Understanding Psychopathology Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition of abnormality, historical perspectives, modern psychological theories, and mental health care systems.

Abnormality

Behaviors that are atypical or unexpected, framed by the context in which they occur and the cultural expectations of acceptable and typical behaviors.

Continuum model of abnormality

The perspective that there is no clear dividing line between normal and abnormal variations in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; abnormality is viewed on a scale rather than all or nothing.

Dysfunction

One of the Four Ds of abnormality, characterized by behaviors that interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily life.

Distress

One of the Four Ds of abnormality, involving behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that cause emotional or physical pain to the individual or others.

Deviance

One of the Four Ds of abnormality, referring to behaviors and thoughts that fall outside of cultural norms.

Dangerousness

One of the Four Ds of abnormality, referring to behaviors that can harm or scare the individual or others.

Disease Model (Truth)

The view that mental disorders are NOT singular diseases with a common pathology found in all people, but rather collections of problems in thinking, emotional regulation, and social behavior.

Cultural relativism

The idea that there are no universal standards for labeling behavior as abnormal, and behavior can only be judged relative to the standards of a specific culture.

Stigma

Negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes held toward individuals with mental health issues, often resulting from fear or lack of understanding.

Psychopathology

Also known as Abnormal psychology, this field focuses on atypical or unexpected behaviors and is devoted to understanding, treating, and preventing psychological dysfunction.

Trephination

An ancient treatment for abnormal behavior involving drilling holes in the skull to allow evil spirits to depart the body.

Yin and Yang

In ancient Chinese Medical Philosophy, abnormal behavior or insanity was attributed to an imbalance between these positive (yang) and negative (yin) forces.

Vital air

According to ancient Chinese theories, this flows through internal organs to control emotions.

Hysteria

A term named by the Greeks to describe disorders of unexplainable pain, sadness, or apathy, which they previously attributed to a "wandering uterus."

Four basic humors

According to Hippocrates, these are blood (heart), phlegm (brain), yellow bile (liver), and black bile (spleen); an imbalance in these leads to abnormal behavior.

Psychic Epidemics

Large-scale outbreaks of bizarre behavior, such as dance frenzies or tarantism, believed during medieval times to be due to possession by the devil.

Mental hygiene movement

An 18th and 19th-century movement favoring humane treatment of mental health problems, attributing them to social stresses and separation from nature.

Moral treatment

An approach led by Philippe Pinel and William Tuke to restore self-restraint by treating patients with respect and dignity and providing clean, comfortable environments.

General paresis

A type of dementia that mimics psychiatric symptoms and develops after contracting syphilis; its cure by penicillin supported the biological perspective of psychological disorders.

Mesmerism

A theory by Franz Anton Mesmer that abnormal behavior is caused by misaligned magnetic fluid in the body or the influence of planetary magnetic forces.

Catharsis

The release of emotional tension found by Sigmund Freud and Josef Breur to occur through hypnosis or talking therapy.

Behaviorism

The study of how reinforcements and punishments impact behavior, grounded in classical conditioning (Pavlov) and operant conditioning (Thorndike and Skinner).

Self-efficacy

A concept by Albert Bandura referring to beliefs about one's ability to execute behaviors necessary to control important events; negative beliefs can impair functioning.

Deinstitutionalization

The movement to integrate mental health patients into the community using community-based treatment facilities based on the belief they recover better there.

Halfway houses

Structured, supportive environments that allow individuals with long-term mental health problems to live in the community.

Day treatment centers

Facilities where patients receive psychiatric and rehabilitative therapies during the day while living at home at night.