psychological problems

Question 1

Unipolar depression

Answer 1

a type of mood disorder causing periods of feeling sad and lacking motivation to do everyday activities.

Question 2

Monozygotic twins

Answer 2

twins developed from one fertilised egg that has split into two; monozygotic twins are genetically identical.Dizygotic twins:

Question 3

Dizygotic twins

Answer 3

twins developed from two different eggs fertilised during the same pregnancy; dizygotic twins are not genetically identical.

Question 4

Genetic predisposition

Answer 4

a biological tendency to develop a particular behaviour as a result of the genes someone has.

Question 5

Diathesis-stress model

Answer 5

an explanation for depression that claims people can have a gene that makes them more likely to develop depression, but only if they face a stressful situation that triggers depressive thoughts.

Question 6

Serotonin

Answer 6

neurotransmitter associated with controlling mood.

Question 7

Cognitive theory

Answer 7

an explanation that focuses on how thought processes influence behaviour

Question 8

Negative triad

Answer 8

a set of three thought patterns where people feel bad about themselves, the future and the world in general.

Question 9

Magnification

Answer 9

a form of cognitive bias that makes people see their problems as far bigger than they actually are.

Question 10

Nature

Answer 10

explanations of behaviour that focus on innate factors (the things we are born with).

Question 11

Nurture

Answer 11

explanations of behaviour that focus on environmental factors (the things that happen to us).

Question 12

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Answer 12

a therapy for mental health disorders that aims to change thought processes in order to reduce symptoms.

Question 13

Neurotransmitters

Answer 13

chemicals found within the nervous system that pass messages from one neuron to another across a synapse.

Question 14

Noradrenaline

Answer 14

a type of neurotransmitter that is involved in mood and is released during times of stress.

Question 15

Reuptake

Answer 15

the process by which neurons reabsorb neurotransmitters that they released.

Question 16

Placebo

Answer 16

an inactive substance, or ‘fake pill’, used instead of an active substance.

Question 17

Relapse

Answer 17

a return of symptoms after treatment has been given.

Question 18

Addiction

Answer 18

a mental health problem that means people need a particular thing – a substance or an activity – in order to be able to go about their normal routine.

Question 19

Withdrawal:

Answer 19

a set of unpleasant physical or psychological symptoms someone gets when they are trying to quit or cannot satisfy their addiction.

Question 20

Learning theory:

Answer 20

an explanation that believes behaviour is learned through associations and experiences.

Question 21

Classical conditioning

Answer 21

: learning by associations.

Question 22

Operant conditioning

Answer 22

learning from the consequences of actions.

Question 23

Social learning theory

Answer 23

behaviour is learned through observation and imitation of role models.

Question 24

Reinforcement

Answer 24

an outcome resulting from behaviour that increases the chance of the behaviour being repeated or avoided in the future

Question 25

Functional analysis

Answer 25

the first stage of CBT to treat addiction that identifies triggers.

Question 26

Skills training

Answer 26

the second stage of CBT to treat addiction whereby addicts learn ways to control the patterns of behaviour that lead to their addiction.

Question 27

Detoxification

Answer 27

when an addict tries to stop taking the substance they are addicted to.