ap psych unit 5

positive psychology

perspective that focuses on human strengths, emphasizing hope, optimism, gratitude, resiliency, and happiness

health psychology

perspective that focuses on the effects of childhood experiences; analyzes coping strategies and the relationship with stress and anxiety

eustress

a moderate or normal stress considered beneficial for function

abnormal behavior

mentally-ill behavior that deviates from the norm, interferes with one’s ability to function effectively, and involves personal distress over a long period of time

psychological approach (mental illness)

approach to mental illnesses that emphasizes contributions made by experiences and thoughts

biological approach (mental illness)

approach to mental illnesses that emphasize medical and internal causes

sociocultural approach (mental illness)

approach to mental illnesses that emphasizes social and environmental contexts

biopsychosocial approach (mental illness)

approach to mental illnesses that emphasizes how biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors effect mental health

vulnerability-stress hypothesis / diathesis stress

any different combination of factors can contribute to differing severities of mental illnesses

anxiety disorders

most common class of disorders that cause unnecessary panic or anxiety

generalized anxiety disorder

persistent and excessive anxiety, autonomic arousal, or worry that lasts at least six months

social anxiety disorder

intense anxiety when exposed to certain kinds of social situations. As a result, the person often avoids these types of situations

specific phobia disorder

intense anxiety when exposed to certain kinds of social situations. As a result, the person often avoids the feared object or situation because of a desire to escape the anxiety linked to it

panic disorder

recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, which cause worry or anxiety. During a panic attack, a person has symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, dizziness, chest pain, and fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying. Panic attacks often trigger phobias

biological approach (anxiety disorders)

anxiety disorders are caused by irregularities in GABA, lactate, genetics, hormone regulation, adaptive processes, neural circuitry, or serotonin

psychological / sociocultural approach (anxiety disorders)

anxiety disorders are caused by harsh self-standards, parenting, stress, learning processes, gender, experiences/memory, cultural background

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

anxiety-related disorder that cause obsessions, compulsions, or both

obsessions

ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are persistent and cause anxiety or distress; thoughts that are inappropriate but uncontrollable

mood disorders

class of disorders that cause intense and long-lasting moods

major depressive disorder / clinical depression

mood disorder characterized by a depressed mood most of the day (particularly in the morning) and a loss of interest in normal activities and relationships; symptoms must be present everyday for at least 2 weeks

compulsions

repetitive behaviors that help to prevent or relieve anxiety

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

an anxiety-related disorder in which a person re-experiences a highly traumatic event and avoids stimuli associated with the trauma; may cause increased arousal in the form of insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating, hyper vigilance, or an exaggerated startle response

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

disorder characterized by a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. Is a coping mechanism in which a person dissociates oneself from a situation or experience that’s too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with one’s conscious self

bipolar disorder

mood disorder characterized by extreme periods of inflated moods (manic episodes) followed by depressive episodes

biological approach (mood disorders)

mood disorders are caused by irregularities in genetics, serotonin, norepinephrine, brain structure/function, or the vulnerability-stress association

psychological approach (mood disorders)

mood disorders are caused by learned helplessness and self-attributions

sociocultural approach (mood disorders)

mood disorders are caused by low socio-economic status (SES) and gender conflict

personality disorders

class of disorders characterized by abnormal cognition and behaviors integrated into one’s identity

biological approach (personality disorders)

personality disorders are caused by genetics, low activation levels in the prefrontal cortex, lower levels of ANS arousal, less gray matter

psychological approach (personality disorders)

personality disorders are caused by abuse, psychopathy, hypervigilance, sensitivity

sociocultural approach (personality disorders)

personality disorders are caused by experiences, gender, low SES, age, or stress

psychopathy

element of personality disorders; lack of empathy, guilt, and remorse

antisocial personality disorder

personality disorder characterized by little concern for the rights of others or the law as well as long lasting manipulative or exploitative actions

narcissistic personality disorder

personality disorder characterized by intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image along with an abnormal love of self and an exaggerated sense of importance

borderline personality disorder

personality disorder characterized by emotional instability, relationship problems, a low sense of self-worth, and a fear of abandonment

histrionic personality disorder

personality disorder characterized by the need to be the center of attention; usually gained by threats to harm or kill oneself

conversion disorder

disorder characterized by the transformation of emotional conflicts into physical symptoms

psychodynamic therapy

an approach to therapy that includes dream interpretation, hypnosis, and uncovering repressed memories or trauma

humanistic therapy

approach to therapy that includes a client-centered talk therapy, empathy, unconditional positive regard, active listening, focus on the future, and a focus on conscious thought

behavior therapy

approach to therapy that includes systematic desensitization, counterconditioning, aversion conditioning, and token economies

systematic desensitization

a type of behavioral therapy that involves gradually exposing someone to a stimuli that causes anxiety while linking the exposure to a pleasant, relaxed state

cognitive therapy

approach to therapy that includes changing one’s thought process, typically from negative to positive thoughts in order to improve mood; includes self-help groups and family therapy

drug therapy

approach to therapy that includes psychopharmacology, or medicine that affects the brain in order to improve a mental illness

antidepressant drugs

type of drugs called SSRIs that block the re-uptake of serotonin in the brain; includes prozac, zoloft, and paxil

anti-anxiety drugs

type of drugs that depress the CNS (central nervous system), elevating the amounts of GABA; includes valium (xanax), ativan, and librium

anti-psychotic drugs

type of drugs that reduce the amount of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia; includes thorazine and clozapine

lithium bicarbonate

a salt known for reducing the intense mood swings caused by bipolar disorder; unknown why this drug works

tardive dyskinesia

side effect of anti-psychotic drugs; causes involuntary movements of the face, tongue and/or limbs

ECT (electro-convulsive therapy)

alternative therapy that involves shocking the frontal lobe of the brain; used as a last resort for extreme types of depression

light exposure therapy

alternative therapy that involves one sitting under of inside of a light mimicking sunlight; used to treat seasonal depression (SAD) and circadian sleep disorders

rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation)

alternative therapy that includes stimulating the prefrontal region of the brain with a pulsating magnetic coil; used to treat depression with very minimal side effects

rational emotive therapy

anxiety-treating therapy that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational thoughts that cause stress