AP Psych Unit 5 Mental & Physical Health Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in AP Psychology Unit 5 related to mental and physical health.

Active Listening

A communication technique used in therapy that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and empathizing with what the speaker is saying.

Acute Schizophrenia

A subtype of schizophrenia characterized by sudden onset of psychotic symptoms often requiring immediate intervention.

Adaptation-Level Phenomenon

A cognitive bias where individuals adapt to current environmental stimuli, recalibrating their expectations over time.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

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

Aerobic Exercise

Physical activity that increases heart rate and oxygen consumption, improving physical health and cognitive function.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder marked by fear of situations where escape or help may be difficult during a panic attack.

Alarm Stage

The initial reaction to stress, activating the fight-or-flight response.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight leading to severe restriction of food intake.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A personality disorder marked by a pattern of disregard for the rights of others and lack of empathy.

Antianxiety Drugs

Medications used to alleviate anxiety symptoms by enhancing neurotransmitter activity.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depressive disorders by increasing levels of neurotransmitters related to mood regulation.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Medications that manage symptoms of psychotic disorders by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.

Anxiety Disorders

Mental health conditions marked by excessive and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear.

APA (American Psychological Association)

The leading organization representing psychology in the United States.

Ataque de Nervios

A culture-bound syndrome characterized by uncontrollable shouting, crying, and trembling.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

A neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Aversive Conditioning

A behavioral therapy technique that pairs undesired behavior with unpleasant stimuli to reduce that behavior.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by social inhibition and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

Behavior Therapy

A type of psychotherapy focusing on modifying maladaptive behaviors using reinforcement and punishment.

Behavioral Perspective

An approach to psychology focused on observable behaviors and how they are learned.

Biofeedback

A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological processes through real-time feedback.

Biological Perspective

An approach that focuses on the physiological bases of behavior and mental processes.

Biomedical Therapy

Using medical interventions to treat mental disorders by targeting biological mechanisms.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania.

Bipolar I

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one manic episode.

Bipolar II

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by instability in mood and relationships, often resulting in impulsive actions.

Broaden-and-Build Theory

Barbara Fredrickson's theory suggesting positive emotions broaden thought-action repertoires, promoting resilience.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness to external stimuli, often including rigid posture.

Catharsis

A therapeutic process involving emotional release through the expression of pent-up emotions.

Chronic Schizophrenia

A subtype of schizophrenia defined by long-term symptoms and functional decline.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders marked by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders characterized by anxious or fearful behaviors.

Cognitive Perspective

An approach focused on mental processes like thinking and memory.

Cognitive Therapy

A form of psychotherapy aimed at changing dysfunctional thought patterns and beliefs.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A widely used therapy combining cognitive restructuring with behavioral interventions.

Compulsion

Repetitive behaviors a person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety.

Coping

The efforts to manage or tolerate stressors and challenges to maintain psychological well-being.

Counterconditioning

A behavior therapy technique replacing maladaptive responses with adaptive ones.

Culture-Bound Disorders

Psychological disorders found only in certain cultures.

Deinstitutionalization

The movement towards discharging individuals from psychiatric hospitals to community-based treatment.

Delusion

A fixed false belief, often seen in psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive behavior.

Depressive Disorders

Mental conditions characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focusing on coping skills for managing stress and emotions.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A theory proposing that disorders arise from interactions between vulnerabilities and environmental stressors.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment of different categories of people, commonly based on race or gender.

Dissociation

A mental process involving detachment from thoughts, feelings, or identity as a defense mechanism.

Dissociative Amnesia

A disorder characterized by memory loss of personal information often related to trauma.

Dissociative Disorders

Conditions marked by disruptions in memory, identity, or consciousness due to trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Distress

Negative stress that can lead to anxiety and decreased performance.

Dopamine Hypothesis

The theory stating that schizophrenia is linked to excess dopamine activity in the brain.

DSM-5-TR

A classification system published by the APA, providing criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.

Eclectic Approach

Integrating various principles and techniques from different therapeutic modalities.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical procedure that induces controlled seizures to treat severe depression.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Efforts to manage emotional distress related to stressors.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression influenced by environmental factors without altering DNA.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress that can enhance performance and well-being.

Evidence-Based Practice

Integrating research evidence with clinical expertise and client values for effective treatment.

Evolutionary Perspective

An approach focusing on how evolutionary processes shape behavior.

Exhaustion Stage

The stage where the body's resources are depleted, making it susceptible to illness.

Exposure Therapies

Behavior therapy techniques involving direct engagement with feared stimuli to reduce anxiety.

External Locus of Control

Belief that outside forces primarily determine life outcomes.

Family Therapy

Psychotherapy involving families to improve communication and resolve conflicts.

Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

A psychological notion that positive moods lead to altruistic behavior.

Fight or Flight Response

The body's automatic reaction to perceived threats.

Flat Affect

Lack of emotional expression, often seen in schizophrenia.

Free Association

A psychoanalytic technique where patients speak freely to uncover unconscious thoughts.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A framework describing the body's physiological response to stress in three stages.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by chronic and excessive worry about various day-to-day events.

Group Therapy

A form of therapy where individuals with similar issues share and support each other under a therapist's guidance.

Hallucination

A false perception experienced without an external stimulus.

Health Psychology

A subfield focusing on how psychological factors influence health and healthcare delivery.

Hoarding Disorder

A mental health condition involving difficulty discarding possessions, leading to clutter.

Humanistic Perspective

An approach that emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.

Hypnosis

A trance-like state used in therapy to assist with relaxation and exploration of subconscious thoughts.

Insight Therapies

Therapeutic approaches aimed at increasing awareness of thoughts and feelings.

Internal Locus of Control

Belief that personal efforts control life outcomes.

Interpretation

The therapist's analysis of a client's thoughts and behaviors to foster insight.

Learned Helplessness

A phenomenon where individuals become passive due to repeated failures.

Lithium

A mood-stabilizing drug used primarily for bipolar disorder.

Lobotomy

A discredited psychosurgery that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by long-lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

Mania

A period of abnormally elevated mood and energy, often seen in bipolar disorder.

Medical Model

An approach conceptualizing psychological disorders as medical conditions needing treatment.

Meditation

A practice that promotes mental clarity and emotional calm.

Meta-Analysis

A method that combines results of multiple studies to provide an overview of findings.

Mindfulness Meditation

A practice focusing on present moment awareness to reduce stress and enhance self-regulation.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by a long-term pattern of self-importance and lack of empathy.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Conditions with early childhood impairments in brain function and behavior.

Obsession

Intrusive thoughts or urges causing significant anxiety.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A disorder focused on orderliness and perfectionism.

Panic Attack

A sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Marked by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression lasting at least two years.