AP Psychology - Unit 5 - Fiveable

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic or stressful events experienced during childhood that can have lasting effects on physical and mental health throughout the lifespan.

alarm reaction

The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring when stress is initially encountered, characterized by a fight-flight-freeze response.

behavior

Observable actions and responses of individuals that can influence health outcomes and wellness.

coping

The strategies and behaviors people use to manage stress and its effects on behavior and mental processes.

daily hassles

Minor, recurring stressful events in everyday life that can accumulate and affect overall well-being.

distress

Negative or debilitating stress that impairs functioning and well-being.

emotion-focused coping

A coping strategy in which a person manages their emotional reactions to stress through techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or medication to reduce emotional distress.

eustress

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

exhaustion phase

The third stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring when stress subsides or the body's resources become depleted, resulting in increased susceptibility to illness.

fight-flight-freeze response

An immediate physiological and behavioral reaction to a perceived threat, involving either confronting the stressor, escaping it, or becoming immobilized.

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage model describing the body's physiological response to stress: alarm reaction, resistance phase, and exhaustion phase.

health psychology

The branch of psychology that studies how psychological factors influence physical health, illness, and wellness.

hypertension

Elevated blood pressure, a physiological condition linked to chronic stress.

immune suppression

A weakening of the immune system's ability to fight illness and infection, often resulting from prolonged stress.

mental processes

Cognitive and psychological functions including thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that affect physical health and wellness.

physical health

The state of bodily functions and systems, including absence of disease and optimal functioning of the body.

problem-focused coping

A coping strategy in which a person addresses stress by identifying it as a problem and actively working toward finding and implementing solutions.

resistance phase

The second stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring as the body attempts to cope with and confront ongoing stress.

stress

A psychological and physiological response to demands or threats that can affect behavior, mental processes, and physical health.

stressors

Environmental or internal stimuli that trigger a stress response in an individual.

tend-and-befriend theory

A theory proposing that some individuals, particularly women, respond to stress by attending to their own needs and/or others' needs while seeking social connection.

traumatic stressors

Severe, overwhelming stressful events that can have significant psychological and physiological impacts.

wellness

A state of overall well-being that encompasses physical, mental, and social health.

character strengths

Positive traits and virtues classified into six categories: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

gratitude

A positive subjective experience involving appreciation and thankfulness that contributes to increased subjective well-being.

positive emotions

Emotional states such as joy, contentment, and hope that contribute to psychological well-being and life satisfaction.

positive psychology

An approach to psychology that focuses on identifying factors that lead to well-being, resilience, positive emotions, and psychological health rather than solely studying mental illness and dysfunction.

positive subjective experiences

Personal feelings and perceptions of positivity that individuals experience, such as gratitude or happiness, which influence behavior and mental processes.

posttraumatic growth

A positive subjective experience that may result from the experience of trauma or stress, involving personal development and positive psychological change.

psychological health

A state of mental and emotional well-being characterized by adaptive functioning and the absence of significant psychological distress.

resilience

The ability to recover from or adapt to difficult experiences and maintain psychological health in the face of adversity.

signature strengths

An individual's most prominent character strengths or virtues that, when exercised, contribute to higher levels of happiness and subjective well-being.

subjective well-being

An individual's personal evaluation of their life satisfaction and emotional experiences, often increased through positive practices like gratitude and exercising personal strengths.

virtues

Six fundamental categories of character strengths: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

well-being

A state of overall psychological and emotional health characterized by life satisfaction and positive functioning.

behavioral perspective

An approach to psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and learning through conditioning.

biological perspective

A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from physiological or genetic issues.

biopsychosocial model

A model that explains psychological disorders as arising from a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

cognitive perspective

A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions.

deviation from social norm

Behaviors or mental processes that differ significantly from what is considered typical or acceptable within a particular culture or society.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)

A classification system developed by the American Psychiatric Association that provides diagnostic criteria for mental disorders.

diathesis

A genetic or biological predisposition or vulnerability to developing a psychological disorder.

diathesis-stress model

A model that explains psychological disorders as developing from the interaction between genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and stressful life experiences (stress).

eclectic approach

A therapeutic method that combines techniques and theories from multiple psychological perspectives when diagnosing and treating clients.

evidence-based diagnostic tools

Standardized assessment instruments and procedures supported by scientific research used to identify and diagnose psychological disorders.

evolutionary perspective

A theoretical approach that explores how natural selection affects the expression of behavior and mental processes to increase survival and reproductive success.

humanistic perspective

A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from lack of social support and inability to fulfill one's potential.

