Exam 4 Flashcards
behavior that causes people to experience distress and prevents them from functioning in their daily lives
abnormal behavior
assumes that physiological causes are at the root of psychological disorders
medical perspective
argues that psychological disorders stem from childhood conflicts
psychoanalytic perspective
assumes that abnormal behaviors are learned responses
behavioral perspective
definitions of abnormal behavior
- deviation from the average
- deviation from the ideal
- sense of personal discomfort
- inability to function effectively
- a legal concept: insanity
assumes that cognitions (people’s thoughts and beliefs) are central to psychological disorders
cognitive perspective
emphasizes people’s responsibility for their own behavior and the need to self-actualize
humanistic perspective
assumes that behavior is shaped by family, society, and culture
sociocultural perspective
a system devised by the American psychiatric association, used by most professionals to diagnose and classify abnormal behavior
DSM-5 (The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition)
the occurrence of anxiety without an obvious external cause, affecting daily functioning
anxiety disorder
an intense irrational fear of specific objects or situations
phobia
anxiety disorder that takes the form of panic attacks lasting from a few seconds to as long as several hours
panic disorder
symptoms may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, faintness and dizziness, gastric sensations, and sometimes a sense of imminent death
panic attacks
experience of long-term persistent anxiety and worry
generalized anxiety disorder
characterized by obsessions or compulsions
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
What are the causes of anxiety disorders?
- genetics
- certain chemical deficiencies in the brain
- a learned response to stress
- cognitive approach: inappropriate and inaccurate thoughts and beliefs about the world
psychological difficulties that take on a physical (somatic) form, but for which there is no medical cause
somatic symptom disorders
somatic symptom disorder in which individuals have constant fear of illness and a preoccupation with their health
illness anxiety disorder
completely psychological and there is no biological reason for the problem
conversion disorder
rare psychological dysfunctions characterized by the separation of different facets of a person’s personality that are normally integrated
dissociative disorder
persistent unwanted thought or idea that keeps recurring
obsession
an irresistible urge to repeatedly carry out some behavior that seems strange and unreasonable
compulsion
a disorder in which a person displays characteristics (features) of two or more distinct personalities, once called multiple personality disorder
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
a disorder in which a significant, selective memory loss occurs
dissociative amnesia
a form of amnesia in which the individual leaves home and sometimes assume a new identity
dissociative fugue
what are the causes of dissociative disorders
dissociating key parts of who they are can help people keep disturbing memories or perceptions from reaching conscious awareness; this reduces anxiety
a disturbance in emotional experience that is strong enough to interfere with everyday living
mood disoders
a severe form of depression that interferes with concentration, decision making, and sociability
major depressive disorder
How many Americans suffer with major depression
15 million
How is major depression different from normal occasional depression?
more intense, lasts longer, and may have no clear trigger
an extended state of intense, wild elation
mania
a disorder in which a person alternates between periods of euphoric feelings of mania and periods of depression
bipolar disorder
what are the causes of mood disorders?
- neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine
- genetic factors
- feelings of loss or anger directed at oneself
- stresses of life reduce positive reinforcers, so people withdraw
- learned helplessness
- view self as losers; self blame, negative focus
a learned explanation that events in one’s life are uncontrollable, and one cannot escape from the situation
learned helplessness
a class of disorders in which a severe distortion of reality occurs
schizophrenia
Characteristics of schizophrenia
- decline from a previous level of functioning
- disturbances of thought and language
- delusions
- hallucinations
- emotional disturbances
- withdrawal
firmly held, unshakable beliefs with no basis in reality
delusions
perceiving things that do not actually exist
hallucinations
schizophrenia occurs when there is excess activity in the areas of the brain that use the neurotransmitter dopamine
dopamine hypothesis
what are the environmental causes of schizophrenia
- high levels of expressed emotion
- family communication patterns
individuals may inherit a predisposition to develop schizo
predisposition model of schizo
disorder characterized by a set of inflexible maladaptive behavior patterns that keep a person from functioning appropriately in society
personality disorder
individuals show no regard for the moral and ethical rules of society or the rights of others (sociopathic personality)
antisocial personality disorder
what are the possible causes of antisocial personality disorder
- inability to experience emotions appropriately
- problems in familiy relationships
- sociocultural factors
individuals have difficulty developing a secure sense of who they are; rely on relationships with others to define their identity
borderline personality disorder
-an exaggerated sense of self-importance
- expect special treatment from others, but disregard others feeling altogether
- no empathy for others
- manipulative
narcissistic personality disorder
what percentage of children suffer from depression?
