Psychopathology #1 GLOSSARY

abnormal psychology

the scientific study of mental disorders

anosognosia

a lack of awareness of or insight into one’s own mental dysfunction

biological viewpoint

the belief that mental disorders have a physical or physiological basis

biological vulnerability

genetic or physiological susceptibility

brain pathology

a dysfunction or disease of the brain

cathartic method

a therapeutic use of verbal expression to release pent-up emotional conflicts

culture

the configuration of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that is transmitted from one generation to another by members of a particular group

cultural relativism

the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and behaviors are affected by the culture within which that person lives

cultural universality

the assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists whose manifestations and symptoms are similar across cultures

discrimination

unjust or prejudicial treatment toward a person based on the person’s actual or perceived membership in a certain group

empowerment

increasing one’s sense of personal strength and self-worth

etiology

the cause or origin of a disorder

exorcism

a practice ysed to cast evil spirits out of an afflicted person’s body

humanism

a philosophical movement that emphasizes human welfare and the worth and uniqueness of the individual

hysteria

an outdated term referring to excessive or uncontrollable emotion, sometimes resulting in somatic symptoms (such as blindness or paralysis) that have no apparent physical cause

intrapsychic

psychological processes occurring within the mind

lifetime prevalence

the percentage of people in the population who have had a disorder at some point in their lives

managed health care

the industrialization of health care whereby large organizations in the private sector control the delivery of services

mental disorder

psychological symptoms or behavioral patterns that reflect an underlying psychobiological dysfunction, are associated with distress or disability, and are not merely an expectable response to common stressors or losses

mental health professional

health care practitioners (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and mental health counselors) whose services focus on improving mental health oor treating mental illness

mental illness

a mental health condition that negatively affects a person’s emotions, thinking, behacior, relationships with others, or overall functioning

microaggressions

subtle comments or actions that intentionally or unintentionally insult or invalidate members of socially marginalized groups

moral treatment movement

a crusade to institute more humane treatment for people with mental illness

optimal human functioning

qualities such as subjective well--being optimism, self-determinism, resilience, hope, courage, and ability to manage stress

positive psychology

the philosophical and scientific study of positive human functioning focused on the strengths and assets of individuals, families, and communities

prevalence

the percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a particular disorder during a specific period of time

prejudice

a biased, preconceived judgement abt a person or group based on supposed characteristics of the group

psychodiagnosis

assessment and description of an individual’s psychological symptoms, including inferences abt possible causes for the psychological distress

psychopathology

the study of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders

psychotherapy

a program of systematic intervention aimed at improving a client’s behavioral, emotional, or cognitive symptoms

psychiatric epidemiology

the study of the prevalence of mental illness in a society

psychotropic medications

drugs used to treat or manage psychiatric symptoms by influencing brain activity associated with emotions and behavior

psychological resilience

the capacity to effectively adapt to and bounce back from stress, trauma, and other adversities

psychological viewpoint

the belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological and emotional factors rather than biological influences

racism

prejudice against someone based upon his or her race based on beliefs that are reinforced by systems of power

recovery movement

the perspective that with appropriate treatment and support those with mental illness can improve and live satisfying lives despite any lingering symptoms of illness

self-efficacy

a belief in one’s ability to succeed

self-stigma

acceptance of prejudice and discrimination based on internalized negative societal beliefs or stereotypes

social stigma

a negative societal belief abt a group, including the view that the group is somehow different from other members of society

spirituality

the belief in an animating life force or energy beyond what we can perceive with our senses

stereotypes

an oversimplified, often inaccurate, image or idea abt a group of ppl

syndromes

certain symptoms that tend to occur regularly in clusters

systemic racism

deeply imbedded societal policies and structures that disadvantage certain racial groups

tarantism

a form of mass hysteria prevalent during the Middle Ages, characterized by wild raving, jumping, dancing, and convulsing

treatment plan

a proposed course of therapy, developed collaboratively by a therapist and client, that addresses the client’s most distressing mental health symptoms

trephining

a surgical method from the Stone age in which part of the skull was chipped away to provide an opening through which an evil spirit could escape

acculturative stress

the psychological, physical, and social pressures experienced by individuals who are adapting to a new culture

adrenal gland

a gland that releases sex hormones and other hormones such as cortisol, in response to stress

alleles

the gene pair responsible for a specific trait

amygdala

the brain structure involved with physiological reactivty and emotional memories

autonomic nervous system

a system that coordinates basic physiological functions and regulates physical responses associated with emotional reactions

