Chapter 3 Flashcards
Axon
A long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body
Brain Stimulation
A technique that involves activating or inhibiting the brain using electrical or magnetic impulses to study or treat neurological and psychological conditions
Catharsis
The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
- Settles internal conflicts
Classical Conditioning
A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response
Client-Centered Therapy
A humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers, emphasizing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and active listening
Dendrite
The branched projections of a neuron that receive electrochemical signals from other neurons
Ego
In Freud’s theory, the part of the personality that mediates between the id, superego, and reality
- Operates on the reality principle
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
A psychiatric treatment that involves electrically induced seizures to treat severe mental disorders, such as depression
Existential Therapy
A form of psychotherapy that focuses on free will, self-determination, and the search for meaning
Exposure Therapy
A behavioral therapy technique used to help individuals confront and overcome fears and phobias through gradual and repeated exposure to
Family Systems Theory
A psychological perspective that views the family as an interconnected system, where each member influences the other
Fixation
In Freud’s psychosexual development theory, a persistent focus on an earlier stage due to unresolved conflicts
Free Association
A psychoanalytic technique in which a person speaks freely to reveal unconscious thoughts and emotions
- Client keeps talking w/o interruption, get deep
Id
The primitive part of personality in Freud’s theory, driven by instincts and desires
- Operating on the pleasure principle
Model
A representation or example used to understand, predict, or explain psychological phenomena
Modeling
A form of learning in which individuals acquire new behaviors by observing and imitating others
Multicultural Perspective
A psychological approach that emphasizes the importance of cultural influences on behavior and mental processes
- Treatment best understood when recognizing cultural identity
- Prejudice + discrimination may impact functioning
Treatment
- Sensitivity to cultural issues
Neuron
A nerve cell that transmits information via electrical and chemical signals in the nervous system
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurons by crossing synapses
Object Relations Theory
A psychoanalytic theory focusing on the relationships individuals form with significant people, particularly in early childhood
Operant Conditioning
A learning process in which behavior in influenced by reinforcement or punishment
Psychosurgery
A surgical intervention to alter brain function
- Historically used to treat severe mental disorders
Psychotropic Medications
Drugs that affect mental processes and behavior
- Commonly used to treat psychiatric disorders
Receptor
A protein on a neuron’s surface that receives and responds to neurotransmitters
Resistance
In psychotherapy, a client’s unconscious defense mechanism that hinders the progress of treatment
Self-Actualization
The process of realizing and fulfilling one’s potential
- Central to humanistic psychology
Self Theory
A psychological theory emphasizing the development of self-concept and personal identity
Superego
The moral component of personality in Freud’s theory
- Representing internalized societal values and ideals
Synapse
The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters facilitate communication between cells
Transference
In psychoanalysis, the projection of emotions associated with significant figures or feelings from the past onto the therapist
- Dream interpretation
- Therapist has control
Working Through
A psychoanalytic process in which clients repeatedly examine and reinterpret past experience to achieve insight and emotional resolution
- Facing conflicts, reinterpreting feelings, and overcoming (unconscious)
Biological Model
Biological basis + medical perspective
- Somatogenic
- Illness caused by bodily malfunctioning: genetics, brain anatomy, chemistry, etc.
