History of Abnormality Flashcards
What two major findings did Hippocrates propose?
- Behaviour is markedly affected by bodily function
2. Abnormal behaviour caused by chemical imbalance
Define psychogenesis
the psychological cause to which a mental illness or behavioural disturbance may be attributed (as distinct from a physical cause)
Define germ theory of disease
the currently accepted scientifictheory of disease. It states that many diseasesare caused by microorganisms. These small organisms, too small to see without magnification, invade humans, animals, and other living hosts
Define phenotype
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment
Define asylum
an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance
Define stigma
a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
Define genotype
the genetic constitution of an individual organism
Who proposed the “germ theory of disease”?
Louis Pasteur
Define eugenics
the science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics
Define trephination
a surgical intervention in which a hole isdrilledor scraped into thehuman skull, exposing thedura materto treat health problems related to intracranial diseases or release pressured blood buildup from an injury
Define chemical imbalance theory
a theory that states that mental illnesses are the result of the relative lack of certain neurotransmitters
Define epigentics
the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself
Define frontal lobotomy
a form of psychosurgery, a neurosurgical treatment of a mental disorder that involves severing connections in the brain’sprefrontalcortex
Define abnormality
the concept of abnormality is imprecise and difficult to define. There are several different ways in which it is possible to define ‘abnormal’ as opposed to our ideas of what is ‘normal’. These include: Statistical Infrequency, Violation of Social Norms, Failure to Function Adequately, Deviation from Ideal Mental Health and several other models
Define electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
a procedure used to treat certain psychiatric conditions. It involves passing a carefully controlled electric current through the brain, which affects the brain’s activity and aims to relieve severe depressive and psychotic symptoms
