Ch 1

Question 1

Deviance

Answer 1

Abnormal behaviour, thoughts, and emotions are those that differ from society’s ideas about proper functioning
→ breaks social norms (norms arise from the culture of society)
→ judgements of abnormality depend on specific circumstances and cultural norms

Question 2

Distress

Answer 2

Behaviour, ideas or emotions usually have to cause distress before being labelled abnormal
→ unusual functioning does not always quality as abnormal (ie. People may maintain a positive frame of mind rather than being distressed)

Question 3

Dysfunction

Answer 3

Abnormal behaviour interferes with daily functioning (cannot take care of themselves, participate in social interaction, or work productively)
→ basic functioning: physical mobility, feeding, dressing, hygiene
→ instrumental functioning: transportation, shopping, finances, cleaning etc.

Question 4

Danger

Answer 4

Danger to oneself or others; behaviour is careless, hostile, or confused
→ depends on condition, severity, treatment status, social factors
→ substance abuse and experience with violence increase the risks
→ increased stigma, discrimination, punishment, reduction in social contact
→ more likely to experience violence than perpetrate it (reduced education, status, quality of life)

Question 5

Models/paradigms

Answer 5

Paradigms emerge, become standard practice, and are eventually overtaken by new paradigms
→ emerge during periods of crisis when phenomena cannot be resolved by pre-existing paradigm
→ must generalize to many instances of a phenomena (simplified description of reality)

Question 6

Underdetermination

Answer 6

Available evidence fails to provide sufficient explanation for why something happened

Question 7

Overdetermination

Answer 7

Multiple possible causes exist for the event (all are a sufficient explanation)

Question 8

Fallacy of the single cause

Answer 8

The assumption that events/outcomes have a single, simple cause

Question 9

Great man theory

Answer 9

History can be explained by the actions/influence of extraordinary individuals

Question 10

Historical materialism (Marxism)

Answer 10

History is the result of socioeconomic forces (production/exchange of goods, class conflict)

Question 11

Contingency

Answer 11

History is the product of randomness and chance

Question 12

Ancient practices

Answer 12

Abnormal behaviour was typically attributed to evil spirits and the cure was to force demons out of the victim’s body
→ trephination: a stone tool was used to cut away a circular section of the skull to release evil spirits
→ humors: yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm flowed through the body; an imbalance caused illness

Question 13

Asylums

Answer 13

Confinement and punishment became the dominant response to people who were antisocial or non-conforming
→ had intentions to care for patients but eventually become prisons where patients were held in filthy conditions and treated with unspeakable cruelty

Question 14

Moralistic model

Answer 14

Mental illness led to sin
→ patients confined to work houses with criminals and orphans (work considered a moral good); could not focus on recovery
→ moral treatment: peaceful environments and humane/respectful techniques where patients could focus on recovery

Question 15

Somatogenic perspective

Answer 15

The view that abnormal functioning has physical causes

Question 16

Psychogenic perspective

Answer 16

The view that the chief causes of abnormal functioning are psychological

Question 17

Psychotropic medication

Answer 17

Drugs that mainly affect the brain and reduce many symptoms of mental dysfunction
→ antipsychotic drugs: correct confused and distorted thinking
→ antidepressants: lift the mood of depressed people
→ antianxiety: reduce tension and worry

Question 18

Private psychotherapy

Answer 18

An arrangement in which a person directly pays a therapist for counselling services

Question 19

Prevention

Answer 19

Interventions aimed at deterring mental disorders before they can develop

Question 20

Positive Psychology

Answer 20

The study and enhancement of positive feelings (optimism, happiness), positive traits (wisdom, hard work), and group-directed virtues (altruism, tolerance)

Question 21

Multicultural Psychology

Answer 21

The field that examines the impact of race, culture, ethnicity, and gender on behaviours and thoughts; focuses on how these factors influence the origin, nature, and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Question 22

Managed care programs

Answer 22

Health care coverage in which insurance companies control the nature, scope, and cost of medical or psychological services

Question 23

Telemental health

Answer 23

The use of remote technologies to deliver mental heath services without the therapist being physically present