Psychology Defintions semester 1

Psychological Development

The changes in an individual’s social, emotional and cognitive abilities from infancy to old age

Mental Wellbeing

A state of emotional and social wellbeing when a person can cope with stress and realize their abilities.

Genetic Vulnerability

An increased likelihood that an individual will develop atypically or experience a mental disorder due to DNA

Biological Factor

Factors that relate to the physiological functioning of the body

• Genetics

• Hormones

• Physical health

• Nutrition

Biopsychosocial Model

considers a persons development and mental well bring through

• Biological factor

• Social factor

• Psychological factor

3 Ds for mental disorder

• Distress : overwhelming/anxiety

• Dysfunction : Coping with life

• Deviance : thought and behaviours inconsisten to societal expectations

Environmental Factors

Different external Influences within a person’s environment that affects their development

Hereditary Factors

Biological Influences on development that results from the genetic information passed from biological parents to their offspring

Genes

Basic Unit of hereditary that contains genetic information

Emotional Development

Changes in how a person experiences, interprets, copes and expresses the full range of emotions

Insecure-DIsorganized Attachment

inconsistent behaviour towards a caregiver typically arising due to lack of consistent care in early life.

Secure Attachment

A positive relationship between caregiver and child

• Confidence when parent is present

• Mild distress when parent is absent

Social Factors

A range of factors that relate to the conditions in which people live and grow

• Family

• early life experiences

• education

• financial aspects

• culture values

Psychological Factors

A range of factors that relate to the functioning of the brain and the mind

• Memory

• thought pattern

• beliefs/attitudes

• emotions

• personality

Protective Factors

A range of factors that may prevent or decrease the chances of developing atypically/mental disorders

Maladaptive Behaviour

Behaviour that is unhelpful / dysfunctional

Risk Factors

A range of factors that may increase one’s chance ofdeveloping atypically / mental disorders

Mental Health problems

Relatively short-term disruptions that affect the everyday functioning of an individual

Mentally healthy

Having no difficulty with activities of everyday living, and displaying resilience.

Mental Disorder

One of a wide range of usually long-lasting conditions that affect mood, thinking and behaviour

Phenotype

How a person’s genes are expressed

Genotype

All the genes that a person has inherited from their biological parents

Hereditary

The Passing on of genes or genetic information from parents to their offspring

Sensitive Period

A period during development in which the effects of experience on development are particularly strong

If you missed you can still learn the skill, just harder

GENIE**

Critical Period

A specific period in development during which the individual is most vulnerable to the absence of certain environmental stimuli or experiences

If missed you can never learn the skill

Imprinting

When a newly born animal farms an attachment to the first thing it sees

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to form and recognize synaptic connections

• In response to learning or experiences

Normality

The condition of being normal, usual or typical

Neurotypicality

Individuals with brains that function in a way considered standard or expected by society

Neurodiversity

The concept that differences in human brain function and behaviour are normal

Autism spectrum disorder

A persistent Neurodevelopmental disorder characterzed by symptoms from early childhood.

ADHD

A common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects executive functioning \, causing persistent patterns

• Inattention

• Impulsivity

• Hyperactivity

Culturtal Responsiveness

Respect for and relevance to, the health beliefs, health practices, cultural and linguistic needs of diverse populations and communities.

Psychiatrist

Qualified medical doctor who has obtained additional qualification to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness

• 11 years of study

• Need a referral

Psychologist

Profesion trained to understand how people think, feel and behave through therapy

• 6 years of study

• Does not need a referral

Modelling

A form of learning whereby we observe the behavior of others and then replicate it

Observational learning

The acquisition of new behaviours as a result of observing the actions of others and the consequences

Albert Bandura”s Theory

Tested how observational learning affects kids when the model receives a certain consequences.

Social Development

Changes in a person’s ability to interact with other people and function as a member of society

Attachment

A close, social and emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver

Harry Harlow’s Monkeys

Comfort over food / biological need when it came to Attachment

Baby monkeys and their surro