Brain Anatomy
- Amygdala: fearful emotion
- Cortex: conscious thought + outer
- Hippocampus: memory
Brain Chemistry
- Dendrites: takes info
- Axon: action potential, releases to space between actions
- Synapses: connect neurons
- Neurotransmitters: talk + changes actions
- Receptors: receive NT’s
Drug Therapy (Biological Treatment)
- 1950’s psychotropic medications
- Four major groups: antianxiety, antidepression, anti bipolar, antipsychotics (neuroleptics)
Brain Stimulation (Biological Treatment)
- Direct/indirect
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
- Deep brain stimulation
Psychosurgery (Biological Treatment)
Neurosurgery
Strengths + Weaknesses of Biological Treatment
Strength
- Respect in field
- Produces valuable info
- Treatments bring relief
Weaknesses
- Limits understanding of non-bio factors
- May produce undesirable effects
Psychodynamic Model
Persons behavior determined largely by underlying + unconscious psychological forces
- Abnormal behavior caused by forces (id, superego, ego)
- Freud developed psychoanalysis —> dynamic
Conflicts
- Healthy personality = balance of the three forces
- Dysfunction = excessive conflict
Difference Between Modern Psychodynamic Explanations and Freud
Self-Theorists
- Unified personality (ego)
Object-Relations Theory
- Human need for relationships
- Ex. Children+ caregivers
Psychodynamic Therapies
Seek to uncover past trauma and inner conflicts with therapist as guide
Strengths and Weaknesses of Psychodynamic Therapies
Strengths
- 1st to recognize importance of psychological theories + systematic treatment
- Saw abnormal functioning as normal
Weaknesses
- Unsupported ideas: difficult to research
- Inaccesible to human subjects
- Not scientific
- Not everyone likes to be told what thoughts/behavior means
Cognitive-Behavioral Model
Behavioral Dimension (conditioning)
- Classical: associations between stimuli
- Modeling: observing + repeating behavior
- Operant: rewards + punishment
- Therapists seek to replace problematic behaviors with appropriate ones
- Focuses on maladaptive behaviors and/or thought (cognitive)
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive Dimension: (Thinking)
- Inaccurate/disturbing assumptions or illogical thinking
- Therapists help clients recognize, challenge, and change problematic thinking
- Must ask questions/thoughts of client
- Explanations for said behavior deep back: explanation may not be true, conscious
- ex. Maladaptive thought: students laughing at me. Is there evidence? no, so change thought
Strengths and Weaknesses of Cognitive Therapy
Strengths
- Powerful in field
- Evidence in effectiveness
- Very broad appeal + popular
Weaknesses
- Role of cognition in abnormality not determined
- CBT not effective to everyone
- Great at treating symptoms, not always the cause (not always possible to change)
- Not always possible to change negative thoughts + biases
Humanistic-Existential Model
Humanist View
- People = friendly + cooperative
- Self-actualize through honest recognition of strengths/weaknesses
Existentialist View:
- Accurate self awareness, authenticity
- Searching for meaning + defining through actions
- Psychological dysfunction caused by self deception
Roger’s
Humans need unconditional positive regard
- ex. I see you, I hear you
- If received —> unconditional self-regard
- I know: if not —> conditions of worth
- I am worthy if I meet these requirements: people w/o unconditional self regard are incapable of self-actualization
Roger’s Client-Centered Therapy
Therapist supports who they are
- Unconditional positive regard: full warm and accepting
- Accurate empathy: skillful listening and restating
- Genuineness: sincere communication (you feel… I hear you say…)
Existential Theories + Therapy
Psychological Abnormality
- Client uses self-deception to hide from responsibility (ex. I don’t know my career path so I’ll just drop out)
- Client feels overwhelmed by societal forces; quitting becomes habitual
Existential Therapy
- Clients are encouraged to accept responsibility for their lives + problems
- Shared + learning growth relationship
Strengths and Weaknesses of Existential Theories/Therapies
Strengths
- Touches on missing elements from other models
- Optimistic
- Emphasizes health + the individual
Weaknesses
- Focuses on abstract issues
- Difficult to research
- Not a scientific approach; may be changing
Sociocultural Model
Abnormal behavior from social + cultural forces
- Includes: Family-Social, Multicultural
- Society places “norms” on individuals + groups of people
Family-Social
- Social labels and roles
- Social connections and supports
- Family structure for communication; abnormal functioning in family leads to abnormal behavior
Treatment
- treatment in family + social settings (family therapy, group therapy w/ shared identity)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Sociocultural Therapy
Strengths
- Increase awareness in clinical + social roles
- Has been clinically successful w/ treatment
Weaknesses
- Lots of confounds
- Unable to predict abnormality