axon

an extension on the neuron cell body that sends signals to other neurons, muscles, and glands

behavioral models

models of psychopathology concerned with the role of learning in abnormal behavior

biopsychosocial model

the perspective suggesting that interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors cause mental disorders

cerebral cortex

the outermost layers of brain tissue; covers the cerebrum

cerebrum

the largest part of the brain, consisting of left and right hemispheres

classical conditioning

a process in which responses to new stimuli are learned through association

cognitive models

explanations based on the assumption that thoughts mediate an individual’s emotional state or behavior in response to a stimulus

conditioned response

in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has acquired some of the properties of abother stimulus with which it has been paired

conditioned stimulus

in classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that has acquired some of the properties of another stimulus with which it has been paired

couples therapy

a treatment aimed at helping couples understand and clarify their communications, role relationships, unfulfilled needs, and unrealistic or unmet expectations

critical periods

a specific time in early development during which there is heightened sensitivity to environmental influences or experiences

defense mechanisms

in psychoanalytic theory, an ego-protection strategy that shelters the individual from anxiety, operates unconsciously, and distorts reality

deficit model

an early attempt to explain differences in minority groups that contended that differences are the result of cultural deprivatiopn

dendrites

a short, rootlike structure on the neuron cell body that recieves signals from other neurons

dream analysis

a psychoanalytic technique focused on interpreting the hidden meanings of dreams

drug-drug interactions

when the affect of a medication is changed, enhanced, or dimished when taken with abother drug, including herbal substances

enteric nervous system

an independent neural system involved with digestion; capable of signaling the brain regrading stress and other emotions

epigenetics

a field of biological research focused on understanding how environmental factors influence gene expression

etiology

the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition

executive functioning

mental processes that involve the planning, organizing, and attention required to meet short-term and long-term goals

existential approach

a set of philosophical attitudes that focus on human alienation, the individual in the context of the human condition, and personal responsibility to others as well as to oneself

exposure therapy

a treatment approach based on extinction principles that involves gradual or rapid exposure to feared objects or situations

extinction

the decrease or cessation of a behavior due to the gradual weakening of a classically or operantly conditioned response

extrapyramidal symptoms

side effects of antipsychotic medicatiions that can affect a person’t gait, movement, or posture

family systems model

an explantion that assumes that the family is an interdependent system and that mental disorders reflect processes occurring within the family system

free association

a psychoanalytic thrapeutic tecnique in which clients are asked to say whatever comes to mind for the purpose of revealing their unconscious thoughts

gene expression

the process by which heritable info in a gene is translated into a specialized function within a cell; although the DNA within the cell does not chnage, epigenetic changes can be passed on to new cells during cell dividion and cen be inhereited

genes

segments of DNA coded wuth info needed for the biological inheritence of various traits

genetic mutations

an alteration in a gene that changes the instructions within the gene; some mutations result in biological dysfunction

genome

the complete set of DNA in a cell; the human genome consists of approx. 30,000 genes located in the nucleus of every cell

genotype

a person’s genetic makeup

glia

the cells that support and protect neurons

gray matter

brain tissue comprised of the cell bodies if neurons and glia

group therapy

a form of therapy that involves the simultaneous treatment of two or more clients and may involve 1+ therapists

hallucinations

a sensory experience that seems real but that does not exist outside of the mind

heredity

the gentic transmission of personal characteristics

heterogeneous

different or diverse

hippocampus

the part of the brain involved in forming, organizing, and storing memories

homeostasis

teh ability to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting phsyilogical processes

hormones

regulatory chemicals that influence various physiological activities sch as metabolism, digestion, growth, and mood

humanistic perspective

the optimistic viewpoint that ppl are born with the ability to fullfill their potential and that abnormal behavior results from disharmony btw a person’s potential and self-concept

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

a system activated under conditions of stress or emotional arousal

hypothalamus

the brain structure that regulates bodily derives, such as hunger, thirst, and sexual response, and body conditions, such as temp and circadian rhythms

inferiority model

an early attempt to explain differences in minority groups that contended that racial and ethnic minories are somehow inferior to the majority population

implicit bias

unconscious assumptions abt or stereotyping of members of a specific group

impulsivity

a tendency to act quickly without careful thought

internalized racism

unconscious belief and acceptance of the dominant culture’s negative portrays of one’s own racial group

limbic system

a group of deep brain structures associated with emotions, decisions making, and memory formation

mindfulness

nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and the environment