Final Review Flashcards
Prejudice
Means to “pre-judge” and refers to the snap judgements we make with limited information
Stereotypes
A stereotype is our belief about members of a particular group. Usually goes hand in hand with prejudice
Discrimination
The actions that follow thoughts of prejudice and stereotyping. Treating people more negatively based on what group the belong to
In-group Bias
When we perceive those in our in-group to be better or more preferred than people who are different from us
- We perceive those in our in-group to be more similar to us for no reason
- More likely to cooperate with those in our in-group
Out-group Homogeneity
Leads us to perceive people in the out-group as being the same with little/no differences
- Strengthen stereotypes
- Less likely to cooperate with people who you perceive to be in the out-group
Attribution
Our explanation about the cause of someone’s behaviour
Fundamental Attribution Error
Describes our tendency to attribute cause to personal traits or factors
- If someone is acting aggressive, we are more likely to assume they are an aggressive person, rather than blaming it on the scenario
Ultimate Attribution Error
We attribute the cause of a behaviour of an entire group is determined by the actions (positive or negative) of one person who belongs to that group
Conformity
The tendency to adjust or change your behaviour in response to a perceived group pressure
- Tends to accentuate the in group and out group stereotypes we make
Obedience
Changing your behaviour because you were specifically told to
Deindividuation
Being less of an individual, or less divided from the group
- When you’re a part of something larger, you can lose your sense of self and personal beliefs
Social Loafing
One person takes advantage of the work of their group mates and reap the same benefits
Pluralistic Ignorance
A situation where you feel like you should do something, but keep it to yourself and do nothing
Diffusion of Responsibility
Multiple people that share the responsibility for an outcome all feel only a part of the pressure of the project
Enlightenment Effect
Once you have learned about a psychological effect, you become less vulnerable to it
Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic Perspective
Freudian Theory
Your experiences interact with your active, unconscious mind to produce behaviours
Humanist Perspective
Rejection of both psychoanalytic theory and behaviourist theory
Humanists believe that humans have free will, and that we are striving to be better; the world just get’s in the way
** Self-actualization
Behaviourist Perspective
A direct rejection of psychoanalytic theory
Behaviourists think of personality as a reflection of the actions a person does, and that the environment is a cause for behaviour
Cognitive Perspectives
Focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve information. Also, how the information is used to solve problems
Id
Id is very selfish/impulsive and focused on immediate gratification
Psychoanalytic Theory
Ego
Rational part of our personality; it mediates between the id and superego
Superego
The overarching sense of morality. An impossible standard of right and wrong
Strong superego can make a person feel guilty
Repression
Purposeful forgetting of emotional/unpleasant memories (robbery)
Denial
Purposeful forgetting of distressing experiences (child’s death)
Regression
Psychologically thinking you’re younger and safer
Reaction-Formation
Transforming an anxiety-producing experience into it’s oppose
Projection
Attributing our negative qualities onto others
Displacement
Directing an impulse that is socially unacceptable onto a more acceptable one
(throwing something at the wall instead of a person)
Rationalization
Trying to provide a reasonable explanation for bad behaviours or failures
Intellectualization
Focusing on abstract or factual thoughts to avoid emotions
Sublimation
Transforming a socially unacceptable impulse into an admired and socially valued goal
(kid who fights becomes boxer)
Openness
Curiosity and the willingness to try new things
High: more adventurous and likely to pick up on new trends
Low: more rigid and conservative
Conscientiousness
Responsible and careful
High: high accuracy
Low: missing deadlines and sloppy work
Extraversion
Sociability and liveliness
High: more outgoing and tend to attend more social situations
Low: smaller social events and don’t like the centre of attention
Agreeableness
Eagerness for friendliness and pleasing people
High: no conflict, follower, make’s others happy first
Low: more argumentative, assertive, aggressive
Neuroticsm
Anxious and prone to negative emotions
High: more irritable, worried, larger negative reactions
Low: calm, less negative reactions
Structured Personality Test
Relies on methods used for intelligence or aptitude tests
- Has high criterion validity, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability
- MMPI and PEO-PI are good, Myers-Briggs is bad
Projective Personality Tests
People reveal things about themselves
- Inkblot test “what the fuck do you see”
- Very poor validity and reliability
- Highly subjective
Rarity
When somethings is statistically rare
Biological Dysfunction
When there is a biological abnormality
Impairment
When symptoms impact a person’s relationships, employment, safety or health
Subjective Distress
When somebody is suffering due to their symptoms or traits
Mood Disorders
Statistical rarity doesn't apply Genetics/biological dysfunction can apply Impairment applies Subjective distress depends (won't affect those who are experiencing manic episodes) 1. Bipolar I 2. Bipolar II 3. Cyclthymia 4. Dysthymia
Personality Disorders
Statistical rarity applies
Impairment applies
Subjective distress can apply
