Abnormal Pysch Unit 1 Flashcards
Mental Disorders: Cultural university
fixed set of disorders exist whose obvious symptoms cut across cultures
Mental Disorders: Cultural relativism
Values and worldviews affect expression and determination and deviant behavior
Ex. “Running amok” in Malaysia; eating disorders
Cultural relativism
view that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a behavior abnormal. Behaviors can only be labeled abnormal only relative to cultural norms. ex. Hitler branded jews “abnormal”
Culture and gender can influence three things, what are they?
- way people express symptoms
- Willingness to admit certain types of behavior
- types of treatment deemed acceptable/helpful for people
Biological theories
view abnormal behaviors similarly to physical diseases; breakdown of the body
Supernatural Theories
view abnormal behaviors as a result of divine interventions, curses, demonic possessions and personal sin
Psychological theories
view abnormal behaviors as a result of psychological processes, such as beliefs, coping skills, and life events such as trauma, bereavement, or chronic stress
- ex. Slaves who would escape where seen as having a mental illness and would be beaten to “cure” them.
Traphination
act of drilling holes into someone’s head using trephine (drill-like tool)
Psychopathology
scientific study of psychological disorders
4 D’s of abnormality
deviance, distress, dysfunction, dangerousness
Ancient Chinese
- Ancient Chinese medicine based on Ying and Yang
- Chinese medical philosophy said that human emotions were controlled in the organs, therefore doctors would tell people not to eat for days in order to balance emotions
- Different organs represent different emotions (pg 8 for examples)
Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome
- Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome believed in the “wandering uterus”; the uterus would wander the body looking for semen and therefore make the women sick or “abnormal”
- Hysteria means Uterus in Greek
- Hippocrates’ four humors
Medieval Views
- Witch hunts occurred and psychiatric historians claim the “witches” were most likely the mentally ill
- Johann Weyer claimed those accused of being witches were those with depression and senility. The church argued against this claim
Psychic Epidemics
phenomenon in which large numbers of people engage in unusual behaviors that appear to have a psychological origin ex. Dance frenzies
Mental Hygiene movement
treatment based on the idea that people developed problems because they had become separated from nature. Inscribed prayers, relaxation, and a physically appealing place
Moral treatment
humanistic philosophy and a belief that a rational, caring approach would enable patients to normalize their thoughts and actions; Philippe Pinel created
General paresis
disease that lead to paralysis, insanity and eventually death
Mesmerism
hypnotic induction held to involve animal magnetism broadly
Psychoanalysis
the study of the unconscious
Classical conditioning
Pavlov’s studies on human behavior
Self-efficacy beliefs
behaviors necessary to control important events determining someone’s well being
Patient’s right movement
recover better or live more satisfying lives if integrated into the community
Deinstitutionalization
moving people with psychological or developmental disabilities from highly structured institutions to home- or community-based settings
Community mental health centers
institutions for the treatment of people with mental health problems in the community; may include teams of social workers, therapists, and physicians who coordinate care
community mental health movement
An effort to deinstitutionalize mental patients and to provide therapy from outpatient clinics. Proponents of community mental health envisioned that recovering patients could live with their families, in foster homes, or in group homes.
Halfway homes
offer help to long-term mental health problems, this includes a structured, supportive environment as they try it reestablish working relationships with friends and family
Day treatment centers
mental health facilities that allow people to obtain treatment, along with occupational and rehabilitative therapies, during the day but to live at home at night
Managed care
collection of methods for coordinating care that ranges from simple monitoring to total control over what care can be provided
Theory
set of ideas that provide a framework for asking questions about a phenomenon and gathering information
biopsychosocial approach
recognizing psychological symptoms often result from biological factors
diathesis-stress model
a diagnostic model that proposes that a disorder may develop when an underlying vulnerability is coupled with a precipitating event
Three sections of the brain
hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
Thalamus
direct incoming information from sense receptors to the cerebrum
Hypothalamus
small structure below the thalamus, regulates eating, drinking and sexual behavior
Limbic system
a set of structures that regulate many instructive behaviors such as stress, eating and sexual behavior
Amygdala
structure of the limbic system that is critical in emotions such as fear
Neurotransmitters
biochemicals that act as messengers carrying impulses from one neuron or nerve call to another in the brain and nervous system
Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
Receptors
molecules on the membrane of adjacent neurons
Reuptake
process that occurs when initial neuron releases the neurotransmitter into the synapse
Degradation
occurs when the receiving neurotransmitter into other biochemicals
Endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
pituitary gland
gland that produces largest number of different hormones
polygenic
multiple genes affecting a given trait
Lithium
widely used as a mood stabilizer
anticonvulsants
used to help with mood disorders
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
a biomedical therapy for severely depressed patients in which a brief electric current is sent through the brain of an anesthetized patient
psychosurgery
surgery that removes or destroys brain tissue in an effort to change behavior
Global assumptions
fundamental beliefs that encompass all types of situations
ego psychology
emphasizing the importance of the individual’s abilities
object relations
Modern development in psychodynamic theory involving the study of how children incorporate the memories and values of people who are close and important to them.