interaction models

Frameworks that explain psychological disorders as resulting from the combined effects of multiple factors rather than a single cause.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A classification system developed by the World Health Organization that categorizes mental and behavioral disorders.

level of dysfunction

The degree to which a psychological condition impairs an individual's ability to function in daily life.

maladaptive learned associations

Harmful connections between stimuli and responses that develop through learning and contribute to psychological disorders.

perception of distress

An individual's subjective experience of emotional or psychological suffering related to their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

psychodynamic perspective

A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from unconscious thoughts and experiences, often originating in childhood.

psychological disorders

Patterns of behavioral or mental processes that deviate from social norms, cause distress, or result in dysfunction.

sociocultural perspective

A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics.

stigma

Negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination associated with having a psychological disorder.

stress

A psychological and physiological response to demands or threats that can affect behavior, mental processes, and physical health.

acrophobia

A specific phobia characterized by fear of heights.

acute

A sudden onset or short-term manifestation of a condition, as opposed to chronic.

agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder involving intense fear of specific social situations such as public transportation, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds, or being outside the home alone.

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake and an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to significantly low body weight.

antisocial personality disorder

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by disregard for the rights of others and lack of remorse for harmful actions.

anxiety disorders

A category of psychological disorders characterized by excessive fear and/or anxiety with related disturbances to behavior.

arachnophobia

A specific phobia characterized by fear of spiders.

ataque de nervios

A culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced mainly by people of Caribbean or Iberian descent, manifesting as panic attacks.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

avoidant personality disorder

A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to rejection.

biological sources

Physical or physiological factors, such as brain chemistry or neural functioning, that may contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorders.

bipolar cycling

The alternating pattern of experiencing periods of depression and mania in bipolar disorders, which can vary in duration and frequency.

bipolar disorders

Mental health conditions characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression that can significantly impact mood, energy, and functioning.

Bipolar I disorder

A bipolar disorder characterized by at least one manic episode, often accompanied by depressive episodes.

Bipolar II disorder

A bipolar disorder characterized by hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes, but without full manic episodes.

borderline personality disorder

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by unstable relationships, intense fear of abandonment, and emotional instability.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.

catatonia

A state of disordered movement that may be experienced as excitement (a positive symptom) or stupor (a negative symptom manifestation).

catatonic stupor

A negative symptom manifestation of catatonia characterized by a lack of movement or responsiveness.

chronic

A long-term or persistent manifestation of a condition that develops gradually over time.

Cluster A

The odd or eccentric cluster of personality disorders, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

Cluster B

The dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster of personality disorders, including antisocial, histrionic, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders.

Cluster C

The anxious or fearful cluster of personality disorders, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

cognitive changes

Mental or thinking-related symptoms in depressive disorders, such as difficulty concentrating, negative thoughts, or impaired decision-making.

compulsions

Intrusive, often repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions, typically intended to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome.

culture-bound anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder that is specific to or more prevalent in particular cultural groups, such as ataque de nervios or taijin kyofusho.

delusions

False beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence; a positive symptom of schizophrenia that may include delusions of persecution or grandeur.

dependent personality disorder

A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by excessive need to be cared for and difficulty making independent decisions.

depression

A period of persistently low mood, reduced energy, and diminished interest in activities often associated with bipolar disorders.

depressive disorders

A category of psychological disorders characterized by persistent sad, empty, or irritable mood along with physical and cognitive changes that impair functioning.

developmental period

The time span during childhood and adolescence when neurodevelopmental disorders typically first appear and are identified.

disorganized motor behavior

Abnormal or purposeless physical movements and behaviors; a symptom of schizophrenia that may manifest as catatonia.

disorganized thinking or speech

A positive symptom of schizophrenia characterized by incoherent or illogical thought patterns and speech, such as word salad.

dissociation

A disconnection or separation from consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, or behavior.

dissociative amnesia

A dissociative disorder involving the inability to recall important personal information, typically related to traumatic or stressful events.

dissociative disorders

A category of psychological disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior.

dissociative identity disorder

A dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities, often resulting from severe trauma.

dopamine hypothesis

A biological theory suggesting that schizophrenia may result from imbalances in dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain.

emotional detachment

A symptom characterized by reduced emotional responsiveness and disconnection from others, often occurring in trauma and stressor-related disorders.

emotional responses

Feelings and affective reactions that can be maladaptive and contribute to the etiology of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

empty mood

A symptom of depressive disorders characterized by a sense of emotional numbness or lack of feeling rather than active sadness.

feeding and eating disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by altered consumption or absorption of food that impairs health or psychological functioning.