AP Psychology- unit 10: Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders, and Risk for Disorders

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Schizophrenia

A chronic and severe mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self, and behavior. Common symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and impaired functioning.          

(In other words} A serious mental illness that makes it hard to tell what’s real and causes confused thoughts or unusual behaviors.    

Example: A person with schizophrenia might hear voices that no one else hears and believe others are plotting against them.            

Paranoid Schizophrenia (Note: Though outdated, still tested)

A subtype of schizophrenia where the individual experiences intense delusions of persecution or grandeur, often accompanied by hallucinations.  

(In other words} A type of schizophrenia where the person mainly has strong paranoid thoughts and might hear voices.        

Example: Believing the government is spying on them through the TV and hearing threatening voices.              

Catatonic Schizophrenia

A subtype of schizophrenia marked by abnormal motor behavior, including extreme immobility, excessive movement, or bizarre postures.       

(In other words} A kind of schizophrenia where a person may not move, speak, or respond for long periods—or may move strangely.            

Example: A person might stay frozen in one position for hours or repeat someone else’s words or movements.                                                                   

Disorganized Schizophrenia

A subtype of schizophrenia characterized by disorganized speech and behavior, as well as inappropriate or flat emotions.    

(In other words} A type where the person has very mixed-up thinking and acts or talks in strange ways.    

Example: A person might laugh randomly while talking nonsense and not take care of their hygiene.

Personality Disorder

A type of mental disorder involving a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving that causes problems in relationships and daily life.  

(In other words} A long-term way of thinking and acting that makes it hard to get along with others or handle life.  

Example: Someone with antisocial personality disorder might lie, break laws, or not feel guilty for hurting others.