EXAM 4

What are the three criteria to determine if a problem is psychopathological?

Distress, Dysfunction, and Deviance.

Distress

Individual experiences significant distress or suffering

Dysfunction

The problem interferes with the person’s ability to function in important areas of life, such as work, relationships, or self-care.

Deviance

The behavior is significantly different from what is culturally expected or normatively acceptable.

What does the diathesis-stress hypothesis suggest?

Psychological disorders develop due to genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stressors.

What classification system is most widely used for mental health disorders in the U.S.?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

What are the basic indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Social communication difficulties and restricted/repetitive behaviors.

Social Communication Difficulties

Trouble understanding and engaging in social interactions.

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors

Engaging in repetitive actions or following strict routines.

What symptoms must be present to diagnose ADHD?

Inattention (Focus) and hyperactivity/impulsivity. (Can’t stay still)

What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Symptoms representing excess or distortion of normal functioning. (Such as hallucinations and delusions.)

What characterizes the manic phases of bipolar disorder?

Manic phase is marked by high energy and impulsivity

What characterizes the depressive phases of bipolar disorder?

Involves feelings of hopelessness and lack of energy and difficulty concentrating.

Why is bipolar disorder described as a 'bridge' between schizophrenia and depression?

It shares characteristics of both depression and schizophrenia.

What defines major depression?

Prolonged periods of deep sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Which psychopathological disorder is most common in the U.S.?

Anxiety disorders.

What are the three subtypes of anxiety disorders?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Phobias.

How do phobias differ from normal fears?

Phobias are intense, persistent, and irrational, while normal fears are temporary and proportional.

What is an obsession?

A persistent, intrusive thought or urge.

What is a compulsion?

A repetitive behavior or mental act performed to reduce anxiety caused by an obsession.

What is hoarding disorder?

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, leading to clutter.

What differentiates anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa?

Anorexia involves severe food restriction due to fear of weight gain, while bulimia involves binge eating followed by purging.

What are dissociative disorders?

Disruptions in a person's sense of identity, memory, or consciousness, with dissociative identity disorder being the most common.

What are the steps of therapy?

Assessment, Goal Setting, Intervention, Evaluation.

What professions provide therapy?

Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and Psychiatrists.

What type of therapy is most widely used in the U.S.?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). (It focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.)

Name a 3 common myths about therapy.

• Therapy is only for people with severe mental disorders.

• Therapists just listen and don’t provide advice.

• Therapy is a quick fix.

What is psychoanalysis?

A therapeutic approach focusing on uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings to understand present behavior. (Freud)

What is client-centered therapy?

A non-directive, empathetic approach where the therapist creates a safe, nonjudgmental environment for the client to explore their feelings created by Carl Rogers.

What is cognitive therapy?

A therapy focusing on identifying and changing negative thought patterns.

What do behavioral therapies focus on?

Changing maladaptive behaviors through learning principles.

Define 'id'.

The primitive part of the mind that seeks immediate gratification.

Define 'ego'.

The rational part of the mind that balances the demands of the id and superego.

Define 'superego'.

The moral conscience that strives for perfection.

Define Unconscious

A part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires outside of conscious awareness.

What is collective unconscious?

A universal unconscious mind shaped by shared human experiences.

Define Archetypes

Universal symbols, themes, or patterns of behavior found across different cultures.

During which developmental stage does the Oedipus complex occur?

Phallic stage (ages 3–6).

According to Freud, during this stage, children develop unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry toward the same-sex parent.

What does congruence refer to?

The alignment between a person's self-concept and ideal self.

What is self-actualization?

The process of realizing and fulfilling one's potential.

How do existential psychologists differ from humanistic psychologists?

Existential psychologists focus on meaning and anxiety of life, while humanistic psychologists focus on self-actualization and personal growth.

What is Bandura’s reciprocal determinism?

The interaction and influence between behavior, personal factors, and environmental factors.

What does Rotter’s Social Learning Theory emphasize?

Behavior is influenced by expectations and reinforcement.

What is Rotter’s prediction formula?

Behavior potential is determined by expectancy and reinforcement value.

Name the Big Five Personality Traits.

• Openness to Experience.

• Conscientiousness

• Extraversion

• Agreeableness

• Neuroticism

What is the dark tetrad?

A set of four negative personality traits: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, Sadism.

What is the difference between an inhibited and an uninhibited individual?

Inhibited individuals are shy and reserved; uninhibited individuals are outgoing and adventurous.

What do twin studies tell us about personality?

Genetics play a significant role in shaping personality.

How can we measure personality?

Self-report inventories, projective tests, and observational methods.

What are attribution biases?

Errors made when explaining causes of behavior.

What is cognitive dissonance?

Psychological discomfort from holding contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors.

What are social roles and scripts?

Social roles are expectations for behavior in a position; social scripts are expected actions in social situations.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Showed how quickly individuals conform to assigned roles, even if those roles involve abusive behavior. Participants in the “guard” role became cruel, and those in the “prisoner” role became submissive, illustrating how powerful social roles and scripts can be in shaping behavior.

What are theories of attraction?

Factors including proximity, similarity, reciprocal liking, and physical attractiveness.

What is Taylor and Altman’s Process Theory of Intimacy?

Intimacy develops through gradual self-disclosure, where individuals share increasingly personal information with each other over time.

What are the causes of prejudice?

Social categorization, social learning, and conformity to social norms.

How to combat Prejudice?

Education // Intergroup Contact

What did Milgram learn from his obedience studies?

People often obey authority figures even when asked to perform actions that conflict with their moral values.

What did Asch conclude from his conformity studies?

The desire to fit in can override the desire to be correct.

What is the bystander effect?

Individuals are less likely to help when others are present.

How to combat the Bystander Effect?

Direct Responsibility to someone else to help.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

A disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life.

What is Panic Disorder?

A disorder marked by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, along with persistent concern about having more attacks.

What are Phobias?

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior.

Anorexia Nervosa

A disorder involving severe food restriction due to fear of weight gain.

Bulimia Nervosa

A disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others' rights.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in mood and relationships.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity and lack of empathy.

What are Clinical Psychologists?

 Provide psychotherapy and assess mental health disorders.

What are Counselors?

 Focus on helping people with everyday problems like stress and relationship issues

What are Psychiatrists?

Medical doctors who can prescribe medication and provide therapy.

What do existential psychologists focus on?

Existential psychologists focus on meaning and anxiety of life.

What do humanistic psychologists emphasize?

Humanistic psychologists emphasize self-actualization and personal growth.

What is Fundamental Attribution Error?

The tendency to overemphasize internal traits (e.g., personality) and underestimate external factors (e.g., situational influences) when explaining other people's behavior.

What is Self-serving Bias?

The tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors.

What is Actor-Observer Bias?

The tendency to attribute our own behavior to situational factors and others' behavior to their personality.

What do we know about stereotyping?

• Stereotypes are often inaccurate

• Stereotyping can lead to discrimination