psychology final exam pt 1

ultrasocial organisms

Species that form large societies, divide labor, and cooperate for mutual benefit, like humans and certain insects.

social psychology

 study of the causes and consequences of being social 

focusing on a few aspects of being social

cooperation

Working together toward common goals.

competition

Struggling with one another to obtain limited resources.

aggression

Behavior with the purpose of harming another.

Groups

collections of people that have something in common that distinguishes them from others 

group cognition

experience with diversity in childhood decreases group biases

positive prejudice

Favorable biases towards members of one's in-group.

implicit bias

Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions unconsciously.

Implicit association test

A psychological tool used to measure attitudes and beliefs that people may be unable to report themselves.

group polarization

When groups make decisions that are more extreme than any member would make alone.

groupthink

When groups reach consensus too easily, often ignoring alternatives.

diffusion of responsibility

Individuals feel diminished responsibility for their actions in groups.

common knowledge effect

Group discussions often focus on information shared by all members.

frustration-aggression hypothesis

Theory that aggression is a response to frustration. Animals are aggressive when their desires are frustrated

Biology and aggression

• The greatest predictors of an individual's level of aggression are…

• their immediate family members, sex

• aggression is evolutionary adaptive

Altruism

Behaviour that benefits another without benefitting oneself

kinship selection

natural selection favors traits that increase the reproductive success of an organism’s relatives even if individuals have to sacrifices their own lives in an effort to save closely related organisms

Recreation

extending “altruistic” behaviour with the expectation that the favor will be returned 

Reproduction

one way in which animals are social and ensure the survival of their species

Selection

males can keep reproducing constantly, females can only reproduce once a year

physical attraction

Initial interest in a social partner based on physical appearance.

exposure effect or situational attraction

The tendency to develop increased attraction through repeated exposure.

Capilano Bridge experiment

Study showing that men misattributed physical arousal on a dangerous bridge as attraction.

psychological attraction

Attraction based on similarities in education, religion, and personality.

hedonic motivation

The drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

normative influence

obeying norms because they make us more likeable

Asch’s conformity study

A series of studies conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s to investigate how individuals’ opinions and beliefs are influenced by the opinions of a majority group.

mental disorder

Persistent disturbances in behavior, thoughts, or emotions causing significant distress.

medical model

View that psychological experiences are classified as illnesses with biological causes.

biopsychosocial model

Perspective that psychological experiences have biological, psychological, and social causes.

psychopathology

The scientific study of mental disorders.

overpathologizing

Attributing diverse or atypical behaviors to psychological illness when not warranted.

diagnostic criteria

Symptoms or behaviors that must be present to diagnose a disorder.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used for diagnosing psychological conditions.

onset

 the chronological age or situational period when the symptoms of a disorder first appear in an individual

Prognosis

the likely course (trajectory, development) of a disorder

risk factors

a set of biological, psychological and social characteristics that increase the likelihood of having a disorder

Etiology

the biological, psychological and/ or social causes of a disorder 

Diathesis-stress model

risk for a disorder combines with life circumstances to lead to the disorder 

anxiety disorders

A category of disorders marked by excessive fear or anxiety.

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple events.

Generalized anxiety disorder: Onset

• onset of GAD rarely occurs prior to adolescence 

• median age for diagnosis is age 30 

Generalized anxiety disorder: Prognosis

• for individuals, severity of symptoms waxes and wanes  across the lifespan 

Phobic Disorder

is a disorder characterized by marked, persistent, excessive fear of specific objects, activities or situations 

preparedness theory

Idea that we may be evolutionarily adapted to fear certain types of stimulus 

Serious Mental Illness

are characterized by significant disturbances in thinking, emotional regulation, or behaviour, leading to significant distress

schizophrenia

Chronic disorder involving persistent psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.

Schizoaffective Disorder

mix of schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms

Schizophreniform Disorder

similar to schizophrenia but lasts 1 to 6 months

Brief psychotic disorder

sudden onset of psychotic symptoms; last 1 day > 1 month 

Delusions

• Persecutory (paranoia): someone is poisoning my food 

• Grandiose: I am the chosen one to save humanity 

• Referential: that song on the radio is trying to send me a special message 

• Thought control: the fbi is placing thoughts into my mind that aren’t my own 

Schizophrenia phases

Proximal period, Active/ acute phase, Residual phase

Proximal period

Initial deterioration in functioning, problems with thinking, memory, and attention 

Active/ acute phase

core psychotic symptoms are the most prominent and severe, positive and negative symptoms can be present

Residual phase

occurs after symptom improvement, reduced positive symptoms, prominent negative symptoms 

forensic mental healthcare system

System integrating mental health care with the criminal justice system for individuals with mental illnesses.

clinical psychologists

Professionals conducting psychological assessments as part of forensic assessments.

comorbidities

Other psychological or physical disorders that frequently co-occur with the primary disorder.

Nurses

Look after daily needs of clients in the system; provide daily healthcare 

(e.g., medications), assist with activities of daily living, etc

social Workers

Assist with the transition into the community, getting financial and community support.

Recreational Therapists

Help clients in the system meaningfully participate in recreational activities to improve physical and mental well-being (e.g., crafts, sports, group outings)

Occupational therapist

Assist with improving daily functioning, including the ability to complete activities of daily living (e.g., cooking, taking medication) and employment skills