Psychology Flashcards
What is classical conditioning?
Learning in which a natural response (e.g. salivation) is elicited by a conditioned or learned, stimulus (bell) that previously was presented in conjunction with an unconditioned stimulus (food)
What is the typical example of classical conditioning?
Pavlov’s classical experiments with dogs
Does classical conditioning deal with involuntary or voluntary responses typically?
involuntary
What is operant conditioning?
learning in which a particular action is elicited b/c it produces a punishment or reward
Does operant conditioning deal with involuntary or voluntary responses typically?
voluntary
Give some examples of operant conditioning
positive reinforcement
negative reinforcement
punishment
extinction
What is transference?
patient projects feelings about formative or other important persons onto physician (e.g. psychiatrist is seen as a parent)
What is countertransference?
physician projects feelings about other important persons onto patient (e.g. pt reminds physician of younger sibling)
*conscious act
What is dissociation and what disorder can result from extreme forms of this immature defense?
Definition: temporary, drastic change in personality, memory, consciousness, or motor behavior to avoid emotional stress
Extreme forms –> dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder)
What is the definition of displacement?
Give one example.
Definition: transferring avoided ideas and feelings to some neutral person or object (vs. projection)
E.g. mother yells at her child b/c her husband yelled at her
What is fixation?
Definition: partially remaining at a more childish level of development
E.g. men fixating on sports games
What is identification?
Definition: modeling behavior after another person who is more powerful (though not necessarily admired)
E.g. abused child identifies with an abuser
What is projection?
Definition: attributing an unacceptable internal impulse to an external source
E.g. a man who wants another woman thinks his wife is cheating on him
*unconscious process
What is rationalization?
Definition: proclaiming logical reasons for actions actually performed for other reasons, usually to avoid self-blame
E.g. after getting fired, claiming that the job was not important anyway
What is reaction formation?
Definition: replacing a warded-off idea or feeling by an (unconsciously derived) emphasis on its opposite
E.g. a patient with libidinous thoughts enters a monastery
What is regression?
Definition: turning back the maturational clock and going back to earlier modes of dealing with the world
E.g. often seen in children under stress
What is repression?
Definition: involuntary withholding an idea or feeling from conscious awareness
E.g. not remember a conflictual or traumatic experience
What is splitting?
Definition: believing that people are either all good or all bad at different times d/t intolerance of ambiguity
E.g. a patient says that all the nurses are cold and insensitive but that the doctors are warm and friendly
In what disorder is splitting often seen?
borderline personality disorder
What are examples of mature defenses?
altruism
humor
sublimation
suppression
What is altruism?
Definition: alleviating guilty feelings by unsolicited generosity towards others
What is sublimation?
Definition: replacing an unacceptable wish with a course of action that is similar to the wish but does not conflict with the one’s value system
E.g. teenager’s aggression toward his father is redirected to perform well in sports
What is suppression?
Definition: intentional withholding of an idea or feeling from conscious awareness
E.g. choosing not to worry about the big game until it is time to play
