Lesson 1 1/21 Flashcards
What is questionable about the term “abnormal psychology”?
There is stigma around the term abnormal
Abnormal is defined as being away from the norm-what is the norm, in this case?
Any collection of individuals that interact with each other
Group
A group of individuals that have one or more things in common, such as people with the same disorder
Population
Norms that describes what is typically present (such as bilateral symmetry)
Descriptive norms
Norms that are told, unwritten rules that are understood and followed by society, such as saying please and thank you
Prescriptive norms
Norms that are biologically based, such as animals with spines being vertebrates
Biological norms
Norms that are learned and taught socially, such as traditions around hugging
Cultural norms
How are biological norms developed?
Growth of the organisms
How are cultural norms developed?
Learning
What is culture?
Learned patterns of cognition, action, and production that is characteristic of a specific group
What is a function of culture?
Defining within group similarities and between group differences: what norms are present in the group and which ones aren’t?
What is an example of a bicultural conflict?
A person from a collectivist culture marries someone from a more individualistic culture and begins to argue over how they will raise their child
What is blank slate (theory?)
The idea that animals are a blank slate at birth, their minds are empty
What is a potential counterargument to blank slate theory?
While our minds are affected by outside perspectives, it is also influenced by instincts that are present from birth
What is an example of a natural instinct people have?
There is a natural instinct to learn language
What is the concept of dual inheritance?
Dual inheritance states that behaviors can be inherited through biological inheritance as well as cultural inheritance
What is biological inheritance?
Inheritance that is based in genetics and epigenetics. Epigenetic inheritance changes how chromosomes change without considering the genetic sequences (which genes are turned on and off?)
What is an example of epigenetic inheritance?
An individual could have good genes but certain stressors may make the genes more prone to turning off
What is cultural inheritance?
Behaviors that are carried on due to being taught by the group
What are three reasons cultural norms persist?
Peer pressure/normative conformity
Enforcement of norms
Imitation
In regards to imitation, what makes humans different from other animals?
Humans are the only ones that overimitate, can learn to imitate unnecessary or even harmful behaviors if a demonstrator has performed it
What are some benefits of enforcing norms?
Promotes group cohesion and achievement of group goals
Leases to cultural transmission through prosocial behavior, which can ultimately help society be successful
What are the liabilities of enforcing norms?
Prevents us from finding a better way of doing things
Tends to be stifling and leads to less individualities
Punishes people for being different from the norm even if it leads to no harm
What are the liabilities of enforcing norms?
Prevents us from finding a better way of doing things
Tends to be stifling and leads to less individualities
Punishes people for being different from the norm even if it leads to no harm
What are some examples of abuse of power that happened within psychology?
Lobotomies/forced sterilization without permission
Tuskegee experiments-African American men with syphillis were not given cure because white researchers wanted to see the course of the illness
MKultra: human experiment by the CIA where drugs trials for psychological torture were held without patient’s permission
