Chapter 1 Introduction QUIZ 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

aetiology

A

all the factors that contribute to the development of an illness or disorder

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2
Q

agonist

A

a drug that stimulates receptors normally specific to a particular neurotransmitter

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3
Q

analytical psychology

A

the psychoanalytical system of psychology developed and practised by Carl Gustav Jung

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4
Q

amygdala

A

a subcortical structure of the temporal lobe involved in attention to emotionally salient stimuli and memory of emotionally relevant events

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5
Q

allele

A

any of the various forms of a particular gene

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6
Q

anal stage

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the second psychosexual stage, which occurs during the second year of life when the anus is considered the principal erogenous zone

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7
Q

archetype

A

a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious (from Jung’s psychoanalytic theory)

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8
Q

animal model

A

the use in research of animals to study a disease, psychological or psychopathological process that is similar to a human condition

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9
Q

antagonist

A

a drug that dampens the effect of a neurotransmitter on its receptors; for example, many dopamine antagonists block dopamine receptors

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10
Q

anxiety

A

an unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension accompanied by increased physiological arousal; can be assessed by self-report, measuring physiological arousal and observing overt behaviour

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11
Q

anxiety disorders

A

disorders in which fear or anxiety is overriding; include phobic disorders, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia

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12
Q

attachment theory

A

the type or style of an infant’s attachment to his or her caregivers can set the stage for psychological health or problems later in development

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13
Q

asylums

A

refuges established in Western Europe in the fifteenth century to confine and provide for the mentally ill; forerunners of the mental hospital

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14
Q

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A

a disorder in children marked by difficulties in focusing adaptively on the task at hand, inappropriate fidgeting and antisocial behaviour, and excessive non-goal-directed behaviour

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15
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the division of the nervous system that regulates involuntary functions; innervates endocrine glands, smooth muscle and heart muscle; and initiates the physiological changes that are part of the expression of emotion.

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16
Q

behaviour therapy

A

a branch of psychotherapy conceived narrowly as the application of classical and operant conditioning to the alteration of clinical problems but more broadly as applied experimental psychology in a clinical context

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17
Q

behaviour genetics

A

the study of individual differences in behaviour that are attributable to differences in genetic make-up

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18
Q

behavioural medicine

A

an interdisciplinary field concerned with integrating knowledge from medicine and behavioural science to understand health and illness and to prevent as well as treat psychophysiological disorders and other illnesses in which a person’s psyche plays a role.

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19
Q

basal ganglia

A

part of the brain consisting of multiple subcortical nuclei situated at the base of the forebrain. Basal ganglia nuclei are strongly interconnected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and brainstem, as well as several other brain areas. They are primarily responsible for motor control, as well as other roles such as motor learning, executive functions and behaviours and emotions.

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20
Q

behaviour therapy

A

a branch of psychotherapy conceived narrowly as the application of classical and operant conditioning to the alteration of clinical problems but more broadly as applied experimental psychology in a clinical context

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21
Q

behavioural activation (BA) therapy

A

clinical approach to depression that seeks to increase participation in positively reinforcing activities

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22
Q

biopsychosocial framework

A

a framework used to understand the importance of biological, psychological and social factors that impact on behaviour

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23
Q

benzodiazepines

A

any of several drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, such as Valium and Xanax

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24
Q

behaviourism

A

the school of psychology originally associated with John B Watson, who proposed that observable behaviour, not consciousness, is the proper subject matter of psychology. Contemporary behaviourists do use mediational concepts, provided they are firmly anchored to observables

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25
Q

brainstem

A

the part of the brain connecting the spinal cord with the cerebrum; contains the pons and medulla oblongata, and functions as a neural relay station

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26
Q

catharsis

A

the psychoanalytic process of reliving an earlier emotional trauma and releasing emotional tension by expressing previously forgotten thoughts about a traumatic event

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27
Q

caudate nucleus

A

a nucleus within the basal ganglia involved in learning and memory that is implicated in body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder

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28
Q

cerebellum

A

an area of the hindbrain concerned with balance, posture and motor coordination
cerebral cortex the thin outer covering of each of the cerebral hemispheres; highly convoluted and composed of nerve cell bodies that constitute the grey matter of the brain

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29
Q

cerebrum

A

the two-lobed structure extending from the brainstem and constituting the anterior (frontal) part of the brain; the largest and most recently developed portion of the brain, responsible for coordinating sensory and motor activities and performing higher cognitive processes

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30
Q

chromosomes

A

the threadlike bodies within the nucleus of the cell, composed primarily of DNA and bearing the genetic information of the organism

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31
Q

classical conditioning

A

a basic form of learning, sometimes referred to as Pavlovian conditioning, in which a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with another stimulus (called the unconditioned stimulus, UCS) that naturally elicits a certain desired response (called the unconditioned response, UCR). After repeated trials, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) and evokes the same or a similar response, now called the conditioned response (CR).