2.5%
what percentage of adolescents suffer from depression?
8%
What are some symptoms of depression?
- exaggerated fears
- clinginess
-avoidance of everyday activities
-delinquency
inattention, impulsiveness, a low tolerance for frustration, and a great deal of inappropriate activity
Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
a severe developmental disability that impairs children’s ability to communicate and relate to others
autism spectrum disorder
what is the most common disorder among adults in the united states?
depression
treatment in which a trained professional uses psychological techniques to help a person overcome psychological difficulties and disorders, resolve problems in living, or bring about personal growth
psychotherapy
therapy that relies on drugs and other medical procedures to improve psychological functioning
biomedical therapy
seeks to bring unresolved past conflicts and unacceptable impulses from the unconscious into the conscious, where patients may deal with the problems more effectively
psychodynamic therapy
Freudian psychotherapy in which the goal is to release hidden unconscious thoughts and feelings in order to reduce their power in controlling behavior
psychoanalysis
what are the three types of psychodynamic therapy?
- free association
- dream interpretation
- transference
patient says aloud whatever comes to mind; analyst connects this to the unconscious
free association
examining dreams for clues to the unconscious
dream interpretation
the transfer of feelings to a psychoanalyst of love or anger that had been originally directed to a patient’s parents or other authority figures
transference
treatment approaches that build on the basic processes of learning; assumes both normal and abnormal behavior are learned
behavioral treatment approaches
reduces the frequency of undesired behavior by pairing aversive, unpleasant stimulus with that undesired behavior
aversive conditioning
a behavioral therapy technique in which gradual exposure to an anxiety-producing stimulus is paired with relaxation to extinguish the response of anxiety
systematic desensitization
a list of the things you associate with your fears, in order of increasing severity
hierarchy of fears
treatment for anxiety in which people are confronted, either suddenly or gradually, with a stim that they fear, but relaxation training is omitted
exposure
a behavioral treatment for anxiety in which people are confronted either suddenly or gradually with a situation they fear
flooding
treatment based on reward and punishment
operant conditioning techniques
rewards an individual’s target behavior with a sort of token such as a sticker, marble, money, etc
token system
contract is created between counselor and client or counselor, parents, and client. contract includes behavioral goals that are desired and the consequences for meeting them or not meeting them
contingency contract
teach people to think in more adaptive ways by changing their dysfunctional cognitions about the world and themselves
cognitive treatment approaches
incorporates basic principles of learning to changing the way people think
cognitive-behavioral approaches
attempts to restructure a person’s belief system into a more realistic, rational, and logical set of views by challenging dysfunctional beliefs that maintain irrational behavior
rational-emotive behavior therapy
also aims to change people’s illogical thoughts about themselves and the world, but is less confrontational that REBT
cognitive therapy
underlying rationale is that people have control of their behavior, can make choices about their lives, and are essentially responsible for solving their own problems; emphasizes self-responsibility
humanistic approach
goal is to reach one’s potential for self-actualization
person centered therapy (aka: client-centered therapy)
- expressing acceptance and understanding, regardless of the feelings and attitudes the client expresses
- does not mean therapist shows approval of everything the client says or does, just that the therapist is nonjudgmental and empathetic
unconditional positive regard
short-term therapy that focuses on the context of current social relationships, such as conflicts with others, social skills issues, role transitions, or grief
interpersonal therapy (IPT)
What are the 3 stages of interpersonal therapy?
