Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to abnormal psychology, its historical context, treatment views, assessment methods, and terminology.

Deviance

Behavior that is highly unusual or extreme compared to societal norms.

Distress

Emotional suffering or discomfort that individuals experience due to their condition.

Dysfunction

Impairment in daily functioning or the ability to perform expected tasks.

Danger to self or others

Behavior that poses a risk of harm to oneself or others.

Eccentricity

Unusual behavior that does not cause distress or impairment.

Psychopathology

The study of abnormal psychology that involves dysfunction, distress, and impairment.

Hippocrates

Ancient physician who proposed that mental illness has biological causes.

Philippe Pinel

Advocated for humane treatment of patients in asylums.

William Tuke

Promoted moral treatment and humane care for mentally ill individuals.

Benjamin Rush

Early American psychiatrist who supported medical treatment of mental illness.

Dorothea Dix

Advocated for reform in mental hospitals and better treatment in the U.S.

Supernatural view

The belief that mental illness is caused by supernatural forces.

Bodily humors

Four bodily fluids whose imbalance was thought to cause mental illness in ancient Greece and Rome.

Middle Ages view of mental illness

Believed to be caused by supernatural forces such as possession.

Renaissance view of mental illness

Gradual shift towards scientific and natural explanations for mental disorders.

Moral treatment

Treatment approach in the 19th century focusing on humane care and structure.

Institutionalization

The practice of placing individuals with mental illness in large psychiatric hospitals.

Trephination

Drilling holes in the skull to release evil spirits or treat mental illness.

Exorcism

A religious ritual intended to remove evil spirits from an individual.

Tarantism

A disorder characterized by uncontrollable dancing, believed to be caused by spider bites.

Lycanthropy

A delusion where an individual believes they are a wolf.

Gheel

A community-based care model in Belgium for individuals with mental illness.

Bedlam

Historic London asylum known for overcrowding and poor conditions.

Moral Movement

A reform movement that emphasized humane treatment for individuals with mental illness.

Tranquilizer chairs

Restraint devices used historically in asylums to calm patients.

Eugenics laws

Policies that promoted forced sterilization of individuals deemed 'unfit'.

Decline of the Moral Movement

Caused by overcrowding, lack of funding, and a shift to medical care.

Somatogenic perspective

The belief that mental disorders are caused by biological factors.

Psychogenic perspective

The belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological factors.

Primary prevention

Efforts to prevent mental disorders before they occur.

Secondary prevention

Early identification and intervention for mental health issues.

Tertiary prevention

Reducing the long-term impact of existing mental disorders.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder.

Point prevalence

The number of cases of a disorder at a specific point in time.

1-year prevalence

The number of cases occurring within a one-year period.

Lifetime prevalence

Proportion of individuals who have ever had a specific disorder.

Biopsychosocial model

Explains mental illness as an interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis-stress model

Suggests mental illness develops when a vulnerability is triggered by stress.

Comorbidity

The presence of two or more psychological disorders at the same time.

Person-first language

Language that prioritizes the individual (e.g., 'person with depression').

Identity-first language

Language that emphasizes identity (e.g., 'autistic person').

Standardization

Consistent administration and scoring of psychological tests.

Test-retest reliability

The stability of test scores over time.

Interrater reliability

The agreement between different evaluators assessing the same individual.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Testing of the limits

Modifying test administration to assess maximum performance.

Projective tests

Unstructured tests using ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious processes.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

A projective test involving interpretation of inkblots.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

A projective test where individuals create stories about ambiguous pictures.

Personality inventories

Standardized self-report questionnaires measuring personality traits and symptoms.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

A widely used personality inventory in clinical settings.

Broad-band response inventories

Assess general symptoms.

Specific response inventories

Focus on specific disorders or problems.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in real-world settings.

Analogue observation

Observing behavior in a controlled laboratory setting.

Self-monitoring

Clients track and record their own behaviors.

Observer drift

Gradual change in the criteria used to rate behavior.

Observer overload

Situation where too much information is presented to accurately record.

Observer bias

Expectations influence the perception of observations.

Reactivity

When behavior changes because individuals know they are being observed.

Cross-situational validity

The consistency of behavior across different situations.

Psychophysiological tests

Measures of physiological responses such as heart rate or brain activity.

Neurological tests

Assess brain structure and function.

Neuropsychological tests

Assess cognitive functioning.

Clinical interviews

Conducted to gather diagnostic information and assess symptoms.

Steps of a clinical interview

Include rapport building, presenting problem, history, mental status exam, and summary.

Asking questions in clinical interviews

Use open-ended questions, avoid leading questions, and show empathy.