Chapter One: Abnormal behaviour in historical context Flashcards
Which of the following best describes the kind of functioning that can be compromised when someone has a psychological disorder?
A. Their emotions and intellectual capacity
B. Their behaviour, cognition, or emotions
C. Only their emotional state
B. Their behaviour, cognition, or emotions
How do psychologists determine whether the criterion of personal distress is being met?
A. The professional providing treatment must be disturbed by the individual’s condition.
B. The individual must be upset or highly bothered by their condition.
C. Friends and family of the individual must report being upset about the individual’s condition.
B. The individual must be upset or highly bothered by their condition.
Determining whether a psychological disorder exists requires taking cultural values and expectations into account. What is one implication of this cultural perspective?
A. Some cultures will be hostile toward attempts to understand and diagnose psychopathology.
B. A behaviour that is considered normal in one culture may be classified as abnormal in another.
C. There is widespread global agreement on what constitutes a psychological disorder.
B. A behaviour that is considered normal in one culture may be classified as abnormal in another.
In psychology, a scientist–practitioner is someone who takes a scientific approach to their clinical and applied work. In particular, a scientist–practitioner serves as at least one of three things:
- consumer of science
- evaluator of science
- creator of science
Prevalence vs Incidence
Prevalence is the number of people displaying a disorder in the total population at any given time, while Incidence is the number of new cases of a disorder appearing during a specific time period
What is the purpose of having a detailed description of the onset and course of a psychological disorder?
A. It provides guidelines for how a therapist should interact with a patient’s family.
B. It helps therapists determine what caused a patient’s psychological disorders.
C. It is often used to determine the most appropriate form of treatment.
C. It is often used to determine the most appropriate form of treatment.
The way a society views and treats abnormal behaviour is influenced by _______ factors such as _______, ______, ______, and the ________
- cultural
- religion
- politics
- science
- economy
Hippocrates was a Greek _______ known as the father of _____ ______, who rejected _______ explanations for psychological disorders.
- physician
- modern medicine
- supernatural
One is expressing a ______ or ________ view when they believe that the brain exists in the domain of the natural world. Common treatments adopted by those who believe in this explanation for abnormal behaviour include ____, _____, and a _______ _________.
- natural
- biological
- rest
- sleep
- healthy environment
Asylums appeared during the Renaissance in the 16th century as institutions for people with psychological disorders. How did individuals such as Philippe Pinel, William Tuke, Benjamin Rush, and Dorothea Dix work to change asylums?
A. They were advocates for more humane treatment of patients in asylums.
B. They pioneered research on new methods of restraint for use in asylums.
C. They recommended the closure of all asylums due to the poor living conditions.
D. They emphasized the use of medication to treat patients in asylums.
A. They were advocates for more humane treatment of patients in asylums.
Rejected the use of seclusion and restraints in the treatment of the mentally ill is an example of ______ _______.
moral therapy
___________ ________ focuses on social and cultural causes of abnormal behaviour, rather than supernatural ones
psychosocial treatment
the ________ _______ _______ worked to raise public awareness of the inhumane conditions of asylums
mental hygiene movement
Who is responsible for the mental hygiene movement?
Dorothea Dix
After several years of struggling mightily with decisions making, Ginny decides to start psychoanalytic psychotherapy. After several months in therapy, Ginny starts to feel angry with her therapist. The anger is very similar to how Ginny felt about an uncle who abused her throughout her childhood. This is most likely an example of:
A. Dream analysis
B. Free association
C. Transference
D. Projection
C. Transference
When it comes to Ego, Super Ego, and Id, The ____ would recommend the most impulsive decision, the _______ would make the most moral decision, and the ______ the would make the decision that compensates for both the impulsive ego and the moral superego.
- Id
- Super Ego
- Ego
Carl Rogers developed person-centred therapy in response to what he saw as the shortcomings and limitations of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In developing the person-centred approach, what did Rogers view as necessary for effective treatment?
A. A supportive relationship with an empathetic therapist is needed.
B. The therapist must be the same gender as the client.
C. The therapist must be seen as an authority figure.
D. Clients must be willing to examine their unconscious minds.
A. A supportive relationship with an empathetic therapist is needed.
When Amy told her therapist about her irrational fear of pencils, the therapist laughed and said, “Seriously?” A humanist would probably argue that Amy’s therapist needs to be better at providing what?
