AP Psychology Unit 5 2024-25

Stigma

A negative social perception associated with certain characteristics or conditions.

Stress

A psychological and physical response to perceived challenges or threats.

Eustress/Distress

Eustress is positive stress that can motivate, while distress is negative stress that can lead to anxiety.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events occurring before age 18 that can negatively impact health and well-being.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Tend-and-befriend Theory

A theory suggesting that people often respond to stress by seeking social support.

Problem Focused Coping

Coping strategies aimed at addressing the source of stress directly.

Emotion Focused Coping

Coping strategies aimed at managing emotions associated with stress.

Positive Psychology

A field of psychology focused on enhancing well-being and happiness.

Posttraumatic Growth

The positive psychological change that can occur as a result of adversity.

Psychological Disorders

Patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas.

Diagnosing/Classifying

The process of identifying and labeling psychological disorders.

DSM

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a standardized classification of mental disorders.

Eclectic Approach

A therapeutic approach that combines techniques from different schools of psychology.

Clinical/Counseling Psychologists

Professionals trained to diagnose and treat mental health issues.

Psychiatrist

A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Abnormality (Criteria)

Standards used to determine what is considered abnormal behavior.

D’s of abnormality

Definitions used to identify abnormal behavior: deviance, dysfunction, distress, and danger.

Comorbidity

The presence of two or more disorders occurring simultaneously.

Anti-Psychiatry Movement

A movement challenging traditional views and treatments in psychiatry.

Forensic Psychology

The intersection of psychology and the legal system, involving psychological assessments related to legal matters.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

ensures patient privacy regarding health information.

Mens Rea

A legal term meaning 'guilty mind,' which refers to the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing.

Etiology of Disorders by Approach

The study of the causes of psychological disorders from various theoretical perspectives.

Diathesis-stress Model

A model suggesting that predisposition to a disorder is triggered by stressors.

Abnormal Psychology

The branch of psychology that deals with abnormal behavior and mental disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety.

Specific Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Social Anxiety Disorder

A fear of social situations that may lead to embarrassment or humiliation.

Panic Disorder

A disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks and overwhelming anxiety.

Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder involving fear of situations where escape might be difficult.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A disorder characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life.

Separation Anxiety

An excessive fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).

Obsessions

Repetitive, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors that individuals feel compelled to perform to reduce anxiety.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental disorder characterized by extreme mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Dysthymia

A milder but chronic form of depression.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

A disorder characterized by physical symptoms that are not fully explained by medical conditions.

Conversion

A disorder where psychological distress is expressed as physical symptoms.

Factitious Disorder (Munchausen Syndrome)

A condition in which a person deceives others by faking illness to gain attention.

Factitious Disorder on Another (by Proxy)

A caregiver induces illness in someone under their care to gain attention.

Intellectual Disability

A condition characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A developmental disorder affecting communication and behavior.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

a condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

Learning Disorder

A disorder that affects the ability to understand or use language, which can hinder learning.

Personality Disorders

A class of mental disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by a lack of regard for the moral or legal standards of society.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.

Eating Disorders

Disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating, intense fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.

Substance Abuse Disorder

A disorder involving compulsive use of substances despite harmful consequences.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by disordered thinking, perceptions/delusions, and emotional responses.

Delusions

False beliefs that are resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without external stimuli, such as hearing voices.

Disorganized Speech

A symptom of schizophrenia marked by incoherent speech.

Positive vs Negative Symptoms

symptoms that add behaviors (e.g., hallucinations) vs symptoms that remove behaviors (e.g., lack of motivation).

Psychomotor Symptoms

Physical symptoms affecting movement or coordination associated with mental disorders.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness and immobility often seen in severe mental illness.

Psychotherapy

The treatment of mental disorder by psychological means.

Pros and Cons of Each Approach

Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of different psychotherapy methods.

Competencies

Skills and knowledge required for effective practice in psychology.

Psychoanalytical/dynamic

A therapeutic approach that focuses on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Dream Interpretation

A technique in psychoanalysis where dreams are analyzed for hidden meanings.

Free Association

A technique where patients speak freely about their thoughts and feelings to uncover unconscious material.

Resistance

In psychoanalysis, a patient’s reluctance to bring unconscious material to consciousness.

Transference

A phenomenon where patients project feelings about important figures in their life onto the therapist.

Interpretation

The therapist's analysis of the patient's experiences and emotions.

Humanistic

An approach to therapy that emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.

Client Centered Therapy

A humanistic therapeutic approach that focuses on the individual's perspective and innate drive for growth.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting and supporting a person regardless of what they say or do.

Nondirective Therapy

A therapeutic approach where the therapist takes a non-directive stance.

Active Listening

A communication technique used in counseling to enhance understanding.

Reflection

A therapeutic technique that involves summarizing a patient’s statements to gain clarity.

Behavior Therapy

A treatment focused on modifying harmful behaviors.

Counterconditioning

A behavioral technique that associates a new response with a previously conditioned stimulus.

Systematic Desensitization

A gradual exposure technique used to treat phobias.

Anxiety Hierarchy

A ranked list of feared items or situations used in systematic desensitization.

Flooding

A behavioral therapy technique in which a patient is exposed to a large amount of their fear at once.

Aversive Conditioning

A technique that involves pairing an unpleasant stimulus with a behavior to reduce that behavior.

Token Economy

A system of behavior modification based on the systematic reinforcement of target behavior (utilizing points that can be exchanged for tangible rewards).

Cognitive Therapies

Psychotherapies that focus on changing maladaptive thought patterns.

Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET)

A cognitive-behavioral therapy aimed at changing irrational beliefs.

Irrational Beliefs

Unreasonable thoughts that negatively impact emotional well-being.

Rational Thinking

Thought processes that are logical and based on reality.

Cognitive Therapy (CT)

A type of therapy that aims to change thought patterns to improve emotional responses.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An integrative therapy that combines cognitive and behavioral approaches.

Sociocultural

An approach that examines the social and cultural influences on mental health.

Culturally Responsive Intervention

Therapeutic practices that recognize and consider cultural differences in treatment.

Formats for Therapy

The different contexts in which therapy can occur, such as individual and group.

Individual Therapy

A format for therapy focusing on the individual with a licensed therapist.

Group Therapy

A format for therapy where multiple individuals meet to discuss their issues.

Family Therapy

A therapeutic approach that involves family members to address issues collectively.

Couples Therapy

Therapy focused on improving communication and resolving conflicts in a romantic relationship.