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32
Q

cognition

A

the process of knowing; the thinking, judging, reasoning and planning activities of the human mind. Behaviour is now often explained as depending on these processes

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33
Q

cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT)

A

behaviour therapy that incorporates theory and research on cognitive processes such as thoughts, perceptions, judgements, self-statements and tacit assumptions; a blend of both the cognitive and behavioural paradigms

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34
Q

cognitive–behavioural paradigm

A

general view that people can best be understood by studying how they perceive and structure their experiences and how this influences behaviour

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35
Q

cognitive biases

A

tendencies to perceive events in a negative manner, for example, by attending to or remembering negative information more than positive information; hypothesised to be driven by underlying negative schemas

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36
Q

cognitive restructuring

A

any behaviour therapy procedure that attempts to alter the manner in which a client thinks about life so that he or she changes overt behaviour and emotions

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37
Q

cognitive therapy

A

See cognitive restructuring. See also cognitive–behavioural therapy

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38
Q

collective unconscious

A

Jung’s concept that every human being carries within the wisdom, ideas and strivings of those who have come before

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39
Q

conditioned response (CR)

A

See classical conditioning

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40
Q

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A

See classical conditioning

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41
Q

congruence

A

humanistic idea that the therapist must maintain a genuineness and authenticity in their interactions with the client

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42
Q

copy number variation (CNV)

A

refers to variation in gene structure involving copy number changes in a defined chromosomal region; could be in the form of a deletion where a copy is deleted or an addition (duplication) where an extra copy is added

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43
Q

conscience

A

a person’s moral sense of right and wrong

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44
Q

corpus callosum

A

the large band of nerve fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

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45
Q

cytokines

A

immune system molecules, released by activated macrophages, which help initiate such bodily responses to infection as fatigue, fever and activation of the HPA axis

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46
Q

cardiovascular disease

A

medical problems involving the heart and the blood circulation system, such as hypertension or coronary heart disease

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47
Q

defence mechanism

A

in psychoanalytic theory, reality-distorting strategies unconsciously adopted to protect the ego from anxiety

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48
Q

demonology

A

the doctrine that a person’s abnormal behaviour is caused by an autonomous evil spirit

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49
Q

depression

A

a mood state characterised by sadness and a lack of pleasure, particularly for events or situations in which one would usually experience pleasure

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50
Q

diagnosis

A

the determination that the set of symptoms or problems of a patient indicates a particular disorder

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51
Q

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A

the manual of clinical syndromes published by the American Psychiatric Association and used for descriptive diagnosis. DSM-5 was published in 2013, with major changes to the classification system and diagnostic categories

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52
Q

dialectical behaviour therapy

A

a therapeutic approach to borderline personality disorder that combines client-centred empathy and acceptance with behavioural problem solving, social skills training and limit setting

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53
Q

diathesis

A

predisposition towards a disease or abnormality

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54
Q

diathesis–stress

A

as applied in psychopathology, a view that assumes that individuals predisposed towards a particular psychological disorder will be particularly affected by stress and will then manifest abnormal behaviour

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55
Q

dopamine

A

central nervous system neurotransmitter, a catecholamine that is also a precursor of norepinephrine and apparently figures in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease

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56
Q

DSM-5

A

the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association

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57
Q

effectiveness

A

how well a therapeutic treatment works in the real world in the hands of broader samples of non-academic, less supervised therapists. Compare efficacy

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58
Q

efficacy

A

how well a therapeutic treatment works under rarefied, academic research conditions. Compare effectiveness

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59
Q

ego

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the predominantly conscious part of the personality, responsible for decision making and for dealing with reality

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60
Q

emotion

A

the expression, experience and physiology that guide responses to problems and challenges in the environment

