PSY 353 - Psychopathology

psychopathology

the study of mental difficulties or disorders, including their explanations, causes, progression, symptoms, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment

dysfunctional

interfering with daily functioning or productivity

societal norms

stated and unstated rules for proper conduct

stigma

negative or discriminatory attitudes, prejudice, and stereotypes that society directs toward a certain condition or trait

culture

a group of people’s common history, values, beliefs, and art

cultural humility

understanding the cultural context of other cultures

therapy

a procedure or treatment designed to change disruptive behavior into more functional behavior

somatogenic perspective

the view that psychopathology results from physical causes

psychogenic perspective

the view that psychopathology results from psychological causes

psychoanalysis

emphasis that unconscious psychological forces cause dysfunction

positive psychology

the enhancement of positive feelings, traits, and abilities

intersectionality

experiences that result from multiple factors (identity, socioeconomic status, gender, etc.)

correlation

two variables move together in a predictable pattern (correlation ≠ causation)

experiment

one variable is manipulated; effect on another variable is measured

independent variable

variable being manipulated

dependent variable

variable being measured

qualitative data

subjective data dealing with descriptions, opinions, and personal stories

quantitative data

objective data dealing with numbers, percentages, and statistics

placebo

an inactive substance that has no physical effect on the body

longitudinal study

a study that observes the same participants over a long period of time

institutional review board (IRB)

an ethics committee designed to protect rights and safety of human research participants

neuron

a nerve cell

synapse

the space between the nerve ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another

neurotransmitter

a chemical released by a neuron; received by the receptors of another neuron

hormones

chemicals released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream

genes

chromosome segments that control characteristics and inherited traits

psychodynamic model

Sigmund Freud; human behavior is driven by unconscious psychological forces (id, ego, superego) and unresolved childhood conflicts

cognitive-behavioral model

focuses on human behavior + internal thoughts

classical conditioning

Ivan Pavlov; associating a response with a previously neutral stimulus

operant conditioning

B.F. Skinner; associating an action with a consequence (reward or punishment)

exposure therapy

intervention focused on gradual and repeated exposure to feared objects or situations

multifinality

similar developmental histories may have different clinical outcomes

protective factor

a positive variable that helps offset the impact of negative variables