question

mental hygiene movement

answer

movement to treat mental patients more humanely and to view mental disorders as medical diseases

question

psychopathology

answer

symptoms that cause mental, emotional, and/or physical pain

question

continuum model of abnormality

answer

model of abnormality that views mental disorders not as categorically different from "normal" experiences but as lying somewhere along a continuum from healthy, functional behaviors, thoughts, and feelings to unhealthy, dysfunctional behaviors, thoughts, and feelings

question

cultural relativism

answer

view that norms among cultures set the standard for what counts as normal behavior, which implies that abnormal behavior can only be defined relative to these norms and that no universal definition of abnormality is therefore possible; only definitions of abnormality relative to a specific culture are possible

question

unusualness

answer

criterion for abnormality that suggests that abnormal behaviors are rare or unexpected

question

distress

answer

in defining abnormality, the view that behaviors should be considered abnormal only if the individual suffers distress and wishes to be rid of the behaviors

question

mental illness

answer

phrase used to refer to a physical illness that causes severe abnormal thoughts, behaviors, and feelings

question

biological theories

answer

theories of abnormality that focus on biological causes of abnormal behaviors

question

supernatural theories

answer

theories that see mental disorders as the result of supernatural forces, such as divine intervention, curses, demonic possession, and/or personal sins; mental disorders then can be cured through religious rituals, exorcisms, confessions, and/or death

question

psychological theories

answer

theories that view mental disorders as caused by psychological processes, such as beliefs, thinking styles, and coping styles

question

trephination

answer

procedure in which holes were drilled in the skulls of people displaying abnormal behavior, presumably to allow evil spirits to depart their bodies; performed in the Stone Age

question

psychic epidemics

answer

phenomena in which large numbers of people begin to engage in unusual behaviors that appear to have a psychological origin

question

moral treatment

answer

type of treatment delivered in mental hospitals in which patients were treated with respect and dignity and were encouraged to exercise self-control

question

general paresis

answer

disease that leads to paralysis, insanity, and eventually death; discovery of this disease helped establish a connection between biological diseases and mental disorders

question

mesmerism

answer

treatment for hysterical patients based on the idea that magnetic fluids in the patients' bodies are affected by the magnetic forces of other people and objects; the patients' magnetic forces are thought to be realigned by the practitioner through his or her own magnetic force

question

psychoanalysis

answer

form of treatment for psychopathology involving alleviating unconscious conflicts driving psychological symptoms by helping people gain insight into their conflicts and finding ways of resolving these conflicts

question

behaviorism

answer

study of the impact of reinforcements and punishments on behavior

question

cognitions

answer

thoughts or beliefs

question

self-efficacy beliefs

answer

beliefs that one can engage in the behaviors necessary to overcome a situation

question

patients' rights movement

answer

movement to ensure that mental patients retain their basic rights and to remove them from institutions and care for them in the community

question

deinstitutionalization

answer

movement in which thousands of mental patients were released from mental institutions; a result of the patients' rights movement, which was aimed at stopping the dehumanization of mental patients and at restoring their basic legal rights

question

community mental health movement

answer

movement launched in 1963 that attempted to provide coordinated mental health services to people in community-based treatment centers

question

community mental health centers

answer

institutions for the treatment of people with mental health problems in the community; may include teams of social workers, therapists, and physicians who coordinate care

question

halfway houses

answer

living facilities that offer people with long-term mental health problems the opportunity to live in a structured, supportive environment while they are trying to reestablish employment and ties to family and friends

question

day treatment centers

answer

mental health facilities that allow people to obtain treatment, along with occupational and rehabilitative therapies, during the day but to live at home at night

question

managed care

answer

health care system in which all necessary services for an individual patient are supposed to be coordinated by a primary care provider; the goals are to coordinate services for an existing medical problem and to prevent future medical problems

question

theory

answer

set of assumptions about the likely causes of abnormality and appropriate treatments

