AP Psych 5.5 Fiveable Terms

active listening

A therapeutic technique in which the therapist fully attends to and reflects back what the client is saying to demonstrate understanding and empathy.

anti-anxiety drugs

Psychoactive medications used to reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders.

antidepressants

Psychoactive medications used to treat depression by affecting neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

antipsychotic medications

Psychoactive medications used to treat psychotic symptoms by affecting dopamine and other neurotransmitters.

anxiety

A psychological condition characterized by worry or fear that hypnosis has demonstrated effectiveness in treating.

applied behavior analysis

The application of conditioning principles to address mental disorders and developmental disabilities through systematic behavioral interventions.

aversion therapy

A behavioral therapy technique that pairs an undesired behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce or eliminate the behavior.

biofeedback

A conditioning-based technique that provides clients with real-time information about their body systems to help them regulate physiological responses associated with anxiety or depression.

cognitive restructuring

A cognitive therapy technique that involves identifying and challenging maladaptive or irrational thoughts and replacing them with more realistic ones.

cognitive triad

In cognitive therapy, the three components of depression consisting of negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.

cognitive-behavioral therapy

A therapeutic approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to treat mental and behavioral disorders.

cultural humility

An approach in therapy where therapists recognize and respect cultural differences, acknowledge their own limitations, and work to understand clients' cultural backgrounds.

deinstitutionalization

The process of releasing large numbers of patients from hospitals and asylums into community-based care settings.

dialectical behavior therapy

A cognitive-behavioral therapy that combines acceptance and change strategies, particularly used to treat borderline personality disorder and other disorders.

dream interpretation

A psychodynamic technique in which the therapist analyzes a client's dreams to access unconscious thoughts and conflicts.

electroconvulsive therapy

An invasive biological intervention that uses electrical currents to induce controlled seizures for treating severe mental disorders.

ethical principles

Fundamental moral guidelines that psychologists must follow when treating psychological disorders, established by professional organizations like the APA.

evidence-based interventions

Treatment approaches that are supported by scientific research demonstrating their effectiveness in treating psychological disorders.

fear hierarchies

A cognitive therapy technique in which feared situations are ranked from least to most anxiety-provoking to guide exposure-based treatment.

fidelity

The ethical principle of being faithful and loyal to clients, maintaining trust and honoring commitments in therapeutic relationships.

free association

A psychodynamic technique in which clients freely express thoughts, feelings, and memories without censorship to uncover unconscious material.

group therapy

A form of psychotherapy in which a therapist works with multiple clients simultaneously, allowing them to share experiences and provide support to one another.

hypnosis

A therapeutic technique used to induce a focused state of consciousness that can be effective for treating certain psychological conditions.

individual therapy

A form of psychotherapy in which a therapist works one-on-one with a single client to address their psychological concerns.

integrity

The ethical principle of being honest, truthful, and maintaining consistency between words and actions in psychological practice.

lithium

A psychoactive medication used primarily to treat bipolar disorder by affecting neurotransmitter function.

lobotomy

A form of psychosurgery that was performed in the mid-20th century but is rarely used today to treat mental disorders.

meta-analytic studies

Research that combines and analyzes data from multiple studies to draw overall conclusions about the effectiveness of treatments or interventions.

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the nervous system that transmit signals between neurons and are targeted by psychoactive medications.

nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of avoiding harm to clients in psychological treatment.

pain

A physical or emotional sensation that hypnosis has been shown to help manage or reduce.

parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'rest and digest' response that helps reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

person-centered therapy

A humanistic therapy approach that emphasizes the therapist's use of active listening and unconditional positive regard to facilitate client growth.

psychosurgery

Surgical interventions on the brain used to treat mental disorders, which may involve lesioning brain tissue.

psychotherapy

Treatment of psychological disorders through psychological techniques and interventions rather than medical procedures.

psychotropic medication

Drugs that affect mood, perception, and behavior by altering brain chemistry to treat psychological disorders.

rational-emotive behavior therapy

A cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that lead to emotional distress.

respect for people's rights and dignity

The ethical principle of honoring clients' autonomy, privacy, and inherent worth as individuals in psychological treatment.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response that contributes to feelings of anxiety.

systematic desensitization

An exposure therapy technique that gradually exposes clients to feared stimuli while in a relaxed state to reduce anxiety responses.

tardive dyskinesia

A movement disorder that can develop as a side effect of antipsychotic medications due to changes in dopamine regulation.

therapeutic alliance

The collaborative relationship and trust established between a therapist and client, which is essential for successful treatment outcomes.

token economy

A behavioral therapy system in which clients earn tokens or rewards for desired behaviors that can be exchanged for privileges or reinforcers.

transcranial magnetic stimulation

A non-invasive brain stimulation technique that uses magnetic pulses to treat mental disorders.

unconditional positive regard

A humanistic therapy principle in which the therapist accepts and values the client without judgment or conditions.