VCE Psychology U1AoS1 Flashcards PP2 Defining and Supporting Psychological development

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to typical and atypical psychological development.

Typical behaviour

Behaviour that would usually occur and is appropriate and expected in a given situation.

Atypical development

Development that is not typical - noticeably different or unusual; behaviour that is not normal

Social Norms

Widely held standards that govern what people should and should not do in different situations.

Personal Distress

Extremely upset and suffering emotionally.

Adaptive behaviour

Any behaviour that enables the individual to adjust to the environment appropriately and effectively.

Maladaptive behaviour

Any behaviour that is detrimental, counterproductive or otherwise interferes with the individual’s ability to successfully adjust to the environment.

Neurotypicality

Being neurologically typical. People whose neurological development and cognitive functioning are typical, conforming to what most people would consider to be normal in the general population.

Neurodiversity

Describes people whose neurological development and cognitive functioning are atypical and therefore deviate from what is considered typical or normal in the general population.

Psychologist

A professional trained in the science of how people think, feel and behave.

Psychiatrist

A qualified medical doctor who has obtained additional qualifications to become a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

Mental wellbeing

When a person can cope, can work and can contribute to society.

Mental health problem

Can be a result of life’s stressors, less severe and has a shorter duration than a mental disorder.

Mental disorder

Also called a mental illness, it is a combination of thoughts, feelings and/or behaviour which impairs the ability to function in everyday life.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying the type of disorder affecting an individual based on its signs and symptoms, using assessment techniques and other available evidence.

DSM-5

A system to classify and diagnose mental disorders symptoms.

Social stigma

Negative aptitudes and beliefs held by the community, resulting in the person feeling rejected, avoided, and discriminated against.