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biological approach

answer

view that biological factors cause and should be used to treat abnormality

question

psychological approaches

answer

approaches to abnormality that focus on personality, behavior, and ways of thinking as possible causes of abnormality

question

sociocultural approach

answer

approach to psychopathology focusing on the role of the environment, stress, and culture in producing psychopathology

question

biopsychosocial approach

answer

approach to psychopathology that seeks to integrate biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding and treating psychopathology

question

diathesis-stress models

answer

models that assert that only when a diathesis or vulnerability interacts with a stress or trigger will a disorder emerge

question

cerebral cortex

answer

part of the brain that regulates complex activities, such as speech and analytical thinking

question

thalamus

answer

structure of the brain that directs incoming information from sense receptors (such as vision and hearing) to the cerebrum

question

hypothalamus

answer

component of the brain that regulates eating, drinking, sex, and basic emotions; abnormal behaviors involving any of these activities may be the result of dysfunction in the hypothalamus

question

limbic system

answer

part of the brain that relays information from the primitive brain stem about changes in bodily functions to the cortex, where the information is interpreted

question

amygdala

answer

structure of the limbic system critical in emotions such as fear

question

hippocampus

answer

structure of the brain involved in memory and in the stress response

question

neurotransmitters

answer

biochemicals, released from a sending neuron, that transmit messages to a receiving neuron in the brain and nervous system

question

synapse

answer

space between a sending neuron and a receiving neuron into which neurotransmitters are first released (also known as the synaptic gap)

question

receptors

answer

molecules on the membranes of neurons to which neurotransmitters bind

question

reuptake

answer

process in which a sending neuron reabsorbs some of the neurotransmitter in the synapse, decreasing the amount left in the synapse

question

degradation

answer

process in which a receiving neuron releases an enzyme into the synapse, breaking down neurotransmitters into other biochemicals

question

endocrine system

answer

system of glands that produces many different hormones

question

hormone

answer

chemical that carries messages throughout the body, potentially affecting a person's mood, level of energy, and reaction to stress

question

pituitary

answer

major endocrine gland that lies partly on the outgrowth of the brain and just below the hypothalamus; produces the largest number of different hormones and controls the secretions of other endocrine glands

question

behavior genetics

answer

study of the processes by which genes affect behavior and the extent to which personality and abnormality are genetically inherited

question

polygenic

answer

combination of many genes, each of which makes a small contribution to an inherited trait

question

epigenetics

answer

study of how environmental conditions can change the expression of genes without changing the gene sequence

question

antipsychotic drugs

answer

drugs used to treat psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking

question

antidepressant drugs

answer

drugs used to treat the symptoms of depression, such as sad mood, negative thinking, and disturbances of sleep and appetite; common types are tricyclics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

question

lithium

answer

drug used to treat manic and depressive symptoms

question

anticonvulsants

answer

drugs used to treat mania and depression

question

antianxiety drugs

answer

drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other psychological symptoms

question

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

answer

treatment for depression that involves the induction of a brain seizure by passing electrical current through the patient's brain while he or she is anesthetized

question

psychosurgery

answer

rare treatment for mental disorders in which a neurosurgeon attempts to destroy small areas of the brain thought to be involved in a patient's symptoms

question

behavioral approaches

answer

approaches to psychopathology that focus on the influence of reinforcements and punishments in producing behavior; the two core principles or processes of learning according to behaviorism are classical conditioning and operant conditioning

question

classical conditioning

answer

form of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally elicits a response, thereby making the neutral stimulus itself sufficient to elicit the same response

question

unconditioned stimulus (US)

answer

in classical conditioning, stimulus that naturally elicits a reaction, as food elicits salivation in dogs

question

unconditioned response (UR)

answer

in classical conditioning, response that naturally follows when a certain stimulus appears, such as a dog salivating when it smells food

question

conditioned stimulus (CS)

answer

in classical conditioning, previously neutral stimulus that, through pairing with a natural stimulus, becomes sufficient to elicit a response

question

conditioned response (CR)

answer

in classical conditioning, response that first followed a natural stimulus but that now follows a conditioned stimulus

question

operant conditioning

answer

form of learning in which behaviors lead to consequences that either reinforce or punish the organism, leading to an increased or a decreased probability of a future response