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61
Q

empathy

A

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another; in therapy, it refers to the notion that the therapist listens and tries to understand the world from the client’s perspective

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62
Q

enzyme

A

a complex protein that acts as a catalyst in regulating metabolic activities

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63
Q

epigenetics

A

the study of changes in gene expression that are caused by something other than changes in the DNA (gene) sequence or structure, such as DNA methylation

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64
Q

eugenics movement

A

a movement that aimed at improving the genetic composition of the human race through selective breeding and sterilisation

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65
Q

exorcism

A

the casting out of evil spirits by ritualistic chanting or torture

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66
Q

exposure

A

real-life (in vivo) or imaginal confrontation of a feared object or situation, especially as a component of systematic desensitisation. See also imaginal exposure

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67
Q

extinction

A

the elimination of a classically conditioned response by the omission of the unconditioned stimulus; in operant conditioning, the elimination of the conditioned response by the omission of reinforcement

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68
Q

extraversion

A

personality trait associated with frequent experiences of positive affect and social engagement

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69
Q

fixation

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the arrest of psychosexual development at a particular stage through too much or too little gratification at that stage

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70
Q

frontal lobe

A

the anterior portion of each cerebral hemisphere, in front of the central sulcus; active in reasoning and other higher mental processes

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71
Q

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter that may be involved in the anxiety disorders

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72
Q

gene

A

the smallest portion of DNA within a chromosome that functions as a piece of functional hereditary information

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73
Q

gene expression

A

the switching on and off of the reading (transcription and translation) of genes into their products (usually proteins) and thus their associated phenotypes

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74
Q

gene–environment interaction

A

the influence of genetics on an individual’s sensitivity or reaction to an environmental event

75
Q

genetic paradigm

A

the approach to human behaviour that focuses on both heritability of traits and complex interactions between genes and environment

76
Q

grey matter

A

the neural tissue — made up largely of nerve cell bodies — that constitutes the cortex covering the cerebral hemisphere, the nuclei in lower brain areas, columns of the spinal cord and the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Compare white matter

77
Q

genotype

A

an individual’s unobservable, genetic constitution, that is, the totality of genes present in the cells of an individual; often applied to the genes contributing to a single trait. Compare phenotype

78
Q

genital stage

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the final psychosexual stage, reached in adulthood, in which heterosexual interests predominate

79
Q

genome-wide association studies (GWAS)

A

studies of variations in the entire human genome to identify associations between variations in genes and particular behaviours, traits or disorders. Large sample sizes are needed for these types of studies

80
Q

gyrus

A

a ridge or fold between two clefts on the cerebral surface in the brain

81
Q

hypothalamus

A

in the subcortical region of the brain, the structure that regulates many visceral processes, including metabolism, temperature, perspiration, blood pressure, sleeping and appetite

82
Q

hypnosis

A

a trancelike state or behaviour resembling sleep, induced by suggestion, characterised primarily by increased suggestibility

83
Q

humanistic

A

referring to humanism, a psychological perspective that emphasises the study of the whole person and looks at human behaviour through the eyes of the observer and the individual person

84
Q

HPA axis

A

the neuroendocrine connections among hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal cortex, central to the body’s response to stress

85
Q

habituation

A

the diminishing of an innate response to a frequently repeated stimulus

86
Q

hippocampus

A

in the subcortical region of the brain, the long, tubelike structure that stretches from the septal area into the temporal lobe

87
Q

heritability

A

the extent to which variability in a particular behaviour/disorder within a population can be attributed to genetic factors

88
Q

health psychology

A

a branch of psychology dealing with the role of psychological factors in health and illness. See also behavioural medicine

89
Q

harmful dysfunction

A

proposed definition of psychological disorder that contains both a value judgement (harmful) and a putatively objective scientific component (dysfunction)

90
Q

hypothalamus

A

in the subcortical region of the brain, the structure that regulates many visceral processes, including metabolism, temperature, perspiration, blood pressure, sleeping and appetite

91
Q

id

A

in psychoanalytic theory, that part of the personality present at birth, comprising all the energy of the psyche and expressed as biological urges that strive continually for gratification

92
Q

psychopathology

A

the field concerned with the nature and development of psychological disorders

93
Q

psychotherapy

A

a primarily verbal means of helping troubled individuals change their thoughts, feelings and
behaviour to reduce distress and to achieve greater life satisfaction.

