Untitled Flashcards Set

Developmental psychology

The study of how and why human beings change over their life span in physiology, cognition, emotion, and social behavior.

Zygote

Fertilized egg contains all genetic information for new individual, single cell (0-2 weeks).

Embryo

Early initial developmental stage (2 weeks - 2 months).

Fetus

All organs formed, heart begins to beat, growing human (2 months - birth).

Dynamic systems theory

Development is a self-organizing process, where new forms of behavior emerge through consistent interactions between a person and cultural/environmental context.

Infantile amnesia

Inability to remember events before the age of 3 or 4.

Object permanence

Understanding that an object continues to exist even when it cannot be seen (develops around 9 months).

Teratogens

Things that harm the embryo or fetus, such as drugs, alcohol, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.

Puberty

Onset of sexual maturity that marks the beginning of adolescence, characterized by increased hormone levels.

Empathy

Understanding and sharing the emotional state of another person.

Moral development

Stages of moral reasoning including preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.

Preconventional morality

Self-interest and event outcomes determine what is moral.

Conventional morality

Strict adherence to societal rules and approval of others determine what is moral.

Postconventional morality

Decisions about morality depend on abstract principles and the value of all life.

Gender identity

One's sense of being male, female, or nonbinary.

Synaptic pruning

A process where synaptic connections in the brain that are used are preserved while those that are not are lost.

Attachment

Strong emotional connection that motivates care, protection, and social support.

Sensorimotor stage

Stage in which infants acquire information about the world through senses and motor skills (age: birth - 2 years).

Preoperational stage

Children think symbolically about objects and reason based on intuition rather than logic (age: 2 - 7 years).

Concrete operational stage

Children begin to understand logic operations and are no longer fooled by appearances (age: 7 - 12 years).

Formal operational stage

Adolescents can think abstractly and formulate and test hypotheses through deductive logic (age: 12 years and up).

Assimilation

The process by which we place new information into an existing schema.

Accommodation

The process of creating new schemas or drastically altering existing schemas to include new information that otherwise would not fit.

Theory of mind

The ability to understand that other people have mental states that influence their behavior.

Pubertal development

Influenced by hormonal changes, growth hormone, brain development, and physical changes.

Secure attachment

Child feels safe and comfortable in relation to their caregiver due to consistent and responsive care.

Insecure attachment

Child experiences confusion, anxiety, and difficulty trusting due to inconsistent or unresponsive caregiving.

Autonomy vs shame and doubt stage

Children develop a sense of control over physical skills and independence (early childhood age: 2-3 years).

Identity vs role confusion stage

Adolescents face challenges in developing a personal identity by exploring different roles (age: 12-18 years).

Generativity vs stagnation stage

Focus on contributing to society and guiding future generations (middle adulthood age: 40-65 years).

Psychopathology

Sickness or disorder of the mind.

Maladaptive behavior

Behavior that interferes with a person's ability to function appropriately in key life domains.

DSM-5

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, a classification system for diagnosing psychological disorders.

Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)

A new approach defining basic domains of functioning across multiple units of analysis.

Comorbidity

The presence of two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person.

Dimensional approach

View of psychopathology as a continuum from normal thoughts and behaviors to severe disturbances.

Categorical approach

Classifying individuals into distinct diagnostic categories based on specific symptoms or criteria.

Cognitive-behavioral approach

Model viewing psychopathology as resulting from learned maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Specific phobia

Fear of a specific object or situation.

Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder marked by fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult.

Schizophrenia

Psychological disorder characterized by alterations in thoughts, perceptions, and consciousness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Characterized by frequent thoughts (obsessions) and compulsive actions.

Borderline personality disorder

Involves instability in identity, emotions, and relationships.

Antisocial personality disorder

Characterized by socially undesirable behavior, impulsivity, and lack of empathy.

Autism spectrum disorder

Characterized by repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and difficulties in social interaction.

Addiction

Persistent use of a substance despite negative consequences.

Diathesis-stress model

Proposes that a disorder may develop when an underlying vulnerability is coupled with a precipitating event.

Family systems model

Views the family as an interconnected emotional unit.

Sociocultural model

Poses that psychopathology results from the interaction between individuals and their cultures.

Criteria for psychopathology

Deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger are necessary for a behavior to be considered psychopathology.

General characteristics of DSM-5 classification

Includes symptom-based diagnosis, categorical and dimensional approaches, with cultural considerations.

Internalizing disorders

Distress directed inward, towards the self.

Externalizing disorders

Distress directed outward, towards the environment.

Bipolar I disorder

Characterized by severe manic episodes.

Bipolar II disorder

Characterized by less severe hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes.

Psychodynamic approach

Focuses on unconscious conflicts influencing behavior and mental health.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Aims to change negative thought patterns and behaviors contributing to psychological disorders.

Behavioral approach

Focuses on learned behaviors that can be unlearned through conditioning.

Panic attack symptoms

Rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and fear.

Psychotherapy

Formal psychological treatment for mental health issues.

Biological therapies

Medical approaches to diseases and illnesses affecting mental health.

Exposure therapy

Behavioral therapy technique involving repeated exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli.

Systematic desensitization

Behavioral technique aimed at reducing anxiety by gradual exposure and relaxation techniques.

Psychotropic medications

Drugs affecting mental processes to treat psychological disorders.

Antipsychotic medications

Class of medications used to treat schizophrenia and other disorders involving psychosis.

Placebo effect

Health improvement after treatment with no active ingredients.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, modulating neurotransmitters.

Anti-anxiety drugs

Medications used for short-term relief of anxiety disorders.

Psychotropic drugs benefits and risks

Effective in reducing symptoms but come with side effects and risks of dependence.

Most effective treatment for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Psychotropic medications.

Barlow's study result on panic disorder

Development and validation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

ADHD treatment variation (short vs long term)

Short term: medication; long term: behavioral therapy and psychotherapy.

OCD treatment recommended therapies

SSRIs and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Schizophrenia treatment recommendation

Antipsychotics and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Bipolar disorder treatment recommendation

Mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Autism spectrum disorder treatment recommendation

Antipsychotics, stimulants, and various therapies including speech and occupational therapies.

Borderline personality treatment recommendations

Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and dialectical behavior therapy.

ADHD treatment recommendations

Stimulants and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Degrees and training for psychological treatment providers

Clinical psychologists diagnose and provide therapy; psychiatrists can prescribe medication.