AP Psychology Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

Positive psychology

a field that focuses on strengths resilience and human flourishing

Well-being

Overall life satisfaction, including emotional, psychological, and physical health.

Resilience

The ability to recover from stress or adversity.

Positive emotions

Joy, gratitude, love, and optimism, which contribute to well-being.

Gratitude

A positive emotion resulting from appreciation of life's blessings.

Positive subjective experiences

Individual perceptions of happiness and life satisfaction.

Subjective well-being

A person's self-evaluation of their happiness and life satisfaction.

Signature strengths

Personal strengths that contribute to one's best self.

Virtues

Moral characteristics valued by positive psychology (e.g., wisdom, courage, justice).

Positive objective experiences

Fulfilling and meaningful life events.

Happiness

A combination of pleasure, engagement, and meaning in life.

Posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological changes after experiencing adversity.

Dysfunction

Interference with normal daily functioning.

Distress

Emotional pain or suffering.

Deviation from the social norm

Behavior that differs from societal expectations.

Cultural/societal norms

Shared expectations that define acceptable behavior.

Stigma

Negative societal attitudes toward mental illness.

Racism, Sexism, Ageism

Prejudices based on race, gender, or age.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment based on identity or characteristics.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

the classification system for diagnosis psychological disorders in US

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

The World Health Organization's system for diagnosing mental disorders.

Eclectic approach

Combining multiple perspectives in treatment.

Behavioral perspective

Views disorders as learned behaviors.

Maladaptive learned associations

conditioning processes that lead to unhealthy behaviors

Psychodynamic perspective

Emphasizes unconscious conflicts and early experiences.

Humanistic perspective

Focuses on personal growth and self-actualization.

Cognitive perspective

Examines thought patterns that contribute to disorders.

Evolutionary perspective

Explains disorders as byproducts of evolutionary adaptation.

Sociocultural perspective

Examines how cultural and social factors influence disorders.

Biological perspective

Focuses on genetics, neurotransmitters, and brain structures.

Biopsychosocial model

Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in mental health.

Diathesis-stress model

Suggests that genetic predisposition (diathesis) and environmental stressors combine to trigger disorders.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental disorder affecting communication and social interaction.

Delusions

Strong, false beliefs resistant to contrary evidence.

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences (e.g., hearing voices).

Disorganized thinking/speech/behavior

Erratic or illogical patterns of thought and action.

Negative symptoms

lack of motivation, flat affect, withdrawal

Positive symptoms

Excess behaviors (e.g., hallucinations, delusions).

Dopamine hypothesis

Theory that excess dopamine contributes to schizophrenia.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and other symptoms affecting daily life.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

Chronic, less severe depression.

Bipolar I Disorder

Severe mood swings from mania to depression.

Bipolar II Disorder

Less intense mania (hypomania) and depressive episodes.

Specific phobia

Intense fear of a particular object/situation.

Panic disorder

Sudden, intense panic attacks.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Chronic, excessive worry.

Obsessions

Persistent, unwanted thoughts.

Compulsions

repetitive behaviors to reduce anxiety

Dissociative identity disorder

Presence of multiple distinct identities.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Severe anxiety following trauma.

Anorexia nervosa

Extreme food restriction due to fear of weight gain.

Cluster A

Odd/eccentric (e.g., paranoid personality disorder).

Cluster B

Dramatic/emotional (e.g., borderline personality disorder).

Cluster C

Anxious/fearful (e.g., avoidant personality disorder).

Evidence-based interventions

Therapies proven effective through research.

Cultural humility

Awareness of cultural influences in therapy.

Therapeutic alliance

strong client therapist relationship

Psychotropic medication

Drugs affecting mood and behavior.

Cognitive therapies

focus on changing negative thought patterns

Behavioral therapies

Use conditioning to modify behavior.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

A combination of cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Treatment for borderline personality disorder.

Psychoactive medication

Includes antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Electric currents used for severe depression.