94
Q

psychoneuroimmunology

A

field that studies how psychological factors (especially stressors) impact the immune system (adversely)

95
Q

rational-emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

A

a cognitive–behavioural therapy developed by Albert Ellis

96
Q

psychological disorder

A

a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or patterns. The definition includes a number of key features, including distress, disability or impaired functioning, violation of social norms and dysfunction

97
Q

psychoanalysis

A

primarily the therapy procedures pioneered by Freud, entailing free association, dream analysis and working through the transference neurosis. More recently, the term has come to encompass the numerous variations on basic Freudian therapy

98
Q

psychoanalytic theory

A

theory originating with Freud that psychopathology results from unconscious conflicts in the individual

99
Q

psychoactive

A

refers to prescribed chemical compounds — for example, Prozac — having a psychological effect that alters mood or thought process

100
Q

psyche

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the totality of the id, ego and superego, including both conscious and unconscious components

101
Q

pruning

A

in neural development, the selective loss of synaptic connections, especially in the fine-tuning of brain regions devoted to sensory processing

102
Q

prognosis

A

a prediction of the likely course and outcome of an illness. Compare diagnosis

103
Q

prevalence

A

in epidemiological studies of a disorder, the percentage of a population that has the disorder at a given time

104
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

the region of the frontal lobe of the brain that helps maintain an image of threats and rewards faced, as well as maintain focus and plan relevant to those threats and rewards

105
Q

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A

an extreme response to a severe stressor, including recurrent memories of the trauma, avoidance of associated stimuli, negative emotions and thoughts, and symptoms of increased arousal

106
Q

positive reinforcement

A

the strengthening of a tendency to exhibit desired behaviour by rewarding responses in that situation with a desired reward

107
Q

identity

A

the qualities, beliefs, personality and other characteristics that make a person (self-identity) or group (particular social category or social group) unique. The process of identity can be creative or destructive
in vivo as applied in psychology, taking place in a real-life situation

108
Q

individual psychology

A

body of theories by Alfred Adler, who held that the main motives of human thought and behaviour are individual man’s striving for superiority and power

109
Q

inhibitory learning

A

learning which inhibits previous learning

110
Q

interpersonal therapy (IPT)

A

a short-term, here-and-now focused psychological treatment initially developed for depression and influenced by the psychodynamic emphasis on relationships

111
Q

introversion

A

personality trait associated with frequent focus on one’s internal experiences; introverts are typically perceived as more reserved or reflective

112
Q

latency period

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the years between ages 6 and 12, during which id impulses play a minor role in motivation.

113
Q

law of effect

A

a principle of learning that holds that behaviour is acquired by virtue of its consequences

114
Q

mood disorders

A

disorders, such as depressive disorders or mania, in which there are disabling disturbances in emotion

115
Q

molecular genetics

A

studies that seek to determine the components of a trait that are heritable by identifying relevant genes and their functions

116
Q

modelling

A

learning by observing and imitating the behaviour of others or teaching by demonstrating and providing opportunities for imitation

117
Q

mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

A

recent adaptation of cognitive therapy/restructuring that focuses on relapse prevention after successful treatment for recurrent episodes of major depression; aims to ‘decentre’ the person’s perspective in order to break the cycle between sadness and thinking patterns

118
Q

libido

A

Freudian term for the life-integrating instinct or force of the id; sometimes equated with sexual drive

119
Q

limbic system

A

a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain that is concerned with instinct and mood and controls basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, nurturance)

120
Q

major depressive disorder (MDD)

A

a disorder of individuals who have experienced episodes of depression but not of mania. Depression episodes are marked by sadness or loss of pleasure, accompanied by symptoms such as feelings of worthlessness and guilt; withdrawal from others; loss of sleep, appetite or sexual desire; and either lethargy or agitation

121
Q

mesmerise

A

the first term for hypnotise, after Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician, who in the late eighteenth century treated and cured hysterical or conversion disorders with what he considered the animal magnetism emanating from his body and permeating the universe

122
Q

moral treatment

A

a therapeutic regimen, introduced by Philippe Pinel during the French Revolution, whereby mentally ill patients were released from their restraints and were treated with compassion and dignity rather than with contempt and denigration

123
Q

negative reinforcement

A

the strengthening of a tendency to exhibit desired behaviour by rewarding responses in that situation with the removal of an aversive stimulus

