Abnormal Psychology: Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, diagnoses, physiological mechanisms, and interventions across sexual disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and somatic disorders.

Sexual sadism disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by urges or fantasies involving wanting others to suffer.

Frotteuristic disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by recurrent urges or fantasies of wanting to touch or rub against an unsuspecting nonconsenting person.

Desire phase

The phase of the sexual response cycle marked by an urge to have sex, sexual fantasies, and sexual attraction to others.

Excitement phase

The phase of the sexual response cycle involving changes in the pelvic region, general physical arousal, and increases in heart rate.

Pedophilic disorder

A paraphilic disorder involving recurrent sexual urges or behaviors toward children, such as wanting to touch, engage with, or watch them.

Directed masturbation training

A behavioral treatment technique that teaches women with arousal problems how to masturbate effectively.

Gender dysphoria

Psychological or emotional distress resulting from an incongruence between one's gender identity and the sex assigned at birth.

Sexual dysfunction

The inability to function properly in any phase or area of the sexual response cycle.

Erectile disorder

A dysfunction of the excitement phase characterized by the inability to attain or maintain an erection during sex.

Exhibitionistic disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by repeated urges or behaviors involving wanting to expose one's genitals to unsuspecting individuals.

Female orgasmic disorder

A sexual dysfunction marked by a persistent inability to reach orgasm, delayed orgasm, or orgasms of low intensity.

Transgender

An identity in which an individual's gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.

Cisgender

An identity in which an individual identifies with the same gender they were assigned at birth.

Fetishistic disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by recurrent sexual fantasies or urges involving nonliving objects or nongenital body parts (such as feet).

Paraphilias

Patterns or types of sexual disorders involving atypical sexual interests, urges, or behaviors.

Gender-affirming surgery

Surgical procedures used to alter physical and primary/secondary sexual characteristics to align the body with a person's gender identity.

Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder

A desire-phase dysfunction characterized by a persistent reduction or lack of interest in sex and low levels of sexual activity.

Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT)

The natural occurrence of penile erections during sleep, used clinically to evaluate biological causes of erectile disorder.

Spectator role

A state of mind during sexual activity where an individual focuses excessively on their own sexual performance, reducing their pleasure and enjoyment.

Orgasm phase

The phase of the sexual response cycle during which sexual pleasure peaks, muscle contractions occur, and tension is released.

Female sexual interest/arousal disorder

A sexual dysfunction marked by a lack of interest in sex, low sexual activity, few genital sensations, and limited excitement.

Voyeuristic disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by recurrent desires to observe unsuspecting people in secret while they are undressing or engaging in sexual activity.

Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder

A sexual pain disorder encompassing vaginismus and dyspareunia, characterized by significant difficulty or pain during vaginal penetration.

Sexual masochism disorder

A paraphilic disorder characterized by repeated urges, fantasies, or acts involving being humiliated, beaten, or made to suffer, resulting in significant distress or impairment.

Sildenafil

A medication commonly known as Viagra used to treat erectile disorder by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

Transvestic disorder

A paraphilic condition involving recurrent sexual arousal from dressing in clothes typically worn by the opposite gender, distinct from gender identity expression.

Amphetamine

A stimulant drug manufactured synthetically in a laboratory.

Barbiturates

Addictive sedative-hypnotic drugs that reduce anxiety and promote sleep by depressing central nervous system activity.

Benzodiazepines

A widely prescribed class of antianxiety and sedative-hypnotic medications, such as Xanax.

Relapse-prevention training

A cognitive-behavioral treatment approach for substance use disorders that emphasizes planning, identifying high-risk situations, and developing coping strategies.

Cannabis

A drug derived from the plant Cannabis sativa that produces a combination of hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects.

Antagonist drugs

Substances that block or reverse the physiological effects of addictive drugs, such as naloxone for opioids.

Delirium tremens (DTs)

A severe alcohol withdrawal reaction characterized by acute confusion, clouded consciousness, trembling, and vivid visual hallucinations.

MDMA

A synthetic substance also known as ecstasy that produces both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.

Endorphins

Endogenous neurotransmitters that relieve physical pain and reduce emotional tension.