question

modeling

answer

process of learning behaviors by imitating others, especially authority figures or people like oneself

question

observational learning

answer

learning that occurs when a person observes the rewards and punishments of another's behavior and then behaves in accordance with the same rewards and punishments

question

behavioral therapies

answer

psychotherapeutic approaches that focus on identifying the reinforcements and punishments contributing to a person's maladaptive behaviors and on changing specific behaviors

question

systematic desensitization therapy

answer

type of behavior therapy that attempts to reduce client anxiety through relaxation techniques and progressive exposure to feared stimuli

question

cognitive theories

answer

theories that focus on belief systems and ways of thinking as the causes of abnormal behavior

question

cognitions

answer

thoughts or beliefs

question

causal attribution

answer

explanation for why an event occurred

question

global assumptions

answer

fundamental beliefs that encompass all types of situations

question

cognitive therapies

answer

therapeutic approaches that focus on changing people's maladaptive thought patterns

question

cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

answer

treatment focused on changing negative patterns of thinking and solving concrete problems through brief sessions in which a therapist helps a client challenge negative thoughts, consider alternative perspectives, and take effective actions

question

psychodynamic theories

answer

theories developed by Freud's followers but usually differing somewhat from Freud's original theories

question

psychoanalysis

answer

form of treatment for psychopathology involving alleviating unconscious conflicts driving psychological symptoms by helping people gain insight into their conflicts and finding ways of resolving these conflicts

question

catharsis

answer

expression of emotions connected to memories and conflicts, which, according to Freud, leads to the release of energy used to keep these memories in the unconscious

question

repression

answer

defense mechanism in which the ego pushes anxiety-provoking material back into the unconscious

question

libido

answer

according to Freud, psychical energy derived from physiological drives

question

id

answer

according to Freud, most primitive part of the unconscious; consists of drives and impulses seeking immediate gratification

question

ego

answer

part of the psyche that channels libido to be acceptable to the superego and within the constraints of reality

question

superego

answer

part of the unconscious that consists of absolute moral standards internalized from one's parents during childhood and from one's culture

question

unconscious

answer

area of the psyche where memories, wishes, and needs are stored and where conflicts among the id, ego, and superego are played out

question

preconscious

answer

according to Freud, area of the psyche that contains material from the unconscious before it reaches the conscious mind

question

conscious

answer

refers to mental contents and processes of which we are actively aware

question

defense mechanisms

answer

strategies the ego uses to disguise or transform unconscious wishes

question

psychosexual stages

answer

according to Freud, stages in the developmental process children pass through; in each stage, sex drives are focused on the stimulation of certain areas of the body, and particular psychological issues can arouse anxiety

question

ego psychology

answer

branch of psychodynamic theory emphasizing the importance of the individual's ability to regulate defenses in ways that allow healthy functioning within the realities of society

question

object relations

answer

view held by a group of modern psychodynamic theorists that one develops a self-concept and appraisals of others in a four-stage process during childhood and retains them throughout adulthood; psychopathology consists of an incomplete progression through these stages or an acquisition of poor self- and other concepts

question

collective unconscious

answer

according to Carl Jung, the wisdom accumulated by a society over hundreds of years of human existence and stored in the memories of individuals

question

psychodynamic therapies

answer

therapies focused on uncovering and resolving unconscious conflicts that drive psychological symptoms

question

free association

answer

method of uncovering unconscious conflicts in which the client is taught to talk about whatever comes to mind, without censoring any thoughts

question

resistance

answer

in psychodynamic therapy, when a client finds it difficult or impossible to address certain material, the client's resistance signals an unconscious conflict, which the therapist then tries to interpret

question

transference

answer

in psychodynamic therapies, the client's reaction to the therapist as if the therapist were an important person in his or her early development; the client's feelings and beliefs about this other person are transferred onto the therapist

question

working through

answer

method used in psychodynamic therapies in which the client repeatedly goes over and over painful memories and difficult issues as a way to understand and accept them

question

interpersonal therapy (IPT)