124
Q

polygenic

A

as applied to psychopathology or any other trait, caused by multiple genes contributing their effects, typically during multiple stages of development

125
Q

polymorphism

A

any specific difference in DNA sequence that exists within a population

126
Q

pleasure principle

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the demanding manner by which the id operates, seeking immediate gratification of its needs

127
Q

phobia

A

an anxiety disorder in which there is intense fear and avoidance of specific objects and situations, recognised as irrational by the individual

128
Q

phenotype

A

the totality of physical characteristics and behavioural traits of an individual or a particular trait exhibited by an individual; the product of interactions between genetics and the environment over the course of development. Compare genotype

129
Q

person-centred therapy

A

an approach to therapy and counselling, based on the work of Rogers, that places much of the responsibility for the treatment process on the client, with the therapist taking a non-directive role

130
Q

phallic stage

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the third psychosexual stage, extending from ages 3 to 5 or 6, during which maximal gratification is obtained from genital stimulation

131
Q

neuron

A

a single nerve cell

132
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s capacity to change and adapt in response to learning or experience or following injury, particularly referring to the physiological changes and the ability to form and reorganise synaptic connections

133
Q

neuroscience paradigm

A

a broad theoretical view that holds that psychological disorders are caused in part by some aberrant process directed by the brain

134
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical substances important in transferring a nerve impulse from one neuron to another, for example, serotonin and norepinephrine

135
Q

non-shared environment factors

A

distinct among family members, such as relationships with friends or specific experiences unique to a person. Compare shared environment

136
Q

norepinephrine

A

a catecholamine neurotransmitter, disturbances of which have been related to mania, depression and particularly to anxiety disorders. It is also a sympathetic nervous system neurotransmitter, a hormone released in addition to epinephrine and similar in action and a strong vasoconstrictor

137
Q

object relations theory

A

variant of psychoanalytic theory that focuses on the way children internalise (introject) images of the people who are important to them (e.g., their parents), such that these internalised images (object representations) become part of the ego and influence how the person reacts to the world

138
Q

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A

an anxiety disorder in which the mind is flooded with persistent and uncontrollable thoughts or the individual is compelled to repeat certain acts again and again, causing significant distress and interference with everyday functioning

139
Q

occipital lobe

A

the posterior portion of each cerebral hemisphere, situated behind the parietal lobe and above the temporal lobes; responsible for reception and analysis of visual information and for some visual memory

140
Q

operant conditioning

A

the acquisition or elimination of a response as a function of the environmental contingencies of reinforcement and punishment. Compare classical conditioning

141
Q

oral stage

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the first psychosexual stage, which extends into the second year; during this stage the mouth is the principal erogenous zone

142
Q

paradigm

A

a set of basic assumptions that outlines the universe of scientific inquiry, specifying both the concepts regarded as legitimate and the methods to be used in collecting and interpreting data

143
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that is involved with maintenance; controls many of the internal organs and is active primarily when the organism is not aroused. Compare sympathetic nervous system
sensations of the skin and of bodily positions

144
Q

parietal lobe

A

the middle division of each cerebral hemisphere, situated behind the central sulcus and above the lateral sulcus; the receiving centre for sensations of the skin and of bodily positions

145
Q

rational-emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

A

a cognitive–behavioural therapy developed by Albert Ellis

146
Q

reality principle

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the manner in which the ego delays gratification and otherwise deals with the environment in a planned, rational fashion

147
Q

receptor

A

a protein embedded in a neural cell membrane that interacts with one or more neurotransmitters. Non-neural receptor proteins include hormone receptors

148
Q

white matter

A

neural tissue, particularly of the brain and spinal cord, consisting of tracts or bundles of myelinated (sheathed) nerve fibres. Compare grey matter

149
Q

unconscious conflict

A

a psychoanalytic notion that conflicts within the person that are not part of conscious experience affect our lives and functioning. Freud called this ‘psychic determinism’

150
Q

unconscious

A

a state of unawareness without sensation or thought; in psychoanalytic theory, the part of the personality, in particular the id impulses or energy, of which the ego is unaware

151
Q

unconditioned response (UCR)

A

See classical conditioning

152
Q

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A

See classical conditioning

153
Q

unconditional positive regard

A

the idea that, irrespective of the client’s thoughts or behaviours, the therapist maintains a stance of acceptance and understanding

