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Defining Abnormal Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of abnormal psychology?

A

The branch of the science of psychology that addresses the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behaviour patterns

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2
Q

How do we define abnormal behaviour?

A
  1. is the behaviour unusual?
  2. does the behaviour violate social norms?
  3. does the behaviour involve a faulty interpretation of reality?
  4. does the behaviour cause personal distress?
  5. is the behaviour maladaptive?
  6. is the behaviour dangerous?
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3
Q

Descriptors of Abnormality

A

Deviant
Different
Disordered
Bizarre

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4
Q

What factors affect our perceptions of what is normal?

A

Culture and context

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5
Q

Risk factors for developing a psychological disorder

A 
Age
Education
Childhood trauma
Current stress
Life events
Lack of social supports
Gender
Physical health
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6
Q

The demonological model

A

Demonic possession is what causes abnormal behaviour

The treatment was trephining

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7
Q

Trephining

A

Cutting a hole in the skull to release the spirits

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8
Q

The origins of the medical model

A

Hippocrates and ill humours

Abnormal behaviour is the result of underlying biological processes

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9
Q

Treatment of mental patients during medieval times

A

Abnormal behaviour was a sign of possession of evil spirits or the devil
The treatment was exorcisms

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10
Q

Witchcraft and Abnormal Behaviour

A

So-called witches may have been people who were actually mentally disturbed
Persecuted because their abnormal behaviour was taken as evidence they were in league with the devil
Malleus Maleficarum

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11
Q

Asylums in Europe and the New World

A

Residents were held in disgusting conditions and often chained up
Some asylums became a public spectacle

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12
Q

The Reform Movement

A

The idea that people who behave abnormally suffer from diseases and should be treated humanely
Was not popular at the time

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13
Q

Moral Therapy

A

The belief that providing humane treatment in a relaxed, decent, and encouraging environment could restore functioning

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14
Q

Phenothiazines

A

A group of antipsychotic drugs that help suppress the more flagrant behaviour patterns associated with schizophrenia

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15
Q

The Community Mental Health Movement

A

Mental illness should be treated as a medical condition in a medical facility

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16
Q

Deinstitutionalization

A

The belief that psychiatric patients would benefit from the opportunity to lead more independent and full-filling lives in the community while relying on general hospitals for short-term care during episodes

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17
Q

Psychiatric Homelessness

A

As deinstitutionalization left fewer beds for mental patients, poorer people left behind in the shuffle ended up on the streets

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18
Q

The Biological Perspective

A

Mental disorders are diseases of the brain with underlying biological defects or abnormalities

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19
Q

Dementia Praecox

A

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are caused by a biochemical imbalance

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20
Q

General Paresis

A

A degenerative brain disorder that occurs during the final stage of syphilis

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21
Q

The Psychological Perspective

A

Organic factors alone could not explain abnormal behaviour

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22
Q

Charcot

A

Experimented with hypnosis in treating hysteria
-a condition in which people present physical symptoms with no underlying physical cause
These symptoms could be removed by means of hypnotic suggestion

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23
Q

The Sociocultural Perspective

A

Psychological problems are rooted in the social ills of society, such as poverty, lack of economic opportunity, rapidly changing social values and morals, race and gender discrimination

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24
Q

The Homelessness in Canada

A

Lack of available housing, transitional care facilities, and effective case management for homeless Canadians who have psychological disorders and addictions

