Psychology: Key Theories, Experiments, and Disorders

Attribution Theory

Explains how we interpret others' behavior as caused by internal or external factors

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating personality and underestimating situational influences

Self-Serving Bias

Taking credit for success and blaming external factors for failure

Attitude

Feelings and beliefs that influence behavior

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

Starting with a small request to gain compliance with a larger request

Door-in-the-Face Technique

Starting with a large request that is refused to increase chances of a smaller request being accepted

Norms

Expected rules for behavior in a group

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or thinking to match a group

Asch Conformity Experiment

Showed that people often conform even when the group is clearly wrong

Obedience

Following orders from an authority figure

Milgram Experiment

Demonstrated that people obey authority even when it involves harming others

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others

Social Loafing

Reduced effort when working in a group

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations

Group Polarization

Strengthening of group members' initial opinions after discussion

Groupthink

Desire for harmony leading to poor decision-making

Prejudice

Unjustified negative attitude toward a group

Discrimination

Unjustified negative behavior toward a group

Stereotype

Generalized belief about a group of people

Just-World Hypothesis

Belief that people get what they deserve

Bystander Effect

Reduced likelihood of helping when others are present

Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment

Showed how roles and social situations influence behavior

Social Trap

Situation where individual interests conflict with group interests

Psychological Disorder

Pattern of thoughts or behaviors that causes distress or dysfunction

DSM-5-TR

Manual used to classify and diagnose mental disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry about many aspects of life

Panic Disorder

Recurring panic attacks with intense fear and physical symptoms

Phobia

Irrational fear of a specific object or situation

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of being judged in social situations

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder involving unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Disorder caused by exposure to traumatic events

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Long-term mild depression

Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorder with alternating periods of mania and depression

Schizophrenia

Severe disorder involving disorganized thinking and perceptions

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without external stimuli

Delusions

False beliefs not based in reality

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Lack of empathy and disregard for others

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in relationships, emotions, and self-image

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Physical symptoms without a clear medical cause

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Condition with multiple distinct identities

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Disorder involving inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Psychotherapy

Treatment using psychological techniques

Psychoanalysis

Therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts

Humanistic Therapy

Therapy emphasizing personal growth and self-acceptance

Client-Centered Therapy

Therapy providing unconditional positive regard

Behavior Therapy

Therapy that changes learned behaviors

Exposure Therapy

Treatment involving repeated exposure to feared stimuli

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure paired with relaxation techniques

Cognitive Therapy

Therapy that changes negative thinking patterns

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy combining cognitive and behavioral techniques

Psychopharmacology

Use of drugs to treat psychological disorders

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression

Antipsychotics

Medications used to treat psychotic disorders

Anti-Anxiety Drugs

Medications used to reduce anxiety

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Treatment using electrical stimulation for severe depression

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Use of magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas

Psychosurgery

Surgical removal or destruction of brain tissue to treat disorders

Placebo Effect

Improvement due to belief in treatment rather than the treatment itself

Regression Toward the Mean

Tendency for extreme symptoms to move toward average over time

Meta-Analysis

Statistical method combining results from multiple studies