A. Transference
B. Systematic desensitization
C. Intrapsychic resolution
D. Unconditional positive regard
D. Unconditional positive regard
Based on principles of learning and conditioning, the behavioural model has had an important and lasting impact on our understanding of psychopathology. It is generally considered more __________ than the psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions.
scientific
Based on principles of learning and conditioning, the behavioural model has had an important and lasting impact on our understanding of psychopathology. It is generally considered more __________ than the psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions.
scientific
Classical conditioning is classified as a form of associative learning. Which of the following factors can increase the speed with which a stimulus-response association can be learned?
A. Presenting numerous neutral stimuli before the response is elicited
B. Repeatedly presenting the neutral stimulus by itself, without the unconditioned stimulus
C. Using an unconditioned stimulus that elicits a more intense response
C. Using an unconditioned stimulus that elicits a more intense response
The behavioural approach to psychological disorders currently encompasses a wide range of theories based on principles that underlie different forms of learning. Initially, classical conditioning served as the basis of the behavioural perspective. John Watson was one of the first researchers to examine this connection. What major contribution did Watson’s experiments with Albert (often referred to as “Little Albert” in psychological literature) make to psychologists’ understanding of psychological disorders?
A. He showed that associating one’s parents with negative images can lead to developmental disorders.
B. He showed that intense fear responses could be learned through conditioning.
C. He showed that adult forms of depression can result from associations formed in childhood.
B. He showed that intense fear responses could be learned through conditioning.
Hannah’s parents are upset that she never does her household chores. With the help of a behavioural therapist, the parents develop a system whereby Hannah earns tickets for doing various chores. At the end of the week, Hannah can exchange the tickets for things such as more allowance, a later curfew, and other desired objects or activities.
The plan Hannah’s parents are using to improve her completion of household chores is based on what?
A. Operant conditioning
B. Extinction
C. Classical conditioning
D. Unconditional positive regard
A. Operant conditioning
Hannah’s parents are upset that she never does her household chores. With the help of a behavioural therapist, the parents develop a system whereby Hannah earns tickets for doing various chores. At the end of the week, Hannah can exchange the tickets for things such as more allowance, a later curfew, and other desired objects or activities.
If Hannah’s parents decided to start exchanging the tickets for lectures and spankings instead of nice things, what would probably happen to Hannah’s chore completion behaviour?
A. It would remain the same.
B. It would expand to include additional chores.
C. It would decrease.
D. It would increase.
C. It would decrease
Based on principles of learning and conditioning, the behavioural model has had an important and lasting impact on our understanding of psychopathology. Compared to the psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions, the behavioural model places a much greater emphasis on _________ ___________.
observable variables
Which of the following best describes the process of classical conditioning?
A. A neutral stimulus is paired with one that naturally provokes a response.
B. Two neutral stimuli are combined to elicit a particular response.
C. Positive and negative consequences follow an action and cause a modification of behaviour.
A. A neutral stimulus is paired with one that naturally provokes a response.
Mary Cover Jones, a student of Watson’s, expanded on his work by trying to apply principles of conditioning to psychological treatment. What insight did she have about the connection between conditioning, disorders, and treatment?
A. Associative learning can be employed to help children with intellectual deficits learn better.
B. Principles of extinction might result in unlearning of an intense fear response.
C. Relearning can occur if items that trigger depression are repeatedly paired with those that elicit pleasure
B. Principles of extinction might result in unlearning of an intense fear response.
Skinner never focused particularly on psychological disorders, but the principles of operant conditioning have been applied to explain how psychological disorders can develop. How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?
A. It is more firmly rooted in observable behaviour, rather than theoretical predictions about behaviour.
B. It is based more heavily on stimulus-response outcomes.
C. It focuses on the association between a behaviour and its positive or negative consequences.
C. It focuses on the association between a behaviour and its positive or negative consequences.
___________ ______________ refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning.
psychological dysfunction
What are the four different types of mental health professions?
- psychologist
- psychiatrist
- psychiatric nurse
- psychiatric social worker
List the three ways that a mental health professional functions as a scientist practitioner
- consumer of science (keeps up with the recent developments)
- evaluates their own work and determines the effectiveness of the practice
- Creator of scientific knowledge (conducting research)
scientist-practitioners evaluating their own assessments or treatment procedures to see whether they work and to generate new knowledge are doing what is called a ______-________ __________ approach.
practiced-based evidence
What are the three major categories compose the study and discussion of psychological disorders?
