PSYC 281 Exam #1

psychoanalytic theory

the first 5 years of a person’s life (especially parent-child) relationships could impact adulthood behaviors

goodness of fit

the idea that behavior is problematic/non-problematic depending on the environment

psychopathology

the scientific study of mental/psychological disorders

mental disorders

clinically significant disturbance in a person’s thoughts, emotions, or behavior that reflects dysfunction in mental functioning

psychological disorder

a condition involving psychological symptoms that are experienced as distressing and/or cause impairment in functioniing

culture-bound syndrome

sets of symptoms that occur together uniquely in certain ethnic or racial groups

downward drift

hypothesis that the presence of psychological disorders leads to a decrease in socioeconomic status as a result of dysfunction and occupational impairment

developmental trajectory

the idea that common symptoms of a disorder may vary depending on a person’s age

emotional contagion

the automatic mimicry and synchronization of expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements of one person’s by another

placebo effect

effect in which symptoms are diminished or eliminated not because of any specific treatment but because the patient believes that the treatment is effective

talking cure

a therapy in the form of discussion of psychological distress with a trained professional, leading to the elimination of distressing symptoms

psychoanalysis

a theory of abnormal behavior originated by Sigmund Freud that was based on the belief that many aspects of behavior were controlled by unconscious innate biological urges that existed from infancy

id

a psychoanalytic term referring to the unconscious aspect of the mind driven by basic instinctual drives; operates according to the pleasure principle

ego

a psychoanalytic term referring to the part of the mind that includes rational thinking; operates according to the reality principle

superego

a psychoanalytic term referring to the moral aspect of the mind; functions similar to a conscience

denial

refusing to recognize or believe the reality of a situation

repression

a process that blocks anxiety-provoking thoughts from the conscious mind

regression

a retreat to an earlier stage of development due to psychological stress

displacement

redirecting an unconscious and unacceptable wish or drive toward a moe acceptable alternative

sublimation

a form of displacement where unacceptable urges are redirected into more appropriate activities

reaction formation

changes an unacceptable desire by adopting the opposite stance

projection

attributing an unconsciously experienced impulse or feeling to someone else

rationalization

the use of conscious reasoning to explain away anxiety-inducing thoughts and feelings

oral stage

0-1.5 years; sucking and chewing; impulses emerge after development of teeth

anal stage

1.5-3 years; power struggles develop; personality traits of negativism and stubbornness could develop

phallic stage

3-5 years; children derive pleasure from touching genitalia; Oedipus/Electra complexes

latency stage

children are disinterested in the opposite sex; grow physically and intellectually

genital stage

puberty to death; rebirth of sexuality

free association

a psychoanalytic therapeutic technique in which the therapist encourages the patient to speak out loud every conscious thought that comes to their mind

transference

a psychoanalytic term referring to a patient directing their unconscious feelings toward an important person in their life

behaviorism

the theory that the only appropriate objects of scientific study are behaviors that can be observed and measured directly

reinforcement

a contingent event that strengthens the response that precedes it

primary reinforcer

rewards that satisfy basic needs (food, water, attention)

secondary reinforcers

rewards that have become reinforcing because of their association with primary reinforcers (money)

punishment

the application of something painful or the removal of something positive

shaping

a behavioral technique used to establish behaviors by rewarding one small step at a time

observational learning

learning by watching another person engage in a behavior

ego psychology

a form of psychodynamic theory that focuses on conscious motivations and healthy forms of human functioning

phenomenology

a school of thought that holds that one’s subjective perception of the world is more important than the world in actuality

unconditional positive regard

an aspect of humanistic psychotherapy; a therapist’s ability to accept the client for who they are as a human being

applied behavior analysis

an approach that uses principles of operant conditioning to address problems and issues of social importance to people

cognitive triad

a characteristic way of thinking among people with depression involving negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future

cognitive distortion

an aspect of cognitive theory that focuses on errors of thinking or inaccurate beliefs

sociocultural perspective

the idea that abnormal behavior must be understood within the context of social and cultural forces

double consciousness

a form of dissociation that arises when there is a difference between how individuals see themselves compared to how others see them

biopsychosocial model

a perspective that considers the various biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to psychological disorders