Mental Disorders and Group Processes

Question 1

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 1

hallucinations, delusions

Question 2

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 2

blunted emotions

Question 3

cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 3

attention, organization, planning abilities

Question 4

mesolimbic pathway

Answer 4

the reward system

Question 5

Brain scans of depression

Answer 5

• -Decreased activity in frontal lobe

- -Increased activity in limbic area

Question 6

ventral tegmental area

Answer 6

The VTA is the origin of the dopaminergic cell bodies of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and other dopamine pathways; it is widely implicated in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain.

Question 7

MAO inhibiters

Answer 7

–increase the amount of monoamines in the synapse

Question 8

cerebrum

Answer 8

–the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Question 9

Brain abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 9

1. Loss of neurons
2. Presence of plaques (amyloid) between the cells (outside of the neurons)
3. Existence of neurofibrillary tangles formed from clumps of the protein tau, inside the neurons.

Question 10

Parkinsons

Answer 10

–Strongly associated with too little dopamine in the brain

Question 11

basal ganglia

Answer 11

• -major role in motor functions

- -processes info from nervous system and sends it to areas of cerebral cortex

Question 12

conformity

Answer 12

–the tendency of people to bring their behavior in line with group norms

Question 13

2 reasons people conform

Answer 13

1. Informative Influence - you go along with the group b/c you don’t have as much information on a topic. Ex: Group decides to train a dog with a shock collar, you don’t know how to train a dog, so you go along.
2. Normative influence - you go along with the group to avoid being a social outcast. Ex: You know it’s better to train a dog with treats, but you don’t want to be ostracized, so you conform to shock collar use.

Question 14

privately conform

Answer 14

–you change your behavior to align with group and you do actually change your beliefs to align

Question 15

publicly conform

Answer 15

–you change your behavior, but you do not change your beliefs

Question 16

group polarization

Answer 16

• -being in a group amplifies original opinions of group members
• -confirmation bias: when arguments made tend to favor the popular view. The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.

Question 17

groupthink

Answer 17

• -maintaining harmony among group members is more important than analyzing the problem at hand
• -tends to result from groups that are not very diverse and are somewhat isolated
• -often the group leader is very powerful

Question 18

conformity vs. obedience

Answer 18

• -conformity is how we adjust our behavior to match the group
• -obedience is how we obey authority. doesn’t involve a cognitive component the way conformity does

Question 19

anomie

Answer 19

–breakdown of social bonds between an individual and community

Question 20

compliance

Answer 20

–situations where do we do a behavior to get a reward for obeying or avoid punishment if we disobey authority

Question 21

identification

Answer 21

–conformity is motivated to be like someone they respect

Question 22

internalization

Answer 22

–we don’t conform publicly with a behavior, but also privately. This is integrating a belief/behavior into our own.

Question 23

social facilitation

Answer 23

• -If you are practiced, the presence of an audience will enhance your performance
• -If you are not practiced, the presence of an audience will hinder your performance

Question 24

social loafing

Answer 24

–the tendency to put forth less effort in a group task than by yourself