answer

more structured, short term version of psychodynamic therapies

question

humanistic theories

answer

views that people strive to develop their innate potential for goodness and self-actualization; abnormality arises as a result of societal pressures to conform to unchosen dictates that clash with a person's self-actualization needs and from an inability to satisfy more basic needs, such as hunger

question

self-actualization

answer

fulfillment of one's potential for love, creativity, and meaning

question

humanistic therapy

answer

type of therapy in which the goal is to help the client discover his or her place in the world and to accomplish self-actualization through self-exploration; based on the assumption that the natural tendency for humans is toward growth (also called person-centered therapy)

question

client-centered therapy (CCT)

answer

Carl Rogers's form of psychotherapy, which consists of an equal relationship between therapist and client as the client searches for his or her inner self, receiving unconditional positive regard and an empathic understanding from the therapist

question

reflection

answer

method of responding in which a therapist expresses his or her attempt to understand what the client is experiencing and trying to communicate

question

family systems theories

answer

theories that see the family as a complex system that works to maintain the status quo

question

family systems therapy

answer

psychotherapy that focuses on the family, rather than the individual, as the source of problems; family therapists challenge communication styles, disrupt pathological family dynamics, and challenge defensive conceptions in order to harmonize relationships among all members and within each member

question

emotion-focused approaches

answer

theories of disorders that view poor regulation of emotions as being at the core of many types of psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and most of the personality disorders

question

primary prevention

answer

prevention of the development of psychological disorders before they start

question

secondary prevention

answer

detection of psychological disorders in their earliest stages and treatment designed to reduce their development

question

tertiary prevention

answer

program focusing on people who already have a disease with the aim of preventing relapse and reducing the impact of the disease on the person's quality of life

question

assessment

answer

process of gathering information about a person's symptoms and their possible causes

question

diagnosis

answer

label given to a set of symptoms that tend to occur together

question

validity

answer

degree of correspondence between a measurement and the phenomenon under study

question

reliability

answer

degree of consistency in a measurement- that is, the extent to which it yields accurate measurements of a phenomenon across several trials, across different populations, and in different forms

question

structured interview

answer

meeting between a clinician and a client or a client's associate(s) in which the clinician asks questions that are standardized and are usually designed to determine whether a diagnosis is warranted

question

symptom questionnaire

answer

questionnaire that assesses what symptoms a person is experiencing

question

personality inventories

answer

questionnaires that assess people's typical ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving; used to obtain information about people's wellbeing, self-concept, attitudes, and beliefs

question

behavioral observation

answer

method for assessing the frequency of a client's behaviors and the specific situations in which they occur

question

self-monitoring

answer

method of assessment in which a client records the number of times per day that he or she engages in a specific behavior and the conditions surrounding the behavior

question

intelligence tests

answer

tests that assess a person's intellectual strengths and weaknesses

question

neuropsychological tests

answer

tests of cognitive, sensory, and/or motor skills that attempt to differentiate people with deficits in these areas from normal subjects

question

computerized tomography (CT)

answer

method of analyzing brain structure by passing narrow X-ray beams through a person's head from several angles to produce measurements from which a computer can construct an image of the brain

question

positron-emission tomography (PET)

answer

method of localizing and measuring brain activity by detecting photons that result from the metabolization of an injected isotope

question

single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

answer

procedure to assess brain functioning in which a tracer substance is injected into the bloodstream and then travels to the brain, where it can indicate the activity level of specific areas of the brain when viewed through a SPECT scanner

question

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

answer

method of measuring both brain structure and brain function through the construction of a magnetic field that affects hydrogen atoms in the brain, emitting signals that a computer then records and uses to produce a three-dimensional image of the brain

question

psychophysiological tests

answer

tests in which instruments are attached to the periphery of the body to record changes due to activity in the nervous system

question

electroencephalogram (EEG)

answer

procedure in which multiple electrodes are placed on the scalp to detect low voltage electrical current produced by the firing of specific neurons in the brain

question

projective test

answer

presentation of an ambiguous stimulus, such as an inkblot, to a client, who then projects unconscious motives and issues onto the stimulus in his or her interpretation of its content

