Abnormal Psychology Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical perspectives, modern theories, care models, and clinical professions from Chapter 1.

Psychopathology

The study devoted to understanding, treating, and preventing psychological dysfunction, or the symptoms that cause these experiences.

Continuum Model of Abnormality

A model stating that problems in thoughts, feelings, and behavior vary continuously from normal to abnormal, with no clear dividing line between normal variations and abnormal functioning.

Four Ds of Abnormality

The four criteria—Dysfunction, Distress, Deviance, and Dangerousness—that together influence mental health professionals' judgments of behaviors or feelings as abnormal or maladaptive.

Dysfunction

One of the four Ds of abnormality, defined as behaviors or feelings that interfere with a person's ability to function in daily life.

Distress

One of the four Ds of abnormality, defined as behaviors or feelings that cause emotional or physical pain.

Deviance

One of the four Ds of abnormality, defined as behaviors or feelings that are outside cultural norms.

Dangerousness

One of the four Ds of abnormality, defined as behaviors or feelings that can harm or scare self or others.

Disease Model of Mental Illness

The view that pathological or abnormal behaviors, thoughts, or feelings are symptoms of a mental illness, implying an underlying biological disease process.

Cultural Relativism

The concept that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a behavior abnormal, meaning what is considered abnormal in one culture may be considered normal in another.

Biological Theories

Historical theories asserting that abnormal behavior is similar to physical disease and is caused by the breakdown of systems in the body.

Supernatural Theories

Historical theories asserting that abnormal behavior results from divine intervention, curses, demonic possession, or personal sin.

Psychological Theories

Historical theories asserting that abnormal behavior results from trauma, bereavement, or chronic stress.

Trephination

An ancient treatment for driving away evil spirits in which sections of the skull are drilled or cut away to allow evil spirits to leave the body.

Hysteria

A term historically used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to refer to psychological symptoms caused by physical processes.

Psychic Epidemics

Phenomena in which large numbers of people engage in unusual behaviors that appear to have a psychological origin.

Mental Hygiene Movement

An 18th and 19th-century movement proposing that people become mentally ill when separated from nature and that rapid social changes create enough stress to result in mental illness.

Moral Treatment

An 18th and 19th-century approach proposing that patients should be provided with humane conditions to live in.

Wilhelm Griesinger

A researcher who proposed that brain pathology leads to psychological disorders.

Kraepelin

The first researcher to classify different disorders by distinct symptoms.

General Paresis

A disease that leads to paralysis, insanity, and eventually death, caused by a syphilis infection affecting the brain.

Mesmerism

A theory developed by Franz Mesmer proposing that abnormal behavior is caused by magnetic disturbance in the body and can be restored through touch.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A perspective formulated by Sigmund Freud stating that abnormal behavior is caused by unconscious conflict.

Catharsis

A therapeutic release brought about via hypnosis or talking therapy in psychoanalytic treatment.

Behaviorism

A psychological perspective associated with Pavlov, Thorndike, and Skinner asserting that abnormal behavior can be caused by patterns of reinforcement, punishment, and classical conditioning.

Cognitions

Thinking processes that, when distorted, can lead to negative emotions and self-defeating actions.

Self-efficacy Beliefs

Beliefs people hold about their ability to control their actions.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of integrating mental patients into the community with the support of community-based treatment facilities.

Community Mental Health Movement

A movement launched in 1963 to provide coordinated mental health services to people within community mental health centers.

Halfway Houses

Facilities that offer people with long-term mental health problems the opportunity to live in a structured, supportive environment.

Day Treatment Centers

Facilities that allow people to obtain treatment during the day along with occupational and rehabilitative therapies while returning home at night.

Managed Care

A system in which companies coordinate care provided to patients for mental health services, ranging from simple monitoring to total control over what care can be provided and paid for.

Psychiatrists

Mental health professionals who possess an MD and are trained in psychological treatment.

Clinical Psychologists

Mental health professionals who typically hold a PhD and specialize in treating and researching psychological problems.

Marriage and Family Therapists

Mental health professionals who specialize in helping families, couples, and children.

Clinical Social Workers

Mental health professionals who hold a Master's in social work and help people overcome social conditions contributing to psychological problems.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors

Mental health professionals who have graduate training in counseling but do not have a PhD.

Psychiatric Nurses

Mental health professionals who have a nursing degree with specialization in the treatment of psychological disorders.

Integrationist Approach

An approach proposing that biological, psychological, and social factors interact with and influence one another to produce and maintain mental health problems.