that three dynamic forces — the id, ego, and superego — interact to produce thought, feeling, and behavior. Other psychodynamic theories are self theory and object relations theory.

Psychodynamic therapists help people uncover past traumas and the inner conflicts that have resulted from them. They use a number of techniques, including free association and interpretations of psychological phenomena such as resistance, transference, and dreams. Leading contemporary psychodynamic approaches include short-term psychodynamic therapies and relational psychoanalytic therapy.

psychodynamic

Which model examines people's unconscious internal processes and conflicts?

biological

psychodynamic

cognitive-behavioral

humanistic-existential

the id

According to Sigmund Freud, what is the psychological force that seeks out gratification and pleasure?

the ego

the id

the unconscious

the superego

neurotransmitters

Serotonin, glutamate, and norepinephrine are examples of:

neurotransmitters.

synapses.

hormones.

receptors.

d

According to Sigmund Freud, the superego is the psychological force that:

a. produces instinctual needs, drives, and impulses.

b. taps into the collective unconscious shared by all human beings.

c. seeks gratification in accordance with the reality principle.

d. represents a person's values and ideals.

c

Dr. Rakeem is seeing a client who frequently reports feeling sad and anxious. Dr. Rakeem decides to spend a session asking about the client's background—where they are from, what language they spoke growing up, traditions related to their nationality or religious affiliation, and so on. Dr. Rakeem is MOST likely a proponent of the:

a. humanistic-existential model.

b. psychodynamic model.

c. multicultural model.

d. biological model.

dreams

Sigmund Freud called which of these the "royal road to the unconscious"?

repression

the id

cocaine

dreams

medicine

The biological model of psychopathology is MOST likely rooted in:

psychology.

philosophy.

medicine.

sociology.

c

According to psychoanalytic theorists, the ego attempts to control unacceptable impulses and avoids or reduces the anxiety they arouse through the use of:

a. ego controls.

b. defensive reduction.

c. defense mechanisms.

d. anxiety reducers.

a

Which model emphasizes actions and the ways in which it is learned?

a. cognitive-behavioral

b. biological

c. humanistic-existential

d. psychodynamic

c

Olivia has been working with a therapist to deal with her impulsive behavior. She consistently shows poor judgment when making decisions and lacks control over her spending habits. A therapist who follows the psychodynamic perspective might speculate that:

a. Olivia's ego is too well developed.

b. Olivia's behavior is healthy.

c. Olivia's id is governing her behavior.

d. Olivia should be institutionalized.

paradigm

Another term for a model is:

theory.

therapy.

hypothesis.

paradigm.

d

During therapy, Dara's therapist helps Dara to explore their past experiences, their early childhood, and any traumatic experiences that may have happened to them. Dara's therapist MOST likely supports the:

a. humanistic-existential model of psychopathology.

b. cognitive model of psychopathology.

c. biological model of psychopathology.

d. psychodynamic model of psychopathology.

synapse

What is a tiny space that separates one neuron from the next?

the synapse

the prolapse

the dendrite

the axon

a

A model, or paradigm, is a:

a. set of assumptions and concepts that help scientists explain and interpret observations.

b. graph used by clinicians to map psychopathology.

c. set of ideas generated to explain psychopathology.

d. framework used to guide the exploration of treatment.

b

Which model is concentrated on the thinking that underlies actions?

a. humanistic-existential

b. cognitive-behavioral

c. psychodynamic

d. biological

biological

Which model suggests that physical processes are key to human behavior?

humanistic-existential

biological

cognitive-behavioral

psychodynamic

rationalization

Priksha is overweight, and her health is suffering. She explains to her doctor that "food is her only happiness in life, and she deserves to be happy." Priksha's explanation is an example of:

repression.

rationalization.

regression.

projection.

catharsis

When Kai was young, he almost drowned because his brother was roughhousing with him in the family pool. According to Sigmund Freud, Kai may need to relive that experience during therapy, in order to experience:

transference.

