Introduction to Psychology to Physical Therapy — Session 1

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key psychological concepts relevant to rehabilitation and therapy topics from Session 1 notes.

Psychology

The study of the mind and behavior, aiming to understand individuals and groups and, for many, to benefit society.

Psychologist

A professional practitioner or researcher in the field of psychology.

Psychiatry

The medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders.

Psychiatrist

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to give it meaning.

Cognition

Mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge, thinking, and understanding.

Attention

The process of focusing mental resources on particular information or tasks.

Emotion (affect)

A feeling or mood that accompanies thoughts and actions.

Motivation (conation)

The drive to act toward a goal or desired outcome.

Brain functioning

Biological processes in the brain that underlie mental processes.

Personality

The unique and stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual.

Adler’s Individual Psychology

A theory proposing that personality develops through overcoming societal, love-related, and vocational forces.

Compensation

The process of offsetting real or imagined inferiorities to reduce feelings of inadequacy.

Defeat/Resignation

Accepting disadvantages and not overcoming them; a common passive response.

Over-compensation

Excessive attempt to compensate for deficits, often seen in neurotic behavior.

John Bowlby

Pioneer of Attachment Theory; attachment is a central motivational force in development.

Attachment

The emotional bond between a child and caregiver, shown by seeking closeness and clinging.

Bonding

The mother's feelings toward her infant; distinct from attachment.

Skin-to-skin contact

Direct physical contact that promotes bonding.

Pre-attachment stage

Birth to about 8–12 weeks; infants orient to the mother and respond to voice and sight.

Attachment in the making

8–12 weeks to 6 months; infants form attachments to one or more persons.

Clear-cut attachment

6–24 months; distress upon separation; return of mother reduces crying.

4th phase of attachment

25 months and beyond; mother figure seen as independent; more complex relationship.

Mary Ainsworth

Researcher linking insecure attachments with anxious, less responsive caregiving.

Insecure Avoidant

An insecure attachment where the child avoids close contact due to brusque parenting.

Insecure Ambivalent

An insecure attachment with clingy behavior toward inconsistent caregivers.

Insecure Disorganized

Emotionally absent or abusive caregiving; disorganized behavior; possible precursor to disorders.

Learning Theory

The study of acquiring knowledge and behavior through conditioning and observation.

Classical Conditioning

Association between an event and a time or stimulus (e.g., bell predicts food).

Operant Conditioning

Learning from consequences of actions—rewards and punishments.

Social Learning Theory

Learning through observation and modeling; integration with others.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud’s theory focusing on the unconscious mind; expressed in dreams and free association.

Self-Actualization

Maslow’s concept of realizing one's potential and growth.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological needs at the base, then safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Hedonism

The belief that pleasure is the intrinsic good guiding behavior.

Premack’s Principle

A more probable or desirable behavior can reinforce a less probable one.

Person-Centered Theory

Carl Rogers’ approach that emphasizes self-growth in a supportive therapeutic relationship.

Core Conditions

Three essential elements: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence.

Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings of another.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Unconditional acceptance of the client without judgment.

Congruence

Genuineness; the therapist’s inner experience matches outward behavior.

Psychological Adjustment to Disability

Models describing how people adjust psychologically after disability.

Stage Model (DABDA)

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance—the stages of emotional adjustment.

Behavioral Model

Adjustment to disability driven by external factors; four tasks of rehabilitation.

Coping Skills Theory

Focus-oriented (trait/state) and approach-oriented (micro/macro) theories of coping.

Problems encountered in rehabilitation

Escape/avoidance, motivation problems, and lack of transfer of learned behavior.

Abnormal psychology

Study of abnormal behavior and psychopathology; linked to psychotherapy.

Biopsychology

Biological processes’ influence on mind and behavior; neuroscience link.

Clinical psychology

Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders; large field.

Cognitive psychology

Study of thought processes such as attention, memory, perception, and problem solving.

Forensic psychology

Application of psychology to legal and criminal justice.

Industrial-organizational psychology

Use of psychology to improve work performance and employee selection.

Personality psychology

Study of how personality develops and patterns of thought and behavior.

Social psychology

Study of group behavior and social influences on individuals.