question

syndrome

answer

set of symptoms that tend to occur together

question

classification system

answer

set of syndromes and the rules for determining whether an individual's symptoms are part of one of these syndromes

question

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

answer

official manual for diagnosing mental disorders in the United States, containing a list of specific criteria for each disorder, how long a person's symptoms must be present to qualify for a diagnosis, and requirements that the symptoms interfere with daily functioning in order to be called disorders

question

scientific method

answer

systematic method of obtaining and evaluating information relevant to a problem

question

hypothesis

answer

testable statement about two or more variables and the relationship between them

question

null hypothesis

answer

alternative to a primary hypothesis, stating that there is no relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable

question

variable

answer

measurable factor or characteristic that can vary within an individual, between individuals, or both

question

dependent variable

answer

factor that an experimenter seeks to predict

question

independent variable

answer

factor that is manipulated by an experimenter or used to predict the dependent variable

question

operationalization

answer

specific manner in which variables in a study are measured or manipulated

question

case studies

answer

in-depth analyses of individuals

question

generalizability

answer

extent to which the results of a study generalize to, or inform us about, people other than those who were studied

question

correlational studies

answer

method in which researchers assess only the relationship between two variables and do not manipulate one variable to determine its effects on another variable

question

continuous variable

answer

factor that is measured along a continuum (such as 0-100) rather than falling into a discrete category (such as "diagnosed with depression")

question

group comparison study

answer

study that compares two or more distinct groups on a variable of interest

question

cross-sectional

answer

type of research examining people at one point in time but not following them over time

question

longitudinal

answer

type of research evaluating the same group(s) of people for an extended period of time

question

correlation coefficient

answer

statistic used to indicate the degree of relationship between two variables

question

statistical significance

answer

likelihood that a study's results have occurred only by chance

question

third variable problem

answer

possibility that variables not measured in a study are the real cause of the relationship between the variables measured in the study

question

sample

answer

group of people taken from a population of interest to participate in a study

question

cohort effect

answer

effect that occurs when people born in one historical period are at different risk for a disorder than are people born in another historical period

question

external validity

answer

extent to which a study's results can be generalized to phenomena in real life

question

epidemiology

answer

study of the frequency and distribution of a disorder, or a group of disorders, in a population

question

prevalence

answer

proportion of the population who have a specific disorder at a given point or period in time

question

incidence

answer

number of new cases of a specific disorder that develop during a specific period of time

question

risk factors

answer

conditions or variables associated with a higher risk of having a disorder

question

experimental studies

answer

studies in which the independent variables are directly manipulated and the effects on the dependent variable are examined

question

human laboratory study

answer

experimental study involving human participants

question

internal validity

answer

extent to which all factors that could extraneously affect a study's results are controlled within a laboratory study

question

control group

answer

in an experimental study, group of subjects whose experience resembles that of the experimental group in all ways except that they do not receive the key manipulation

question

experimental group

answer

in an experimental study, group of participants that receive the key manipulation

question

random assignment

answer

assignment of participants in an experiment to groups based on a random process

question

demand characteristics

answer

factors in an experiment that suggest to participants how the experimenter would like them to behave

question

double-blind experiment

answer

study in which both the researchers and the participants are unaware of which experimental condition the participants are in, in order to prevent demand effects

question

therapy outcome studies

answer

experimental studies that assess the effects of an intervention designed to reduce psychopathology in an experimental group, while performing no intervention or a different type of intervention on another group

question

wait list control group

answer

in a therapy outcome study, group of people that functions as a control group while an experimental group receives an intervention and then receives the intervention itself after a waiting period

question

placebo control group

answer

in a therapy outcome study, group of people whose treatment is an inactive substance (to compare with the effects of a drug) or a nontheory-based therapy providing social support (to compare with the effects of psychotherapy)

question

efficacy

answer

in therapy outcome research, how well a therapy works in highly controlled settings with a narrowly defined group of people

question

effectiveness

answer

in therapy outcome research, how well a therapy works in real-world settings

question

single-case experimental design

answer

experimental design in which an individual or a small number of individuals are studied intensively; the individual is put through some sort of manipulation or intervention, and his or her behavior is examined before and after this manipulation to determine the effects