catharsis.

resistance.

free association.

d

Nitin visits a therapist to discuss his frequent clashes with his boss. They focus on this problem and related issues in all of his sessions. This type of therapy is known as:

a. transference.

b. relational psychoanalytic therapy.

c. a catharsis.

d. short-term psychodynamic therapy.

endocrine glands

What are a set of structures that produce and release hormones?

the endocrine glands

the brain circuits

the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and amygdala

the dendrites

behaviors

the responses an organism makes to its environment

conditioning

a simple form of learning

classical conditioning

a process of learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occur close together in time become fused in a person’s mind and produce the same response

modeling

a process of learning in which an individual acquires responses by observing and imitating others

operant conditioning

a process of learning in which individuals come to behave in certain ways as a result of experiencing consequences of one kind or another whenever they perform the behavior

exposure therapy

a behavior-focused intervention in which fearful people are repeatedly exposed to the objects or situations they dread

cognitive-behavioral model

Proponents of the cognitive-behavioral model focus on maladaptive behaviors and cognitions to explain and treat psychological disorders. Most such proponents now include both the behavioral and cognitive dimensions in their work.

On the behavioral dimension, the theorists hold that three types of conditioning — classical conditioning, modeling, and operant conditioning — account for behavior, whether functional or dysfunctional. Therapists try to replace problematic behaviors with more appropriate ones, using techniques based on one or more of the principles of learning. On the cognitive dimension, the model’s proponents point to cognitive challenges, like maladaptive assumptions and illogical thinking processes, to help explain psychological dysfunction. In treatment, therapists may try to help clients recognize, challenge, and change their problematic ways of thinking.

In addition to the traditional cognitive-behavioral approaches, third wave cognitive-behavioral therapies, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, draw on Eastern healing traditions and mindfulness-based meditation to help clients become more mindful of and accept many of their troubling thoughts.

self-actualize

the humanistic process by which people fulfill their potential for goodness and growth

client-centered therapy

the humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers in which clinicians try to help clients by conveying acceptance, accurate empathy, and genuineness

Gestalt Therapy

the humanistic therapy developed by Fritz Perls in which clinicians actively more clients toward self-recognition and self-acceptance by using techniques such as role-playing and self-discovery exercises

role-playing

instructing clients to act out various roles

existential therapy

a therapy that encourages clients to accept responsibility for their lives and to live with grater meaning and value

humanistic-existential model

The humanistic-existential model focuses on the human need to successfully deal with philosophical issues such as self-awareness, values, meaning, and choice.

Humanists believe that people are driven to self-actualize. When this drive is interfered with, psychopathology may result. One group of humanistic therapists, client-centered therapists, tries to create a very supportive therapy climate in which people can look at themselves honestly and acceptingly, thus opening the door to self-actualization. Another group, gestalt therapists, uses more active techniques to help people recognize and accept their needs. Recently, the role of spirituality as an important factor in mental health and in psychotherapy has caught the attention of researchers and clinicians.

According to existentialists, psychopathology results from hiding from life’s responsibilities. Existential therapists encourage people to accept responsibility for their lives, recognize their freedom to choose a different course, and choose to live with greater meaning.

family systems theory

a theory that views the family as a system of interacting parts whose interactions exhibit consistent patterns and unstated rules

interpersonal psychotherapy

a therapy that addresses four interpersonal problem areas that may be leading to psychopathology: interpersonal losses, interpersonal role disputes, interpersonal role transitions, and interpersonal deficits

group therapy

a therapy format in which a group of people with similar problems meet together with a therapist to work on those problems

support group

a group made up of people with similar problems who help and support one another without the direct leadership of a clinician

family therapy

a therapy format in which the therapist meets with all members of a family and helps them to change in therapeutic ways

couple therapy

a therapy format in which the therapist works with two people who share a long-term relationship

