Faculty Exam Flashcards
3-fold definition of medical psychology
Study of behaviors, cognitions and motivations relating to physical and mental health
Patients usually think of disease when they see a hospital.
Associationism
Psychology is considered in its role in adapting to new environments.
Functionalism
When superiors are observing, an inexperienced doctor is likely to make more mistakes in the ER where an experienced doctor is likely to make less mistakes.
Social facilitation
People undergoing chemotherapy start to feel side effects when pulling into the hospital parking lot.
Classical conditioning
A doctor should examine a patient and observe test results before looking at the notes from previous physicians.
Group dynamics
People choose not to go to the dentist because having their teeth drilled into is uncomfortable.
Operant conditioning
People’s best friends are more likely to be in their cul-de-sac. Hospitals are organized so all levels of healthcare interact with each other.
Informal social communication
This is why med students tend to set a higher standard for themselves when they begin classes.
Social comparison
Support groups for people with cancer in the hospital.
Affiliation
It is important for doctors to recognize wounded warriors as individuals and members of a team.
Individuation and deindividuation
A doctor you respect is dismissive towards an annoying patient. You do the same.
Social learning theory.
A soldier thinks, “Only people who are weak need mental healthcare. I’m not weak. I don’t need mental healthcare.”
Cognitive dissonance
You are more likely to help a broken-down car on a country road than on the 495.
Social loafing
Used to determine if a patient is obese due to laziness or lack of access to healthy food.
Attribution
Persuading a target audience with counter-arguments, credibility, repetition, non-verbal communication, primacy and recency.
Attitude formation and change.
People tend to overvalue immediate rewards and undervalue delayed rewards.
Behavioral economics
Benefits of transmission radiography
Low dose, fast, high resolution images
Drawbacks of transmission radiography
Need 2 views, can’t see behind structures
Benefits of CT
High resolution, fast, can see behind structures
Drawbacks of CT
Limited soft tissue contrast and higher patient dose
Most common radioisotope
Tc99m
Benefits of Nuclear Medicine
Extremely sensitive
Drawbacks of Nuclear Medicine
Patient dose, requires CT, limited resolution
How is a signal detected in PET imaging?
A positron and electron annihilate each other and 2 photons are released in opposite directions. Photons are recorded by a sensor.
Benefits of PET imaging
Highly specific and functional
Drawbacks of PET imaging
Patient dose, requires CT, limited resolution, expensive
T1-weighted MRI
Water is darker and fat is brighter
T2-weighted MRI
Water is lighter and fat is darker
Benefits of MRI
Excellent soft tissue contrast, high resolution, images with varying contrast and no ionizing radiation
Drawbacks of MRI
Expensive, time, metal and low molecular imaging
3 types of leadership
Authoritarian, Laissez Faire, Democratic
This is the reason sound is measured in log increments.
Psychophysics. We perceive the stimulus differently at different levels.
Modern assembly line’s impact on psychology
Psychology’s purpose is to perceive, conceive, distinguish, remember and finally shorten reaction time
People are more likely to remember the 1st and last note of a song.
Primacy and recency
System 1 memory
Thinking fast
System 2 membory
Thinking slow
Our actions motivate us to fulfill our need to fulfill.
Drive theory
A good pat on the back increases behavior repetition
Reinforcement theory
Motivations based on goals in our psychological world drives our actions
Field theory
People are more likely to engage in a behavior if they are rewarded prior to engaging in it.
Incentive theory
People with these disorders manipulate and exploit others.
Anti-social personality disorders
People with these disorders overreact to draw attention to themselves
Histronic personality disorders
Steps to resolving an ethical dilemma
- Recognize it exists 2. Determine what questions to ask 3. Determine what decisions should be made 4. Imagine cases that could involve your similar dilemma 5. How can this be prevented in the future 6. Do I have any personal experiences that influenced my analysis 7. Assess how your decision will affect your doctor-patient relationships
When you encounter an ethical dilemma, you find two cases at each end of the spectrum and compare the consequences in your analysis of your decision.
Casuistry
A patient doesn’t believe a doctor when he tells her the test results are fine but does not look at her while doing so.
Care perspective
Getting to know your patient is essential in making a correct ethical decision.
Narrative ethics
Making sure a nurse is taken care of while performing an abortion.
Feminist ethics. Focuses on people involved in, but not at the center of the decision.
