Unit 12: Abnormal Behavior Flashcards
Define psychological disorder
A syndrome marked by a clinically significance disturbance in an individuals cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior.
What is maladaptive?
- Interferes w/ daily life
- Not appropriately adjusting to environment/situation
What is dysfunctional?
- Disturbed/disruptive/troubled
- Abnormal and has undesired behavior can lead to impairment of functioning
How should we draw the line between normality and disorder?
It is classified as a disorder once it starts to become disabling. ( limiting person’s movement, senses, or activities)
Define syndrome
Set of medical signs and symptoms that correlate w/ each other and associate w/ a disease/disorder
How do the medical model and the biopsychosocial approach understand psychological disorders?
Medical model: Diseases (in this case psych. disorders) have PHYSICAL causes that can be DIAGNOSED, TREATED, and MOST times CURED w/ hospital treatment.
Biopsychosocial approach:
Biology, psychological and social-cultural things interact to form a mental illness.
Difficulty in environment, persons interpretation of events, bad habits, can all contribute to a mental illness.
Social-Some disorders can be culture-bound, expectations
Bio-Evolution, genes, brain
Psych: Stress, trauma, learned helplessness
Define ADHD
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Psychological disorder identified by age 7 with 1+ symptoms
3X more often in boys
Associations w/ abnormal brain activity patterns
Symptoms include:
-Extreme inattention
-Hyperactivity
-Impulsivity
Define ADHD
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Psychological disorder identified by age 7 with 1+ symptoms
3X more often in boys
Associations w/ abnormal brain activity patterns
Symptoms include:
-Extreme inattention
-Hyperactivity
-Impulsivity
Who is Phillippe Pinel
Reformer from France, believing that madness is not a demon but a sickness of mind caused by severe stress and inhumane conditions.
Moral treatment
Pinel + others thought that this included boosting patients mood w/ more humane treatment
brutality to gentleness
isolation to activity
etc
How did the discovery of syphilis affect/ lead to reform?
Discovery that syphilis infects brain + distorts mind lead to reform bc it has physical traits to be diagnosed with, and treatment before reaching such intensity
What di today’s psychologists agree on regarding behavior?
All behavior (normal/disordered) comes from interaction of nature (genetic/physiological factors) and nurture (past/present experiences)
How and why do clinicians classify psychological disorders?
Why: To create order and facilitate describing symptoms
Aims to predict future course, use appropriate treatment + stimulate (encourage interest) into its causes
How:
What is the DMS-5
Book used to diagnose and classify psychological disorders.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , not in 5th edition
What is the DMS-5
Book used to diagnose and classify psychological disorders.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , not in 5th edition
What is the DMS-5
Book used to diagnose and classify psychological disorders.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , not in 5th edition
Why do some psychologists criticize the use of diagnostic labels?
Can create preconceptions
A label Rosenhan discovered can have “a life and influence of its own”
Who is David Rosenhan
One of eight patients who falsely gave their name and occupation along with the complaint of hearing voices. All were misdiagnosed despite answering follow up questions truthfully. Clinicians went on to “discover” the roots of their “disorder” and “evidence”. Proving his point of how dangerous labeling disorders can be.
Who is David Rosenhan
One of eight patients who falsely gave their name and occupation along with the complaint of hearing voices. All were misdiagnosed despite answering follow up questions truthfully. Clinicians went on to “discover” the roots of their “disorder” and “evidence”. Proving his point of how dangerous labeling disorders can be.
What term is from the legal system and NOT found in psychological diagnoses?
Insanity
What are some benefits of diagnostic labels?
Facilitates communication of cases, comprehension of underlying causes, and recognize effective treatment programs.
How many people suffer or have suffered, from a psychological disorder? Is poverty a risk factor?
26% of adult Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year
What is immigrant paradox?
When first generation individuals are at greater risk of mental disorder
Who is most vulnerable to mental disorders?
Serious psych. disorders - 2x likely for those below poverty line
Ethnic and gender can also play a part, it depends
At what ages do disorders hit?
Diff. disorders have diff. early symptom showing.
antisocial/phobias @8
other more adult like ones @ 20+
Define anxiety disorders
Psych. disorder characterized by distressing (upsetting), persistent anxiety, or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety.
Define malapadtive
Not adjusting properly to an environment
What are the 3 different types of anxiety disorders?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Phobias
Explain generalized anxiety disorder
Person UNEXPLAINABLY + CONTINUALLY tense and uneasy
Explain panic disorder
Person has SUDDEN episodes of dread (fear)
Explain phobias
Person is INTESELY + IRRATIONALLY afraid of specific action/situation
Explain generalized anxiety disorder
Person UNEXPLAINABLY + CONTINUALLY tense and uneasy
In a state with aroused autonomic nervous system
Can be disabling bc ppl lose concentration
Can cause physical problems (high blood pressure)
Explain panic disorder
Person has SUDDEN episodes of dread (fear) usually a few minutes long w/ physical symptoms such as chest pain, terror, chocking, or other frightening sensations. Followed by worry of next panic attack.
Explain phobias
Person is INTESELY + IRRATIONALLY afraid of specific action/situation and trying to avoid it
Explain PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when a person has lingering memories, nightmares, and other symptoms for wks after a SEVERELY threatening and uncontrollable event.
Explain OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is when a person is troubled by repetitive thoughts/actions
Only a disorder when impedes daily functioning
Explain PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when a person has lingering memories, nightmares, and other symptoms for wks after a SEVERELY threatening and uncontrollable event.
AKA shell shock/ battle fatigue
Increased vulnerability w/ sensitive limbic sys. bc is releases more stress hormones w/ flashbacks/cues of stressful event
Define agoraphobia
Fear/avoidance of situations (crowd/wide open spaces) where one has felt loss of control and panic
Define agoraphobia
Fear/avoidance of situations (crowd/wide open spaces) where one has felt loss of control and panic
Can be developed bc ppl fear going to where they most have panic attacks/anxiety
Define agoraphobia
Fear/avoidance of situations (crowd/wide open spaces) where one has felt loss of control and panic
Can be developed bc ppl fear going to where they most have panic attacks/anxiety
Define posttraumatic growth
Positive pysch. changes bc of struggling w/ extremely challenging circumstances/ life crisis
(related to PTSD)
“what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
How does the learning perspectives explain anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD?
Fear conditioning(experiencing something bad and linking a stimulus to that negative emotion) Stimulus generalization( fearful;-behavior reinforcement, and observational learning of others' fears and cognitions (interpretations irrational beliefs, and increased alertness) all contribute to forming anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD
How does the biological perspectives explain anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD?
Natural selection- Fearing things that were identified as decreasing survival rate by our ancestors were passed down.- Anxiety + PTSD
Exaggeration of behaviors that contributed to survival leads to OCD.
Genetic predisposition for high temperament (emotional reactivity) and genes regulate neurotransmitters. Ex. Serotonin( regulated sleep and mood and glutamate w/ too much of it the brain’s alarm center becomes overactive.) Research team identified 17 genes that are present in typical anxiety disorder symptoms.
The brain has abnormal responses in its fear circuits (usually overactive on certain parts depending on the disorder)
What are mood disorders?
Psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes.
How does major depressive disorder differ from bipolar disorder?
Major depressive disorder more common than bipolar disorder
Person experiences 2+ wks of seriously depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, + takes little interest in, derives (obtains) little pleasure from most act.
Bipolar disorder much more dysfunctional
Experiences depression AND mania(hyperactive, euphoric, etc)
Name 4 other symptoms used to diagnose major depressive disorder
Significant weight loss/gain w/o dieting
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Fatigue/ loss of energy
Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide