abnormal psychology exam 1

culture

refers to systems of knowledge, concepts, rules, and practices that are learned and transmitted across generations. culture includes language, religion and spirituality, family structures, lifecycle stages, ceremonial rituals, and customs, as well as moral and legal systems.

how are mental disorders defined?

• subjective distress

• statistically deviancy

• social discomfort

• irrationality and unpredictability

• maladaptiveness

• violation of the standards of society

• dangerousness

culture plays a role in determining what is/is not deviant; behaviors once considered deviant may be considered normal as times/attitudes change

DSM-5-TR definition of a mental disorder

a syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbances in behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive functioning

disturbances represent dysfunction in biological, psychological, or developmental processes need for mental functioning

associated with significant distress or disability in key areas of functioning

predictable or culturally approved responses to common stressors losses excluded (ex. grief)

mental health epidemiology

the study of the distribution of mental disorders in a population

prevalence

number of active cases in a population during any given period, expressed in percentages or different types of prevalence estimates

point prevalence

estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a population at a given point in time

1-year prevalence

estimate of the number of people who experienced a particulr disorder at any point during the entire year

lifetime prevalence

estimate of the number of people who have had a particular disorder at any time in their lives

incidence

number of new cases in population over given period; typically, lower than prevalence figures.

benefits of research

learn about a disorder’s symptoms, prevalence, duration (acute, chronic), and accompanying problems

etiology

causes

self-report data

participants asked to provide information about themselves

examples include interviews and questionaires

observational approaches

collecting information without asking participants for it directly

direct observation: outward behavior is recorded by trained observers

biological variables can also be observed via technologically advanced methods — fMRI, TMS

correlational research design

studying the world as it is

does not involve any manipulation of variables

used any time we study the differences between individuals who do and do not have a particular disorder — select groups of interest and compare them on a variety of different measures.

experimental research

allows researchers to draw conclusions about causality and resolve questions of directionality

scientists try to control all factors except independent variable

actively manipulate independent variable

if dependent variable changes as independent variable changes, the IV may be causing changes in the DV