- clinical description
- causation (etiology)
- Treatment and outcome
A battle between good and evil is considered to be ____ behaviour
deviant
Evil is perceived when confronted with _______ ________, ________ and ________.
- Unexplained behaviour
- Suffering
- Upheaval
Demons and witches
- Predominant thoughts during 14th and 15th
centuries - Madness and evils caused by witches and
sorcery - Unexplainable behaviour attributed to evil
- Exorcism used to treat victims of evil spirits
Stress and Melancholy
- Another opinion of 14th–15th centuries
- Insanity is a natural phenomenon
– Caused by mental or emotional stress - Treatable: rest, sleep, healthy
environment, potions, ointments, baths
Treatments for Possession
- Abnormality considered a divine
punishment for evil deeds - Treatable: hanging person over snake
pits, cold water baths
The moon and the stars
- Psychological functioning affected by
movements of moon and stars
– Hence, lunatic - No scientific evidence
Hippocrates and Galen
- Humors, hysteria: normal brain
functioning related to bodily humors
– Blood, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm - Imbalance of humors led to disease
Syphilis in the 19th Century
- Syphilis related to general paresis
– Deteriorating symptoms led to death - Louis Pasteur (1870): symptoms caused
by germs - Symptoms of “madness” are curable
infection
John P Grey
- Insanity always has physical causes
- Mentally ill to be treated as physically ill
- Emphasized rest, diet, and proper room
temperature and ventilation
Moral therapy
- Originated with French psychiatrist
Philippe Pinel (1745–1826) - Encouraged humane, socially facilitative
atmosphere for patients - Benjamin Rush (1745–1813): father of
North American psychiatry
Asylum Reform and the decline of moral therapy
- Dorothea Dix (1802–1887) reformed
treatment of the insane - Initiated mental hygiene movement
- Involved in construction of new asylums
- Her example followed by Clarence Hincks
Psychoanalytic theory
- Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) and Josef
Breuer (1842–1925) - “Discovered” unconscious mind that
produced psychological disorders - Catharsis, a release of emotional tension
- Ideas based on case observations
What are the six examples in the textbook of defense mechanisms?
Denial: Refuses to acknowledge some aspect of objective reality or subjective experience that is apparent to others (e.g., a person not facing the fact that a romantic relationship is over)
Projection: Falsely attributes own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts to another individual or object (e.g., a man with sexual feelings toward a certain woman thinks that woman is coming on to him)
Rationalization: Conceals the true motivations for actions, thoughts, or feelings through elaborate reassuring or self-serving but incorrect explanations (e.g., after not getting into a certain graduate school, an aspiring graduate student decides that school was not really where they wanted to study after all)
Reaction formation: Substitutes behaviour, thoughts, or feelings that are the direct opposite of unacceptable ones (e.g., a man with sexual feelings toward children crusades against child pornography)
Repression: Blocks disturbing wishes, thoughts, or experiences from conscious awareness (e.g., a person “forgets” about an embarrassing experience)
Sublimation: Directs potentially maladaptive feelings or impulses into socially acceptable behaviour (e.g., redirecting energy from underlying conflict into artistic expression and achievement)
What are the 4 psychosexual stages of development?
- oral
- phallic
- latency
- genital
Inappropriate gratification of a psychosexual stage leads
to _________ of that stage
fixation
What does psychoanalytic psychotherapy consist of?
- Hidden intrapsychic conflicts
- Free association, dream analysis
- Transference and countertransference
Maslow believes you go through the hierarchy of needs in order to reach ___-________
self-actualization
Carl Rogers
- Person-centred therapy: therapist has
passive role - Unconditional positive regard: accepting
client’s feelings and actions
Fritz Perls (1893–1970) is responsible for _________ therapy with ___________ elements
- Gestalt
- Humanistic
Watson and the little Albert experiement
Albert was not afraid of the small animal and enjoyed playing with it. Every time Albert reached for the rat, however, the experimenters made a loud noise behind him. After only five trials, Albert showed the first signs of fear if the white rat came near.
What did Mary Cover Jones learn after the little Albert experiement?
If fears are learned, they can also be unlearned
B.F. Skinner is known for ____________ ___________
operating conditioning