1: Assessment
2: implementation
3: Maintenance
people meet with a therapist to discuss problems with a group
group therapy
focuses on the family (as a unit) and its dynamics
family therapy
people with similar problems get together to discuss their shared feelings and experiences
self-help therapy
is there a single form of therapy that works best for every problem
no
What basic elements do most therapies share?
- positive relationship with therapist
- explanation of client’s symptoms
- confrontation of negative emotions
recovery without treatment
spontaneous remission
control of psychological disorders using drugs
drug therapy
temporarily reduce psychotic symptoms such as agitation, hallucinations, and delusions (which may be present in schizo)
antipsychotic drugs
fewer side effects
atypical antipsychotics
how do most antipsychotics work?
by blocking dopamine receptors at the brains synapses
medications used for severe depression to improve the patients mood; sometimes used for anxiety disorders and bulimia
antidepressant drugs
increase norepinephrine at the synapse in the brain
tricyclic drugs
prevent monoamine oxidase (enzyme) from breaking down neurotransmitters
MAO inhibitors
increase serotonin at the synapses in the brain
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
used to treat mood disorders; prevent manic episodes of bipolar disorder
mood stabilizers
reduce the level of anxiety a person experiences, essentially by reducing excitability and increasing feelings of well-being
antianxiety drugs
a procedure used in the treatment of severe depression; an electric current of 70-150 volts is briefly administered to a patients head
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
an alternative to ECT; a precise magnetic pulse is directed to a specific area of the brain
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
specific genes introduced to particular regions of the brain may then reverse or prevent biochemical events that lead to disorders
gene therapy
real-time brain scans showing activity as emotion-laden memories are recalled
brain-scan neurofeedback
evaluations of a particular person, behavior, belief, or concept
attitude
what factors does attitude change depend on?
- message source
- characteristics of the message
- characteristics of the target
message interpretation characterized by thoughtful consideration of the issues and arguments used to persuade (content of message)
central route processing
message interpretation characterized by consideration of the source and related general information rather than of the message (how message is provided)
peripheral route processing
the conflict that occurs when a person holds two contradictory attitudes or thoughts
cognitive dissonance
the cognitive processes by which people understand and make sense of others and themselves
social cognition
set of cognitions about people and social experiences
schemas
how we organize information about another person to form an overall impression of that person
impression formation
the major traits considered in forming impressions of others
central traits
seeks to explain how we decide, on the basis of samples of an individuals behavior, what the specific causes of that person’s behavior are
attribution theory
perceived causes of behavior that are based on environmental factors
situational causes
perceived causes of behavior that are based on internal traits or personality factors
dispositional causes
an initial understanding that a person has positive traits is used to infer other uniformly positive characteristics
the halo effects
the tendency to think of people as being like oneself, even when meeting them for the first time
assumed-similarity bias
tendency to attribute personal success to personal factors (skill, ability, or effort), and to attribute failure to factors outside of oneself
self-serving bias
a tendency to over-attribute others’ behavior to dispositional causes and the corresponding minimization of the importance of the situational causes; prevalent in western cultures
fundamental attribution error
the process by which the actions of an individual or group affect the behavior of others
social influence
a change in behavior or attitudes brought about by a desire to follow the beliefs or standards of other people; comes from subtle, sometimes even unspoken, social pressure
conformity
participants conformed in about 1/3 of the trials; conformity higher when people must respond publicly, lower when at least one other person dissents from the group
solomon asch experiments
the behaviors that are associated with people in a given position
social roles
conforming to a social role can have powerful consequences on the behavior of anyone
Philip Zimbardo “prison” study implications
behavior that occurs in response to direct social pressure
compliance
people are more likely to agree to a more important request if they have first agreed to a smaller one
foot-in-the-door technique
