Unit 5 Psychology

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to events (stressors) that are appraised as threatening or challenging

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates and focuses energy

Distress

Negative stress that can cause anxiety or health problems

Traumatic stressors

Extremely threatening or horrific events that can cause long-term psychological harm

Daily hassles

Everyday minor irritations and annoyances that accumulate to cause stress

Amygdala

Brain region that detects threats and triggers emotional responses (fear

HPA Axis

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; the body's stress regulation system that releases cortisol

Cortisol

Stress hormone released by the adrenal glands that increases blood sugar and suppresses immune system

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Potentially traumatic events in childhood (abuse

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Selye's three-stage model of stress response: alarm reaction

Alarm reaction

First stage of GAS; body recognizes stressor and activates fight-or-flight

Resistance phase

Second stage of GAS; body attempts to adapt and cope with ongoing stress

Exhaustion phase

Third stage of GAS; resources depleted

Fight-flight-freeze response

Physiological reaction to perceived threat; prepares body to fight

Tend-and-befriend theory

Stress response more common in females; involves nurturing others and forming social alliances

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategy aimed at directly changing or managing the stressor

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategy aimed at reducing the negative emotional response to stress

Positive psychology

Study of human flourishing

Resilience

Ability to bounce back from adversity and adapt to challenges

Subjective well-being

Self-perceived happiness and life satisfaction

Posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological change experienced after struggling with highly challenging life circumstances

Psychological disorder

A clinically significant disturbance in cognition

3 Ds (Dysfunction

Distress

Deviation from social norms

Behavior that violates cultural or societal expectations

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)

Classification system for mental disorders by the American Psychiatric Association

International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

Classification system including mental disorders by the World Health Organization

Culture-bound syndromes

Disorders specific to particular cultures (e.g.

Behavioral perspective of disorders

Views disorders as maladaptive learned associations through conditioning

Psychodynamic perspective of disorders

Views disorders as stemming from unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences

Humanistic perspective of disorders

Views disorders as resulting from lack of social support or blocked self-actualization

Cognitive perspective of disorders

Views disorders as caused by maladaptive thoughts

Evolutionary perspective of disorders

Views some disordered behaviors as exaggerated versions of adaptive survival strategies

Sociocultural perspective of disorders

Views disorders as influenced by social and cultural dynamics (e.g.

Biological perspective of disorders

Views disorders as arising from brain

Biopsychosocial model

Integrates biological

Diathesis-stress model

Disorder results from a genetic predisposition (diathesis) triggered by environmental stress

Diathesis

Genetic or biological vulnerability to a disorder

Eclectic approach

Using techniques from multiple therapeutic perspectives based on the client's needs

Stigma

Negative attitudes and discrimination toward people with mental disorders

ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; neurodevelopmental disorder with inattention

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits and restricted/repetitive behaviors

Delusions

False beliefs resistant to contrary evidence (e.g.

Hallucinations

False sensory perceptions (e.g.

Disorganized thinking/speech

Incoherent or illogical thought patterns; may include "word salad"

Catatonia

State of unresponsiveness or abnormal motor behavior (stupor or excitement)

Positive symptoms (schizophrenia)

Excesses or distortions (delusions

Negative symptoms (schizophrenia)

Deficits in normal functioning (flat affect

Flat affect

Reduced emotional expression (voice

Dopamine hypothesis

Theory that excess dopamine activity contributes to schizophrenia symptoms

Major depressive disorder

Severe depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks with significant distress/dysfunction

Persistent depressive disorder

Chronic depressed mood lasting at least two years (dysthymia)

Cognitive triad

Beck's negative thoughts about self

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; antidepressants that increase available serotonin

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy that combines cognitive restructuring and behavior change

Cognitive restructuring

Identifying and changing maladaptive thoughts

Specific phobia

Intense fear of a specific object or situation (e.g.

Agoraphobia

Fear of places where escape might be difficult (e.g.

Panic disorder

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks with persistent worry about future attacks

Panic attack

Sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms (heart racing

Social anxiety disorder

Intense fear of negative evaluation in social situations

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Excessive

Exposure therapy

Gradual exposure to feared stimulus to reduce anxiety

Systematic desensitization

Type of exposure therapy combining relaxation with gradual exposure hierarchy

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Recurrent obsessions (thoughts) and/or compulsions (behaviors)

Obsession

Recurring

Compulsion

Repetitive behavior or mental act performed to reduce anxiety from obsessions

Hoarding disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions due to perceived need to save them

ERP (Exposure Response Prevention)

Therapy for OCD that exposes client to triggers while preventing compulsive response

Psychotherapy

Treatment of mental disorders through psychological techniques (talk therapy)

Meta-analytic studies (therapy)

Statistical synthesis of multiple therapy outcome studies

Evidence-based intervention

Treatment supported by scientific research evidence

Cultural humility

Therapist's attitude of openness

Therapeutic alliance

Collaborative

Deinstitutionalization

Movement to release psychiatric patients from hospitals into community care

Nonmaleficence

Ethical principle to avoid causing harm

Fidelity

Ethical principle of being trustworthy and loyal to client

Integrity

Ethical principle of honesty and adherence to moral values

Respect for rights and dignity

Ethical principle of honoring client autonomy and worth

Psychodynamic therapy

Therapy exploring unconscious conflicts (free association

Free association

Saying whatever comes to mind without censorship

Dream interpretation

Analyzing dreams to uncover unconscious material

Cognitive therapy

Therapy focused on changing maladaptive thought patterns

Applied behavior analysis

Using operant conditioning principles to change behavior

Aversion therapy

Pairing unwanted behavior with unpleasant stimulus to reduce behavior

Token economy

Using tokens as rewards to reinforce desired behaviors in a structured setting

Biofeedback

Using electronic monitoring to teach voluntary control of physiological processes

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

CBT variant for emotion dysregulation (e.g.

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

Cognitive therapy that challenges irrational beliefs (Albert Ellis)

Person-centered therapy

Carl Rogers' therapy emphasizing unconditional positive regard and active listening

Active listening

Reflecting

Unconditional positive regard

Complete acceptance and support of client regardless of what they say

Group therapy

Therapy with multiple clients led by one or more therapists

Hypnosis

Trance-like state used for therapeutic suggestion

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression (SSRIs

Antianxiety drugs

Medications reducing anxiety (benzodiazepines

Lithium

Mood stabilizer used primarily for bipolar disorder

Antipsychotics

Medications reducing psychotic symptoms (e.g.

Tardive dyskinesia

Involuntary repetitive movements caused by long-term antipsychotic use

Psychosurgery

Brain surgery to treat mental disorders (rare

Lesioning

Deliberately destroying small areas of brain tissue