Exam 1 Review - Abnormal Psychology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Chapters 1 through 4 for Exam #1 review.

Trephination

A historical treatment in which a hole was cut into a person's skull to let evil spirits out.

Eugenics

A movement with the goal of sterilizing people with mental disorders based on the belief that mentally ill individuals should not pass on their defective genes.

Deinstitutionalization

The policy of discharging psychiatric patients into the community, which led to many individuals with severe disturbances ending up in jail or living on the street without receiving necessary services.

Case study

A long-term study of a single clinical client.

Psychodynamic model

A psychological model positing that behavior is the result of unconscious, underlying forces that interact with each other.

Biological model

A model of abnormality that views physical processes as the key to understanding behavior.

Multicultural model

A perspective proposing that abnormal behavior is the result of social factors leading to stress.

Interrater reliability

A measure of reliability occurring if different judges or evaluators can independently agree on how to score a given test.

Predictive validity

A clinical assessment tool's ability to accurately predict future characteristics or behavior.

American Psychiatric Association

The professional organization that developed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Panic Disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by a month or more of persistent concern/worry about having additional attacks or significant maladaptive behavior related to the attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive or ongoing anxiety and worry, lasting for at least six months, about two or more activities or events, accompanied by at least three diagnostic symptoms.

Modeling

Refers to learning through observation and imitation, such as becoming afraid of something after observing someone else show fear.

Behavioral-evolutionary explanation

A theory suggesting a biological predisposition to develop certain fears, explaining why phobias of snakes or heights are more common than phobias of grass or meat.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Severe, persistent, and irrational anxiety about social or performance situations in which scrutiny by others and embarrassment may occur, leading to avoidance.

Fear

A state of immediate alarm in response to a specific, serious threat to one's well-being.

Anxiety

A general and more normal feeling of fear, worry, or nervousness.

Clinical interview

A structured conversation between a clinician and a patient to assess mental health symptoms, history, and functioning.

Shortcomings for a Clinical Interview

can lack validity, interviewees may provide misleading information or withhold details.

interviewers can hold biases or make poor judgement calls

Describe the Panic Cycle and how it worsens the symptoms of panic

Difference between a fear and a phobia

Describe a cause of a phobia and a treatment option