Freebasing

A method of cocaine ingestion in which pure cocaine basic alkaloid is separated from processed cocaine, heated until vaporized, and inhaled through a pipe.

Substance intoxication

A temporary state of psychological and behavioral changes resulting directly from excessive ingestion of a psychoactive substance.

Reward circuit

A dopamine-rich brain pathway that becomes activated by rewarding stimuli and drugs of abuse, producing intense feelings of pleasure.

LSD

A potent hallucinogenic drug derived from ergot alkaloids that induces profound changes in sensory perceptions.

Tolerance

The physiological adaptation to a substance such that increasingly larger doses are required to achieve the desired effect.

Withdrawal

Unpleasant and often dangerous physical and psychological symptoms (such as tremors) that emerge when a person ceases or reduces substance intake.

Gambling disorder

An addictive disorder characterized by persistent, excessive gambling behavior leading to severe personal distress and financial harm.

Internet use disorder

A condition involving poorly controlled online access and persistent loss of control, resulting in significant impairment in daily functioning.

Anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by extreme caloric restriction, intentional severe weight loss, and avoidance of food.

Nutritional rehabilitation

A structured clinical program designed to gradually reintroduce a balanced diet and meal plan to restore physical health and body weight.

Bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder marked by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting.

Amenorrhea

The medical condition characterized by the abnormal absence or cessation of menstrual cycles, commonly seen in anorexia nervosa.

Lateral hypothalamus (LH)

A specific area of the hypothalamus that functions as a feeding center, stimulating hunger when activated.

Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

A specific area of the hypothalamus that acts as a satiety center, depressing hunger when activated.

Enmeshed family pattern

A family structure where members are overinvolved in each other's affairs, often manifesting as intense scrutiny over weight and dieting.

Binge-eating disorder

An eating disorder involving repeated episodes of consuming large amounts of food during stress, without regular compensatory purging.

The Body Project

An evidence-based, group-based intervention aimed at helping young women critique unrealistic beauty ideals and develop a healthier body image.

Weight set point

The specific internal biological weight level that the body and hypothalamus work to maintain.

Type A personality style

A behavioral pattern characterized by hostility, cynicism, competitiveness, high drivenness, and extreme impatience.

Antigen

A foreign invader of the body, such as a bacterium or virus, that triggers an immune system response.

Malingering

The deliberate exaggeration or faking of physical or psychological symptoms to obtain an external reward or avoid obligations.

Primary gain

A psychodynamic concept where somatic symptoms serve to keep internal psychological conflicts out of conscious awareness.

Secondary gain

A psychodynamic concept where somatic symptoms allow an individual to elicit sympathy and care from others or avoid unpleasant tasks.

Electromyograph (EMG)

A diagnostic device that measures and provides feedback on the level of muscular tension throughout the body.

Behavioral medicine

An interdisciplinary field that integrates psychological therapies and physical treatments to manage medical illness.

Illness anxiety disorder

A disorder characterized by excessive anxiety about having or acquiring a serious illness despite having no substantial somatic symptoms.

Factitious disorder

A disorder in which an individual feigns or intentionally produces physical symptoms in themselves specifically to adopt the sick role.

Lymphocytes

Specialized white blood cells that circulate through the lymphatic system and bloodstream to identify and destroy antigens and cancer cells.

Somatic symptom disorder

A condition characterized by excessive thoughts, anxiety, and concern regarding bodily symptoms that significantly disrupt everyday life.

Biofeedback

A behavioral treatment technique where patients are given real-time physiological data to learn how to voluntarily regulate autonomic functions.

Psychoneuroimmunology

The scientific discipline examining the complex relationships and interactions among psychological stress, the immune system, and physical health.

Conversion disorder

A disorder involving physical symptoms affecting sensory or voluntary motor functions that are inconsistent with known neurological or medical conditions.

Psychophysiological disorders

Medical conditions in which biological, psychological, and sociocultural stressors interact to cause, worsen, or maintain physical pathology.

Type B personality style

A pattern described in the text where individuals repeatedly experience intense negative emotions while feeling too unsupported to express their distress.