1. Borderline Personality Disorder
- Includes very volatile emotions and black/white/dichotomous thinking
- Great or terrible
- High levels of neuroticism, low conscientiousness and low agreeableness
2. Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Not afraid of much and calm in social situations
- No subjective distress
- Takes advantage of people
- Low conscientiousness and agreeableness, LOW levels of neuroticism
Schizophrenia
Statistical rarity definitely applies
Biological function applies
Impairment applies
Subjective distress can apply
Positive symptoms
- Hallucinations: affects perception, you sense things that aren’t there
- Delusions: beliefs that are improbable or impossible. Non-bizarre: could potentially happen. Bizarre: no possible way it could be true
Negative Symtpoms
- Flat affect (absence of emotional reactions)
Biological Dysfunction
- Shrinkage of frontal cortex
- Hypofrontality
- Enlarged ventricles
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
“Free floating anxiety that isn’t tied to a trigger or situation”
- Always worried/on edge
Panic Disorder
Panic attacks come from nowhere
- Panic attacks are large and unhelpful fight or flight reactions
- Only diagnoses if there’s repeated episodes and it affects your life negatively
Phobias
Tied to specific triggers
- To be diagnosed, the phobia has to be out of proportion to the risk, cause subjective distress or impairment
PTSD
Specific trigger that starts the disorder
- First responders/ natural disaster victims at risk
- Anxiety is one of symptoms
- Problems with sleep, concentration and mood
- Flashback of memories, disturbing thoughts, sympathetic response
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Now in a new category, but anxiety is one of symptoms
Obsession: intrusive thoughts or ideas that the person tries to suppress or get rid of
Compulsion: mental acts or actions that are used to reduce anxiety
- Not a disorder unless distressed or impaired in having a good life
Depressive Episode
Loss of interest in things that were important, anorexia, fatigue, insomnia, agitation, guilt
- Subjective distress and impairment
Manic Episode
Feeling elated, energetic, powerful, no sleep, impulsive, no consequences
- Impairment, not necessarily subjective distress
Hypomanic
Milder version o f manic
- No delusions or extreme behaviours
- More productive than usual, more creative and excitable
Bipolar I
Includes manic episodes, potentially milld depressive symptoms/episodes
Larger genetic role for bipolar disorder than major depressive disorder
Bipolar II
Includes hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes
Cyclothymia
Milder, chronic version of Bipolar disorder
Dysthymia
Milder, chronic depression
Psychologist
People who have PhD’s in psychology
Psychiratrists
People who have medical degrees, and further specialized in psychiatric training
Spontaneous Remission
A disorder that just goes away
Comorbidity
Occurs when two disorders occur at the same time, and one affects the treatment / healing process of the other negatively
Tardive Dyskinesia
Lots of repetitive and involuntary movements of the face, like continuously licking lips or head jerking
- Side effect of typical/conventional antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors
Meta-analysis
Statistical method using pooled data that helps researches interpret large amounts of psychological literature
Insight Therapies
Include both psychoanalysis and humanistic approaches
- Based of the idea that something in the person’s unconscious is causing the disorder, and the client understanding that cause will help them work towards a solution
Cognition Therapies
The focus of thought processes that are associated with disorders
- Might challenge the way that someone talks about themselves or the way that someone thinks about feared stimuli
Behavioural Therapies
Based on classical/operant conditioning
- Focus on the symptoms, not the cause
Eclectice
“From a wide range of sources”
- Eclectic therapies are blends of other therapeutic approaches that are very personalized to the situation or to the needs of a client
Token Economy
Method used for schizophrenia or for younger children
- Completely operant conditions and very useful for patients with low self-control or limited cognitive abilities
- Tokens (marbles etc) are used in replace of currency. Good behaviour = more currency = more rewards.
Systematic Desensitization
Used for treatment for anxiety disorders
- Hierarchy of fear
- Relaxation training
- Working through the hierarchy 1 step at a time
Exposure, Response-Prevention
Treatment for anxiety disorders
- Client is prevented from doing the usual compulsive behaviours
- Can be combined with relaxation training
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Treatment for mood disorders
- Challenges the negative thoughts that are common in depression
- Ellis’ rational emotive behavioural therapy
- Beck’s cognitive therapy
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)
Used as depression treatment
- Serotonin is left in the synapse for longer, so the next neuron has more time to use it
Anxiolytic
Depressant drugs
- Reduce firing throughout the brain by increasing GABA
Typical Antipsychotic Medications
Block dopamine receptors
- Reduces positive symtpoms of schizophrenia
- side effects of tardive dyskinesia
Atypical Antipsychotics
Affects dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and acetylcholine
- Improves positive and negative symptoms
- Lower risk of a number of the side effects caused by the conventional antipsychotics (tardive dyskindesia)
- Increase risk for diabetes
Mood Stabilizers
Lithium carbonate
- Used to treat bipolar disorder
- Inhibits firing of the brain and norepinephrine
- Also can use seizure medications
