Chapter 1 - Abnormal Behavior Flashcards
mental disorder
psychological symptoms or behavioral patterns that reflect an
underlying psychobiological dysfunction, are associated with distress
or disability, and are not merely an expectable response to common
stressors or losses
mental illness
a mental health condition that negatively affects a person’s emotions,
thinking, behavior, relationships with others, or overall functioning
psychopathology
the study of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders
abnormal psychology
the scientific study whose objectives are to discribe, explain, predict, and modify behaviors associated with mental disorders
treatment plan
a proposed course of therapy, developed collaboratively by a therapist
and client, that addresses the client’s most distressing mental health
symptoms
mental health professional
health care practitioners (such as psychologists, psychiatrists,
psychiatric nurses, social workers, or mental health counselors) whose
services focus on improving mental health or treating mental illness
etiology
cause of origin of a disorder
psychodiagnosis
assessment and description of an individual’s psychological
symptoms, including inferences about what might be causing the
psychological distress
cultural relativism
the belief that lifestyles, cultural values, and worldviews affect the
expression and definition of mental disorders
culture
the configuration of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that
is transmitted from one generation to another by members of a
particular group and symbolized by artifacts, roles, expectations, and
institutions
hallucinations
a sensory experience (such as an image, sound, smell, or taste) that
seems real but that does not exist outside of the mind
psychotherapy
a program of systematic intervention with the purpose of improving a
client’s behavioral, emotional, or cognitive symptoms
prevalance
the percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a
particular disorder during a specific period of time
psychiatric epidemiology
the study of the prevalence of mental illness in a society
cultural universality
the assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists whose
manifestations and symptoms are similar across cultures
lifetime prevalence
the percentage of people in the population who have had a disorder at some point in their lives
prejudice
an unfair, preconceived judgment about a person or group based on
their supposed characteristics
stereotypes
an oversimplified, often inaccurate, image or idea about a group of people
social stigma
negative societal beliefs about a group, including the view that the
group is somehow different from other members of society
discrimination
unjust or prejudicial treatment toward a person based on the person’s
actual or perceived membership in a certain group
self-efficacy
belief in one’s ability to succeed in a specific situation
self-stigma
acceptance of prejudice and discrimination based on internalized
negative societal beliefs or stereotypes
empoverment
increasing one’s sense of personal strength and self-worth
biological vulnerability
genetic or physiological susceptibility
exorcism
treatment method in which prayers, noises, emetics, flogging, and
starvation were used to cast evil spirits out of an afflicted person’s body
brain pathology
a dysfunction or disease of the brain
trephining
a surgical method from the Stone Age in which part of the skull was
chipped away to provide an opening through which an evil spirit could escape
hysteria
an outdated term referring to excessive or uncontrollable emotion,
sometimes resulting in somatic symptoms (such as blindness or
paralysis) that have no apparent physical cause
biological viewpoint
the belief that mental disorders have a physical or physiological basis
tarantism
a form of mass hysteria prevalent during the Middle Ages,
characterized by wild raving, jumping, dancing, and convulsing
moral treatment movement
crusade to institute more humane treatment of people with mental illness
humanism
a philosophical movement that emphasizes human welfare and the
worth and uniqueness of the individual
psychological viewpoint
the belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological and
emotional factors rather than biological influences
cathartic method
a therapeutic use of verbal expression to release pent-up emotional conflicts
syndromes
certain symptoms that tend to occur regularly in clusters
positive psychology
the philosophical and scientific study of positive human functioning and
the strengths and assets of individuals, families, and communities
intrapsychic
psychological processes occurring within the mind
spirituality
belief in an animating life force or energy beyond what we can perceive with our senses
multicultural psychology
a branch of psychology that focuses on culture, race, ethnicity, gender,
age, socioeconomic class, and other similar factors in its effort to
understand behavior
psychological resilience
the capacity to effectively adapt to and bounce back from stress, trauma, and other adversity
psychotripic medications
drugs that treat or manage psychiatric symptoms by influencing brain
activity associated with emotions and behavior
optimal human functioning
qualities such as subjective well-being, optimism, resilience, hope,
courage, ability to cope with stress, self-actualization, and selfdeterminism
recovery movement
philosophy that with appropriate treatment and support those with
mental illness can improve and live satisfying lives even with any limitations caused by their illness
managed health care
the industrialization of health care, whereby large organizations in the
private sector control the delivery of services