making a large request, expecting it to be refused, then following with a smaller one, which is the targeted response
door-in-the-face technique
immediately after an initial offer at an inflated price, you are offered an incentive to clinch the deal
that not all technique
you feel the need to reciprocate when given a free sample, so you are more likely to buy the product (based on norm of reprocity)
not so free sample
a change in behavior in response to the commands of others (people in power/authority figures)
obedience
65% of participants eventually used the highest setting on the shock generator (450 volts); participants said they obeyed mostly because they believed the experimenter would be responsible for any potential harm to the learner
stanley milgram experiments
a set of genralized beliefs and expectations about a particular group and its members
stereotype
a negative or positive evaluation of a particular group and its members attitudes
prejudice
the behavior of parents, other adults, and peers shapes children’s feelings about members of various groups; prejudice is learned through imitation and reward and punishment
observational learning approaches to prejudice
people tend to be ethnocentric, viewing the world from their own perspective and judging others in terms of their group membership
social identity theory
behavior directed toward individuals on the basis of their membership in a particular group
discrimination
positive feelings for others; liking and loving
interpersonal attraction (close relationships)
what are the factors in attraction?
proximity
mere exposure
similarity
physical attractiveness
geographic closeness leads to liking
proximity
repeated exposure to any stimulus usually makes you like it more; if negative initial interaction, dislike will intensify
mere exposure
increases liking because we assume that people with similar attitudes will evaluate us positively, which promotes our attraction to the person because of the reciprocity of liking effect
similarity
all else being equal, physically attractive people are more popular than physically unattractive people
physical attractiveness
a state of intense absorption in someone that includes intense physiological arousal, psychological interest, and caring for the needs of another
passionate (romantic) love
the strong affection we have for those whom our lives are deeply involved in
compassionate love
what does sternberg’s love consist of
decision/commitment
an intimacy component
passion component
the intentional injury of, or harm to, another person
aggression
aggression is the outcome of innate urges
instinct approaches
the process of discharging built-up aggressive energy
catharsis
frustration produces anger, which leads to a readiness to act aggressively
frustration-aggression approaches
social and environmental conditions can teach individuals to be aggressive
observational learning approaches to aggression and prosocial behavior
helping behavior
prosocial behavior
tendency for people to feel that responsibility for acting is shared, or diffused, among those present
diffusion of responsibility
a person, event, or situation that may require help
noticing
the event as one that requires help
interpreting
helping behavior that is beneficial to others but clearly requires self-sacrifice
altruism
what are the four basic steps in deciding to help?
- noticing
- interpreting
- assuming responsibility
- deciding and implementing help
a persons response to events that are threatening or challenging
stress
circumstances or events that produce threats to our well being
stressors
strong stressors that occur suddenly, affecting many people at once (ex: natural disasters)
cataclysmic events
major life events such as the death of a family member that have immediate neg consequences that generally fade with time
personal stressors
everyday annoyances that cause minor irritations and may have long-term ill effects if they continue or are compounded by other stressful events
background stressors
medical problems influenced by and interaction of psychological, emotional, and physical difficulties
psychophysiological disorders
efforts to control, reduce, or learn to tolerate the threats that lead to stress
coping
trying to manage your emotions in the face of stress
emotion-focused coping
trying to modify the stressful problem or source of stress
problem-focused coping
trying to use escape routes, such as wishful thinking, drug or alcohol use, or overeating; is often ineffective and can make the problem worse
avoidant coping
a learned conviction that aversive stimuli cannot be controlled - and thus ceasing to try to remedy aversive circumstances
learned helplessness
the ability to withstand, overcome, and actually thrive after profound adversity
resilience
a mutual network of caring, interested others
social support
expectations about the occurrence of a future event or behavior that act to increase the likelihood the event or behavior will occur
self-fulfilling prophecy