community mental health treatment

a treatment approach that emphasizes community care

primary prevention

consists of efforts to improve community attitudes and policies and overall wellness

secondary prevention

consists of identifying and treating psychological conditions in the early stages, before they become serious

tertiary prevention

provide effective treatment to specific persons who have already developed moderate or severe disorders so that these disorders do not become long-term problems

culture

the set of values, attitudes, beliefs, history, and behaviors shared by a group of people and communicated from one generation to the next

multicultural perspective

the view that each culture in a society has particular values, beliefs, and pressures that influence the behavior and functioning of its members

people of color

a general term for people who are Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and/or Asian American

marginalized people

people whose communities experience discrimination, as well as social, political, and economic exclusion, due to unequal power relationships across a society

dominant population

the societal group that holds on average, the greatest power, privilege, and social status

intersectionality

a multicultural framework that examines how each individual’s memberships in multiple cultural groups and social identities, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, and sexual orientation, combine to shape their particular experiences, opportunities, outlook, and functioning

culturally responsive therapies

treatment approaches that are designed to help address the unique issues faced by members of different cultural groups

sociocultural model

One sociocultural perspective, the family-social perspective, looks outward to three kinds of factors: social labels and roles, social connections and supports, and the family system. Practitioners from the family-social model may practice interpersonal psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, couple therapy, or community treatment.

The multicultural perspective, another sociocultural perspective, holds that an individual’s behavior, whether functional or dysfunctional, is best understood when examined in the light of the person’s unique cultural context, including the values of that culture and the special external pressures faced by members of that culture. Practitioners of this perspective may practice culturally responsive therapies, including affirmative therapy. Increasingly, multicultural theorists are emphasizing the principle of intersectionality to understand how multiple factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socioeconomic class, and discrimination intersect in a given person to help produce particular experiences and psychological effects.

developmental psychopathology perspective

a perspective that uses a developmental framework to understand how variables and principles from the various models may collectively account for human functioning

equifinality

the principle that a number of different developmental pathways can lead to the same psychological disorder

multifinality

the principle that persons with similar developmental histories may nevertheless have different clinical outcomes or react to comparable current situations in very different ways

protective factor

a positive developmental variable such as effective parenting that helps to offset the impact of negative variables such as unfavorable genes or a difficult temperament

integrating the models

Many theorists now favor explanations for psychopathology that consider more than one kind of cause at a time, and many therapists combine treatment techniques from several models. An influential integrative view, the developmental psychopathology perspective, uses a developmental framework to understand how variables and principles from the various models may collectively account for human functioning — both adaptive and maladaptive functioning. Two principles at the center of this perspective are equifinality and multifinality.

exposure therapy

What is a behavior-focused intervention that involves immersing oneself in dreaded situations gradually?

Modeling

Operant conditioning

Role-playing

Exposure therapy

c

Self-actualization is:

a. taking personal responsibility for one's own life.

b. recognizing one's own worth as a person while also recognizing one's imperfections.

c. achieving one's potential for goodness and growth.

d. accepting and loving one's self after conforming to certain guidelines.

65

Some studies have found that as many as what percent of individuals treated with family approaches improve?

85

75

95

65

behavior

What is defined as the responses an organism makes to its environment?

Cognition

Behavior

Modeling

Culture

Carl Rogers

Who is one of the founders of the humanistic perspective?

Frederick Perls

Carl Jung

Carl Rogers

Aaron Beck

two

The sociocultural model is comprised of how many major perspectives?

eight

six

four

two

operant conditioning

When a teenager yells at their parents and slams their door, the parents give them a good deal of attention. As time goes on, the teenager's outbursts become increasingly common. A behavioral psychologist would say that the temper tantrums are caused by:

classical conditioning.

operant conditioning.

modeling.

role-playing.

Fritz Perls

In the 1950s, who developed a type of therapy that guided clients toward self-recognition and self-acceptance?

Fritz Perls

Karen Horney

Carl Rogers

Albert Ellis