Stage 2 Psychology — Healthy Minds

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the theme of mental health in psychology.

Mental Health

A state of well-being where individuals realize their potential, cope with normal stresses, work productively, and contribute to their community.

Mental Illness

A diagnosable psychological disorder that significantly disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Mental Health Problems

Conditions that affect mental functioning but may not meet the criteria for a mental illness diagnosis.

Common Mental Health Disorders

Conditions such as depression and anxiety that affect millions of individuals worldwide.

Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health

Understanding how different cultures perceive and define mental health, which can influence diagnosis and treatment.

Barriers to Accessing Support

Obstacles that prevent individuals from seeking help for mental health issues, such as stigma or lack of resources.

Biological Factors

Influences on mental health that originate from physical or genetic sources, including genetics and neurochemistry.

Psychological Factors

Mental processes such as cognition and coping strategies that affect an individual's mental health.

Social/Cultural Factors

Influences from society and culture, including stigma and community support, impacting mental health.

Sleep Hygiene

Practices and habits that promote consistent, quality sleep, crucial for mental health.

Shift-Work Disorder

A condition affecting individuals who work non-traditional hours, leading to sleep disturbances and mental health issues.

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder

A circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by a delay in the timing of sleep compared to societal norms.

Theories of Sleep

Ideas explaining the necessity of sleep, including restoration, evolutionary, and cognitive theories.

Physiological Responses to Stress

Physical reactions to stress, such as the 'fight or flight' response regulated by the autonomic nervous system.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye's model describing the body's response to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Problem-Focused Coping

Coping strategies aimed at addressing the source of stress directly.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Coping strategies focused on managing emotions associated with stress rather than the problem itself.

Adaptive Coping Strategies

Positive methods of coping that enhance functioning and well-being.

Maladaptive Coping Strategies

Negative methods of coping that may worsen stress and mental health outcomes.

Resilience

The ability to recover from stress, adversity, or trauma, promoting mental well-being.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

An evidence-based treatment that helps individuals change negative patterns of thinking and behavior.

Systematic Desensitisation

A treatment method used to help individuals overcome phobias by gradually exposing them to the feared object/situation.

Psychoeducation

An approach involving educating individuals about their mental health conditions and promoting self-management strategies.

Independent Variable

The factor manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable

The outcome measured in an experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable.

Controlled Variables

Factors kept constant during an experiment to ensure that any changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent variable.

Experimental Design

An investigation approach that allows researchers to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

Observational Design

A study design where researchers observe participants in a natural or controlled setting without manipulation.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical information that provides insights into experiences, perceptions, and motivations.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that can be measured and analyzed statistically.

Subjective Data

Information based on personal opinions, interpretations, feelings, or beliefs.

Objective Data

Information based on observable and measurable facts, independent of personal feelings.

Ethical Considerations in Research

The moral guidelines that researchers must follow to ensure the rights and welfare of participants are protected.

Interpretation of Data

The process of making sense of data presented in various formats like tables and graphs.

Sources of Error and Bias

Factors that affect the accuracy and validity of research findings, including systematic errors or researcher bias.

Reliability and Validity

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, while validity refers to the accuracy of the measure in capturing what it intends to assess.