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25
Biological Perspectives vs the Medical Model
A focus on biological factors does not require the medical model
26
Epigenetics
The study of the heritable and acquired changes in genes
27
Norepinephrine
Excesses and deficiencies linked to mood disorders and eating disorders
28
Acetylcholine
Reduced levels linked to Alzheimer's disease
29
Dopamine
Excessive levels linked to schizophrenia
30
Serotonin
Imbalances of which have been linked to depressive and bipolar disorders and anxiety
31
Central Nervous System
The brain and the spinal cord
32
Peripheral Nervous System
Part of the nervous system that consists of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
33
Hindbrain
Medulla, pons, cerebellum
34
Midbrain
Lies above the hindbrain and contains nerve pathways linking the hindbrain to the upper region of the brain, called the forebrain
35
Forebrain
Includes structures such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum
36
Reticular Activating System
A weblike network of neurons that play important roles in regulating sleep, attention, and states of arousal
37
Somatic Nervous System
Relays information from the sense organs to the brain and transmits messages from the brain to the skeletal muscles, resulting in body movements
38
Autonomic Nervous System
Regulates the activities of glands and involuntary functions, such as respiration, heartbeat, and digestion
39
Sympathetic Nervous System
Activity leads to heightened states of arousal
40
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Activity reduces states of arousal and regulates body processes that replenish energy reserves
41
The Structure of the Mind (Freud)
``` Unconscious = not readily in awareness Preconscious = lies outside of awareness but can be brought into the conscious with cues Conscious = present awareness ```
42
The Id
Operates unconsciously Follows the pleasure principle = demands instant gratification Primary process thinking = relating to the world through imagination and fantasy
43
Ego
Governed by the reality principle = consideration of what is socially acceptable and practical in gratifying needs Secondary process thinking = reality-based thinking and problem solving activities of the ego Delayed gratification
44
Self
The sum total of a persons thoughts, sensory impressions, and feelings
45
Superego
Moral standards Identification = the process of incorporating the personality or behaviour of others Ego ideal
46
Stages of Psychosexual Development
``` Oral stage Anal stage Phallic Stage Latency Stage Genital Stage ```
47
Defence Mechanisms
Prevents socially unacceptable impulses from rising into consciousness
48
Repression
Expulsion from awareness of unacceptable ideas or motives
49
Regression
The return of behaviour that is typical of earlier stages of development
50
Displacement
The transfer of unacceptable impulses away from threatening individuals toward safer or less threatening objects
51
Denial
Refusal to recognize a threatening impulse or desire
52
Reaction Formation
Behaving in a way that is the opposite of one's true wishes or desires in order to keep these repressed
53
Rationalization
The use of self-justifications to explain unacceptable behaviour
54
Projection
Imposing one's own impulses of wishes onto another person
55
Sublimation
The channeling of unacceptable impulses into socially constructive pursuits
56
Primary Reinforcers
Influence behaviour because they satisfy basic physical needs
57
Secondary Reinforcers
Influence behaviour through their association with established reinforcers (money)
58
Humanistic Perspective
Emphasizes the personal freedom that people have in making conscious choices that give their lives meaning and purpose
59
Self-actualization
Inborn tendency to strive to become all they are capable of being
60
Unconditional positive regard
Valuing other people as having basic worth regardless of their behaviour at a particular time
61
Conditional Positive Regard
Valuing other people on the basis of whether their behaviour meets one's approval
62
Neo-Humanistic Perspective
``` Emotions are adaptive Emotional intelligence Emotion-focussed therapy International network on Personal Meaning -role of meaning in daily life ```
63
Albert Ellis
Cognitive-behavioural Perspective Irrational beliefs about unfortunate experiences fosters negative emotions and maladaptive behaviour Cognitive-behavioural therapy
64
Aaron Beck
Cognitive-behavioural perspective Depression may result from cognitive errors such as judging oneself entirely on the basis of one's flaws or failures and interpreting events in a negative light
65
Alberta Bandura
Cognitive-behavioural perspective | Social-cognition theory = emphasizes the roles of thinkings, or cognition, and of learning by observation or modelling
66
Gestalt
Centered on increasing a person's awareness, freedom, and self-direction Focuses on the present moment rather than past experiences Based on the idea that people are influenced by their present environment
67
Downward Drift Hypothesis
Suggests that mental illness leads to poverty
68
The Interactionist Perspective
No one theoretical perspective can account for the complex forms of abnormal behaviour Multiple domains explain abnormal behaviour
69
The Diathesis Stress Model
A predisposition or vulnerability and environmental stressors can lead to the development of a disorder
70
The Biopsychosocial Model
Two internal systems = biological and psychological One external system = socioculture and environmental factors
71
Overall Perspective on Treatment Change
1. Psychotherapy is effective 2. Long-term therapy is better than short-term therapy 3. No specific modality is clearly better for some disorders 4. Medications plus psychotherapy is not consistently better than psychotherapy alone 5. The curative effects of psychotherapy are often more long-term than those of medication 6. The effective use of psychotherapy can reduce the costs of physical disorders 7. There is no evidence that different mental health care specialists differ in treatment effectiveness 8. All three of these groups are more effective than counsellors or long-term family doctors 9. Clients whose length of therapy or choice of therapy was limited by insurance or managed care did worse than those without such limits 10. Approximately 5% of people who seek treatment get worse

Psyco 239 (13 decks)

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