Free association
client is taught to talk about whatever comes to mind
Transference
occurs when client reacts to the therapist
Working through
going over and over painful memories and difficult issues
Reflection
method of response in which the therapist expresses an attempt to understand what the client is experiencing and trying to communicate
family system theories
families create and maintain mental disorders in individuals to maintain homeostasis
Family system therapy
the guiding assumption is that most people’s problems develop in a family setting and that the best way to deal with them is to improve family relationships and communication
syndorme
cluster of symtoms
validity
accuracy of a test
Reliability
consistency of measurement
sensorium
client’s general awareness of surroundings
Personality inventories
a questionnaire on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
PET scan that is less accurate but cheaper
Psychophysiological tests
machines designed to detect changes in brain that reflect emotion
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
measures electrical activity along the scalp produced by firing neurons
Projective test
a personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics
DSM
the classification system of mental disorders
Weyer
founder of modern psychopathology
psychotherapy
any treatment using psychological techniques to help someone suffering psychological difficulties
the biological model has the most side effects out of all the models
Behaviorism
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Modeling
learning by imitating others; copying behavior
Behavioral Therapies
treatments designed to change behavior through the use of established learning techniques
flooding therapy
A behavioral treatment for phobias that involves prolonged exposure to a feared stimulus, thereby providing maximal opportunity for the conditioned fear response to be extinguished.
gradual exposure therapy
direct exposure to a series of increasingly fearful stimuli
systematic desensitization
A type of counterconditioning that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli
caveat
a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
ABC model of attitudes
affect, behavior, cognition make an attitude
Cognitions
mental processes, such as thinking, memory, sensation, and perception
Bandure’s self-efficacy
belief we have the abilities to handle life’s events
cognitive therapies
therapy that teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking and acting
Behavioral model strengths
o Can be observed and measured
o Significant research support
Behavioral models weaknesses
o Too simplistic and unrealistic
o Downplays role of cognition (thoughts)
Cognitive model strengths
o Broad appeal
o Clinically useful & effective for several disorders
Cognitive models weaknesses
o Singular, narrow focus
o Overemphasizes present
Psychoanalytic model
the most comprehensive theory yet constructed on the development and structure of our personalities (ego, superego, ID)
Regression
person retreated from conflict by returning to an earlier state of development
Projection
imposing one’s own impulses or wishes onto another person
Reaction formation
behaving in a way that is the opposite of one’s true wishes
Psychodynamic model strengths
o Recognized importance of psychological theories and treatment
o Internal conflict as important source of both health and abnormality
Psychodynamic model weaknesses
o Some unsupported ideas
o More difficult to research (not impossible tho)
Humanistic Theory
is a type of personality theory that emphasizes people’s conscious understanding of themselves and their abilities to attain self fulfillment.
Gestalt therapy
therapy that aims to integrate different and sometimes opposing aspects of personality into a unified sense of self
Observation therapy look for 3 things
o Behavioral excesses (e.g., hair pulling, overeating) things we want to do less of
o Behavior deficits (e.g., lack of eye contact) things we want to do more of
o Inappropriate behavior (e.g., violent outbursts) things that are not okay in
Psychological Tests
- Development began around 1900
- Determine cognitive, emotional, or behavioral states and symptoms
- More than 500 different tests are in use
Projective Tests
Subjects interpret vague/ambiguous stimuli or follow open-ended instruction
ex. Roschach inkblots
Objective Tests example
Measure broad personality characteristics
Focus on behaviors, beliefs, and feelings
Usually, self-report
ex. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
Self-Report Inventories
Focus on one specific area of functioning
ex. Beck Depression Inventory
Psychophysiological Tests
Measure physiological response as an indication of psychological problem
ex.polygraph (lie detector)
Neurological
tests directly assess brain function by assessing structure and activity
Neuropsychological
tests indirectly assess brain function by assessing cognitive perceptual, and motor functioning
Intelligence Tests
Designed to measure intellectual ability (verbal and non-verbal skills)
ex. IQ test
Reliable
Different diagnosticians agree on diagnosis using same classification system
Validity
Accuracy of info provided by diagnostic categories
DSM-5
greater reliability and validity than previous editions, but still a concern
sign
observable
symptom
reported condition
Syndrome
cluster of signs and symptoms
disorder
Diagnosis linking syndromes; could be same as a syndrome
Disease
disorder with known pathophysiology