question

ABAB (reversal) design

answer

type of experimental design in which an intervention is introduced, withdrawn, and then reinstated, and the behavior of a participant is examined on and off the treatment

question

multiple baseline design

answer

type of study in which an intervention is given to the same individual but begun in different settings or is given to different individuals but at different points in time and in which the effects of the intervention are systematically observed

question

animal studies

answer

studies that attempt to test theories of psychopathology using animals

question

family history study

answer

study of the heritability of a disorder involving identifying people with the disorder and people without the disorder and then determining the disorder's frequency within each person's family

question

monozygotic (MZ) twins

answer

twins who share 100 percent of their genes because they developed from a single fertilized egg

question

dizygotic (DZ) twins

answer

twins who average only 50 percent of their genes in common because they developed from two separate fertilized eggs

question

twin studies

answer

studies of the heritability of a disorder by comparing concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twins

question

concordance rate

answer

probability that both twins will develop a disorder if one twin has the disorder.

question

adoption study

answer

study of the heritability of a disorder by finding adopted people with a disorder and then determining the prevalence of the disorder among their biological and adoptive relatives, in order to separate out contributing genetic and environmental factors

question

molecular genetic studies

answer

studies of the structure and function of genes that help in understanding how genetic mutations can lead to disease

question

association studies

answer

genetic studies in which researchers identify physical disorders associated with a target psychological disorder for which genetic abnormalities or markers are known; the DNA of individuals with the psychological disorder and their first-degree relatives is then examined to determine if they also have this genetic marker (one form of molecular genetic studies)

question

linkage analysis

answer

genetic study that looks for associations between psychological disorders and physical disorders for which genetic causes are known

question

meta-analysis

answer

statistical technique for summarizing results across several studies

question

fight-or-flight response

answer

physiological changes in the human body that occur in response to a perceived threat, including the secretion of glucose, endorphins, and hormones as well as the elevation of heart rate, metabolism, blood pressure, breathing, and muscle tension

question

cortisol

answer

hormone that helps the body respond to stressors, inducing the fight-or-flight response

question

anxiety

answer

state of apprehension, tension, and worry

question

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

answer

anxiety disorder characterized by (1) repeated mental images of experiencing a traumatic event, (2) emotional numbing and detachment, and (3) hypervigilance and chronic arousal

question

acute stress disorder

answer

disorder similar to post-traumatic stress disorder but occurs within 1 month of exposure to the stressor and does not last more than 4 weeks; often involves dissociative symptoms

question

adjustment disorder

answer

stress-related disorder that involves emotional and behavioral symptoms (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and/or antisocial behaviors) that arise within 3 months of the onset of a stressor

question

stress-management interventions

answer

strategies that teach clients to overcome the problems in their lives that are increasing their stress

question

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

answer

class of antidepressant drugs

question

panic attacks

answer

short, intense periods during which an individual experiences physiological and cognitive symptoms of anxiety, characterized by intense fear and discomfort

question

panic disorder

answer

disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks

question

agoraphobia

answer

anxiety disorder characterized by fear of places and situations in which it would be difficult to escape, such as enclosed places, open spaces, and crowds

question

limbic system

answer

part of the brain that relays information from the primitive brain stem about changes in bodily functions to the cortex, where the information is interpreted

question

locus ceruleus

answer

area of the brain stem that plays a part in the emergency response and may be involved in panic attacks

question

anxiety sensitivity

answer

belief that bodily symptoms have harmful consequences

question

interoceptive conditioning

answer

process by which symptoms of anxiety that have preceded panic attacks become the signals for new panic attacks

question

conditioned avoidance response

answer

behavior that is reinforced because it allows individuals to avoid situations that cause anxiety

question

specific phobias

answer

extreme fears of specific objects or situations that cause an individual to routinely avoid those objects or situations

question

animal type phobias

answer

extreme fears of specific animals that may induce immediate and intense panic attacks and cause the individual to go to great lengths to avoid the animals