154
Q

ventricles

A

cavities deep within the brain, filled with cerebrospinal fluid, that connect to the spinal cord

155
Q

transference

A

the venting of the analysand’s emotions, either positive or negative, by treating the psychoanalyst as the symbolic representative of someone important in the past

156
Q

transcription

A

in genetics, the first step in gene expression. A section of DNA sequence is transcribed to RNA; a sequence of DNA synthesises a copy of RNA

157
Q

time-out

A

an operant conditioning procedure in which, after bad behaviour, the person is temporarily removed from a setting where reinforcers can be obtained and placed in a less desirable setting, for example, in a boring room

158
Q

theory

A

a formally stated and coherent set of propositions that explain and logically order a range of phenomena, generating testable predictions or hypotheses

159
Q

thalamus

A

a major brain relay station consisting of two egg-shaped lobes; receives impulses from all sensory areas except the olfactory and transmits them to the cerebrum for higher processing

160
Q

temporal lobe

A

a large region of each cerebral hemisphere situated below the lateral sulcus and in front of the occipital lobe; contains primary auditory and general association areas

161
Q

systematic desensitisation

A

a major behaviour therapy procedure that has a fearful person, while deeply relaxed, imagine a series of progressively more fearsome situations, such that fear is dispelled as a response incompatible with relaxation; useful for treating psychological problems in which anxiety is the principal difficulty

162
Q

synapse

A

small gap between two neurons where the nerve signal passes electrically or chemically from the axon of the first to the dendrites, cell body or axon of the second

163
Q

risk factor

A

a condition or variable that increases the likelihood of developing a disorder

164
Q

reuptake

A

cellular process by which released neurotransmitters are taken back into the presynaptic cell, terminating their present postsynaptic effect but making them available for subsequent modulation of nerve impulse transmission

165
Q

schema

A

a mental structure for organising information about the world

166
Q

schizophrenia

A

a disorder characterised by disturbances in thought, emotion, behaviour, cognition and mood; disordered thinking in which ideas are not logically related; delusional beliefs; faulty perception, such as hallucinations; disturbances in attention; disturbances in motor activity; blunted expression of emotion; reduced desire for interpersonal relations and withdrawal from people; diminished motivation and anticipatory pleasure; cognitive deficits in attention, concentration, memory, executive functioning and social cognition

167
Q

self

A

how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves; what distinguishes a person from others

168
Q

self-actualisation

A

the realisation or fulfilment of one’s potential, considered as a drive or need present in everyone

169
Q

self-schemas

A

schemas relating to the self (see schema)

170
Q

septal area

A

in the subcortical region of the brain, the area anterior to the thalamus

171
Q

symptom

A

an observable physiological or psychological manifestation of a disease

172
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts on bodily systems — for example, contracting the blood vessels, reducing activity of the intestines and increasing the heartbeat — to prepare the organism for exertion, emotional stress or extreme cold. Compare parasympathetic nervous system

173
Q

superego

A

in psychoanalytic theory, the part of the personality that acts as the conscience and reflects society’s moral standards as learned from parents and teachers

174
Q

suicide

A

the intentional taking of one’s own life

175
Q

sulcus

A

a groove or furrow on the surface of the brain

176
Q

stress

A

state of an organism subjected to a stressor; can take the form of increased autonomic activity and in the long term can cause breakdown of an organ or development of a psychological disorder

177
Q

stimulant

A

a drug, such as cocaine, that increases alertness and motor activity and at the same time reduces fatigue, allowing an individual to remain awake for an extended period of time

178
Q

serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system whose disturbances apparently figure in depression

179
Q

serotonin transporter gene

A

a particular gene critical to the gene–environment interactions that apparently contribute to the development of depression

180
Q

shared environment

A

factors that family members have in common, such as income level, child-rearing practices and parental marital status and quality. Compare non-shared environment

181
Q

single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

A

a variation in gene sequence; specifically, differences between people in a single nucleotide (A, T, G or C) in the DNA sequence of a particular gene

182
Q

stigma

A

the pernicious beliefs and attitudes held by a society, ascribed to groups considered deviant in some manner, such as people with mental illness

183
Q

anterior cingulate

A

in the subcortical region of the brain, the anterior portion of the cingulate gyrus, stretching about the corpus callosum