Psychopathology and Mental Health (PSYCH380 UNL) Exam 1

Supernatural tradition

Explanation of psychological disorders in terms of supernatural forces or phenomena, such as demonic possession or curses.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a particular disorder within a specific time period.

Prevalence

The total number of cases of a disorder within a population at a given time.

Prognosis

The likely course or outcome of a disorder, including the likelihood of recovery or recurrence.

Etiology

The cause or causes of a disorder.

Early biological treatments

Historical methods of treating psychological disorders that involved biological interventions, such as trephination (drilling holes in the skull).

Trephination

A procedure involving drilling a hole into the skull, possibly to treat psychological disorders or as part of ritualistic practices.

Biological tradition

The perspective that psychological disorders have biological origins, influenced historically by figures such as Hippocrates and the theory of bodily humors.

General paresis

A disorder characterized by progressive mental deterioration resulting from syphilis infection.

Plato

An ancient Greek philosopher who contributed to philosophical understanding of the mind and mental illness.

Philippe Pinel/moral therapy

A humane approach to treating mental illness developed by Philippe Pinel, emphasizing kindness, moral guidance, and therapeutic activities.

Dorothea Dix

A 19th-century advocate for humane treatment of individuals with mental illness and reform of mental health institutions.

Mental hygiene movement

A historical movement advocating for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness through social and environmental interventions.

Psychoanalytic tradition

The theoretical framework developed by Sigmund Freud, focusing on unconscious processes, defense mechanisms, and early childhood experiences.

Structures of the mind

Freud's conceptualization of the id, ego, and superego as fundamental components of personality.

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious psychological strategies used to protect the ego from anxiety or distress.

Transference/countertransference

Phenomena occurring in therapy where the client projects feelings onto the therapist (transference) and the therapist responds with their own unconscious feelings (countertransference).

Psychosexual stages

Freud's theory that personality development occurs through distinct stages, each characterized by a focus on a different erogenous zone.

Oedipus/Electra complex

Freudian concepts describing unconscious feelings of desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.

Castration anxiety

Freudian theory suggesting that young boys fear castration as punishment for their desire for their mothers.

Spontaneous remission

The unexpected improvement or resolution of a disorder without treatment.

Behavioral model

A psychological perspective that emphasizes observable behaviors and the principles of learning.

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and elicits a similar response.

Prepared learning

The tendency for certain associations to be learned more readily than others due to evolutionary or biological factors.

Exposure therapies

Therapeutic techniques that involve gradually exposing individuals to feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety.

Aversive counterconditioning

A technique used to reduce unwanted behaviors by pairing them with unpleasant stimuli.

Classical extinction

The gradual decrease in the strength or frequency of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus.

Operant conditioning

A type of learning in which behaviors are strengthened or weakened by the consequences that follow them.

Behavioral modification

The application of principles of learning to change behavior in both individuals and groups.

Operant extinction

The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned behavior when it is no longer reinforced.

Response burst

An increase in the frequency or intensity of a behavior immediately after reinforcement is withheld.

Experimental neurosis

A condition in which an animal, typically in a laboratory setting, exhibits extreme anxiety or confusion due to conflicting or ambiguous conditioning cues.

Seligman and learned helplessness

Research by psychologist Martin Seligman on the phenomenon of learned helplessness, where individuals become passive and resigned in the face of aversive events they believe they cannot control.

Personal construct theory/Kelly

A theory proposed by George Kelly, emphasizing individual differences in how people perceive and interpret the world.

Humanistic model

A psychological perspective that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and subjective experiences.

Self-actualization

The realization of one's full potential and fulfillment of personal talents and goals.

Rodgers/person-centered therapy

A therapeutic approach developed by Carl Rogers, emphasizing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship.

Unconditional positive regard

Acceptance and support provided by the therapist without judgment or conditions.

Motivational interviewing

A counseling approach focused on helping individuals resolve ambivalence and build motivation to change problematic behaviors.

Introspection

The process of examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Systematic desensitization

A therapeutic technique used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders by pairing relaxation techniques with gradually increasing exposure to feared stimuli.