Chapter 2: An integrative approach to psychopathology Flashcards
Multidimensional Integrative Approach
Approach to the study of psychopathology that holds psychologocal disorders are always the products of multiple interacting causal factors
- systemic causality that contributes to the developement of ones psychopathology
- abnormal behavior must be considered within the larger context of multipal influences
- interdisciplinary and intergrative
- draws upon information from several sources (i.e. biology, behavior, cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural environment)
one-dimensional model
psychopathology is caused by a single cause is to accept a linear model
genes
long deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule, the basic physical unit of heredity that appears as a location on a chromosome.
Nature Of Genes
- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)- the double helix
- 23 pairs of chromosomes
- dominant-only 1 (gene for trait to be expressed)
- recessive genes- requires paired with another recessive gene for trait to be expressed)
- development and behavior is often polygenetic (influence by many genes)
polygenetic
influence by many genes
genome
an individual’s complete set of genes
dominant gene
is one pair of genes that strongly influences a particular trait, and we only need one of them to determine a trait
recessive gene
must be paired with another (recessive) gene to determine a trait
quantitative genetics
sums up all the tiny effects across many genes without telling us which genes are responsible for which effects
diathesis-stress model
hypothesis that both an inherited tendency (a vulnerability) and specific stressful conditions are required to produce a disorder
- individuals inherit tendencies to express certain traits or behavior, which may be activated under condition of extreme stress
- diathesis
- stress-life events
- greater the underlying vulnerability, the less stress necessary to trigger a disorder
diathesis
a condition that makes someone susceptible to developing a disorder
vulnerability
susceptibility or tendency to develop a disorder
reciprocal gene-environment model
hypothesis that people with a genetic predisposition for a disorder may also have a genetic tendency to create environmental risk factors that promote the disorder
- genetic endowment may increase probability of individual experience stressful life events (i.e. depression, impulsivity)
- people seek other difficult relationships or circumstances that lead to depression
- environmental influences may override genetics
- they make choices that put them in the perpetual state of the victim
epigenetics
the study of factors other than inherited DNA sequence, such as new learning or stress, that alter the pheotypic expression of genes
neuroscience
study of the nervous system and its role in behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
affect
Conscious, subjective aspect of an emotion that accompanies an action at a given time
Agonist
In neuro science, a chemical substance that effectively increases the activity of a neurotransmitter by imitating its effects
antagonist
in neuroscience, a chemical substance that decreases or blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter
brain circuts
neurotransmitter current or neural pathway in the brain
cognitive science
Feild of study that examines how humans and other animals acquire, process, store, and retrieve information
diathesis-stress model
hypothesis that both an inherited tendency (a vulnerability) and specific stressful conditions are required to produce a disorder
dopamine
Neurotransmitter whose generalized function is to activate other neurotransmitters and to aid in exploratory and pleasure-seeking behaviors (thus balancing serotonin). A relative excess of dopamine is implicated in schizophrenia (although contradictory evidence suggests the connection is not simple), and its deficit is involved in Parkinson’s disease.
emotion
pattern of action elicited by an external event and a feeling state, accompanied by a characteristic physiological response.
epigenetics
The study of factors other than inherited DNA sequence, such as new learning or stress, that alter the phenotypic expression of genes
equifinality
Developmental psychopathology principle that a behavior or disorder may have several causes.
flight or fight response
biological reactions to alarming stressors that musters the body’s resources (for example, blood flow and respiration) to resist or flee a threat.
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
neurotransmitter that reduces activity across the synaptic cleft and thus inhibits a range of behaviors and emotions, especially generalized anxiety
glutamate
Amino acid neurotransmitter that excites many different neurons, leading to action.
hormone
chemical messenger produced by the endocrine glands
implicit memory
condition of memory in which a person cannot recall past events despite acting response to them
inverse agonist
in neuroscience, a chemical substance that produces effects opposite those of a particular neurotransmitter
learned helplessness
Martin Seligmans theory that people become anxious and depressed when the make an attribution that they have no control over the stress in their lives (whether or not they actually have control).
modeling (also observational learning)
learning through observation and imitation of the behavior of other individuals and consequences of that behavior
mood
enduring period of emotionality
neuron
individual nerve cell responsible for transmitting information
neuroscience
study of the nervous system and its role in behavior, thoughts, and emotions
neurotransmitters
chemical that crosses the synaptic cleft between nerve cells to transmit impulses from one neuron to the next. Relative excess or deficiency of neurotransmitters is involved in several psychological disorders
norepineohrine
(also noradrenaline)
Neurotransmitter active in the central and peripheral nervous systems, controlling heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, among other functions. Because of its role in the body’s alarm reaction, it may also contribute generally and indirectly to panic attacks and other disorders.
prepared learning
ability adaptive for evolution, allowing certain associations to be learned more readily than others.
reuptake
Action by which a neurotransmitter is quickly drawn back into the discharging neuron after being released into a synaptic cleft.
serotonin
Neurotransmitter involved in processing of information and coordination of movement, as well as inhibition and restraint. It also assists in the regulation of eating, sexual, and aggressive behaviors, all of which may be involved in different psychological disorders. Its interaction with dopamine is implicated in schizophrenia
synaptic cleft
space between nerve cells where chemical transmitters act to move impulses from one neuron to the next
vulnerability
susceptibility or tendence to develop a disorder