question

natural environment type phobias

answer

extreme fears of events or situations in the natural environment that cause impairment in one's ability to function normally

question

situational type phobias

answer

extreme fears of situations such as public transportation, tunnels, bridges, elevators, flying, driving, or enclosed spaces

question

blood-injection-injury type phobias

answer

extreme fears of seeing blood or an injury or of receiving an injection or another invasive medical procedure, which cause a drop in heart rate and blood pressure and fainting

question

social phobia

answer

extreme fear of being judged or embarrassed in front of people, causing the individual to avoid social situations

question

negative reinforcement

answer

process in which people avoid being exposed to feared objects and their avoidance is reinforced by the subsequent reduction of their anxiety

question

prepared classical conditioning

answer

theory that evolution has prepared people to be easily conditioned to fear objects or situations that were dangerous in ancient times

question

applied tension technique

answer

technique used to treat blood-injection-injury type phobias in which the therapist teaches the client to increase his or her blood pressure and heart rate, thus preventing the client from fainting

question

modeling

answer

process of learning behaviors by imitating others, especially authority figures or people like oneself

question

flooding

answer

behavioral technique in which a client is intensively exposed to a feared object until the anxiety diminishes (also called implosive therapy)

question

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

answer

anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety in daily life

question

obsessions

answer

uncontrollable, persistent thoughts, images, ideas, or impulses that an individual feels intrude on his or her consciousness and that cause significant anxiety or distress

question

compulsions

answer

repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels he or she must perform

question

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

answer

anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (persistent thoughts) and compulsions (rituals)

question

exposure and response prevention

answer

type of therapy in which individuals with anxiety symptoms are exposed repeatedly to the focus of their anxiety but prevented from avoiding it or engaging in compulsive responses to the anxiety

question

somatoform disorders

answer

disorders marked by unpleasant or painful physical symptoms that have no apparent organic cause and that often are not physiologically possible, suggesting that psychological factors are involved

question

psychosomatic disorders

answer

syndromes marked by identifiable physical illness or defect caused at least partly by psychological factors

question

malingering

answer

feigning of a symptom or a disorder for the purpose of avoiding an unwanted situation, such as military service

question

dissociation

answer

process whereby different facets of an individual's sense of self, memories, or consciousness become split off from one another

question

factitious disorders

answer

disorders marked by deliberately faking physical or mental illness to gain medical attention

question

factitious disorder by proxy

answer

disorder in which the individual creates an illness in another individual in order to gain attention

question

conversion disorder

answer

syndrome marked by a sudden loss of functioning in a part of the body, usually following an extreme psychological stressor

question

glove anesthesia

answer

state in which people lose all feeling in one hand, as if they were wearing a glove that wiped out all physical symptoms

question

somatization disorder

answer

syndrome marked by the chronic experience of unpleasant or painful physical symptoms for which no organic cause can be found

question

pain disorder

answer

syndrome marked by the chronic experience of acute pain that appears to have no physical cause

question

hypochondriasis

answer

syndrome marked by chronic worry that one has a physical symptom or disease that one clearly does not have

question

body dysmorphic disorder

answer

syndrome involving obsessive concern over a part of the body the individual believes is defective

question

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

answer

syndrome in which a person develops more than one distinct identity or personality, each of which can have distinct facial and verbal expressions, gestures, interpersonal styles, attitudes, and even physiological responses

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dissociative fugue

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disorder in which a person moves away and assumes a new identity, with amnesia for the previous identity

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dissociative amnesia

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loss of memory for important facts about a person's own life and personal identity, usually including the awareness of this memory loss

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organic amnesia

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loss of memory caused by brain injury resulting from disease, drugs, accidents (blows to head), or surgery

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anterograde amnesia

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deficit in the ability to learn new information

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psychogenic amnesia

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loss of memory in the absence of any brain injury or disease and thought to have psychological causes

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retrograde amnesia

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deficit in the ability to recall previously learned information or past events

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depersonalization disorder

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syndrome marked by frequent episodes of feeling detached from one's own body and mental processes, as if one were an outside observer of oneself; symptoms must cause significant distress or interference with one's ability to function

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