Unit 5 Exam Study Guide - AP Psych

Definition of 'normal' psychological behavior: Influences the application of psychological principles for positive change in individuals, organizations, and communities.
Health psychologists: Focus on factors that promote well-being.
Positive psychologists: Concentrate on happiness and mental health, including positive emotions and experiences.
Psychological disorders specialists: Utilize theoretical frameworks for diagnosis and treatment strategies, bringing in a holistic and evidence-based practice.
Theoretical and practical components of psychology: Essential for understanding, managing, and treating psychological health issues, applicable in health, illness, and wellness contexts.

Health Psychology: Study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare.
Stress: Psychological and physiological response to perceived threats or challenges.
- Hypertension: Chronic high blood pressure related to stress.
- Immune Suppression: Reduced immune system effectiveness due to stress.
- Stressors: Events or pressures that threaten well-being (e.g., daily hassles, significant life changes, catastrophes).
- Eustress: Positive stress that enhances functioning.
- Distress: Negative stress leading to health problems.
ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences): Traumatic events in childhood impacting health.

Stages of GAS:
- Alarm Reaction Phase: Initial response, activating the sympathetic nervous system.
- Resistance Phase: Body's adaptation at a high energy cost.
- Exhaustion Phase: Body's ability to resist is depleted.
Responses to stress:
- Flight-Fight-Freeze Response: Automatic protective response to threats.
- Tend-and-Befriend Theory: Women may respond to stress with nurturing behaviors instead of fight-or-flight.

Positive Psychology: Understanding strengths that enable thriving.
Subjective Well-being: Quality of life assessment involving emotional reactions and thoughts.
Resilience: Ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
Posttraumatic Growth: Positive changes following severe challenges.
Positive Emotions: Feelings that uplift and add meaning.
Signature Strengths & Virtues: Personal characteristics for effective navigation of life.
Categories of Virtues: Include wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

Abnormal Psychology: Study and treatment of psychological disorders.
Clinical Psychology: Focused on assessment and treatment of mental illness and disability.
DSM-5-TR: Current manual for diagnosing mental disorders.
ICD: Global diagnostic tool for mental health conditions.

Behavioral Perspective: Focus on observable behaviors and their learning processes.
Psychodynamic Perspective: Emphasizes psychological forces and early experiences.
Humanistic Perspective: Focuses on empathy and positive human traits.
Cognitive Perspective: Study of perception, thoughts, and problem-solving.
Evolutionary Perspective: Examines behavior through natural selection principles.
Sociocultural Perspective: Influence of social/cultural environment on behavior.
Biological Perspective: Studies biological bases of behavior and mental states.
Biopsychosocial Model: Integrates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Anxiety Disorders: Characterized by significant anxiety and fear.
- Specific Phobias: Irrational fears of specific objects/situations (e.g., acrophobia = fear of heights).
- Panic Disorder: Sudden overwhelming anxiety attacks.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: Involves persistent thoughts and rituals to manage anxiety.
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders: Diagnosed by exposure to a traumatic event (e.g., PTSD).
Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Affect children's brain function (e.g., ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder).
Feeding and Eating Disorders: Disturbed eating behaviors (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa).
Personality Disorders: Inflexible behavior patterns impairing social functioning (e.g., antisocial, narcissistic).
- Cluster A: odd or eccentric behaviors, people may seem aloof, suspicious, or socially awkward
  - paranoid, schizoid, + schizotypal
- Cluster B: dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors,
  - borderline, histrionic, + narcissistic
- Cluster C: anxious or fearful behaviors
  - avoidant, dependent, + ocd

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders: Mental disturbances affecting thoughts and behaviors.
- Symptoms: Including delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (false sensory perceptions), disorganized thinking and speech, flat affect (lack of emotion).
Dissociative Disorders: Separation of consciousness from memories and feelings (e.g., Dissociative Identity Disorder).

Evidence-Based Interventions: Supported by consistent research showing effectiveness.
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies: Focus on changing thought patterns and behaviors.
Exposure Therapy: Techniques to reduce anxiety through exposure to fears.
Medications: Shifts in brain chemistry to manage psychiatric disorders (e.g., antipsychotics).
Ethical Principles: Including nonmaleficence (do no harm), respect for dignity, and maintaining confidentiality.
Therapeutic Techniques: Engage clients through methods like active listening, unconditional positive regard, and cognitive restructuring.