Chapter 2: Perspectives on Abnormal Psychology – Flashcards
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avoidance conditioning
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A theory of fear development that combines classical and operant conditioning with internal states such as driving or motivating factors.
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basal ganglia
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Brain structures that control posture and motor activity.
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behavior genetics
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A research specialty that evaluates genetic and environmental influences on development of behavior.
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behavioral perspective
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A perspective of abnormal behavior that assumes that problematic symptoms develop because of the way we learn or observe others.
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biological model
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A perspective of mental disorder that assumes that mental states, emotions, and behaviors arise from brain function and processes.
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central nervous system
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The brain and spinal cord, which are necessary to process information from our sensory organs and prompt our body into action if necessary.
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cerebral cortex
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Gray matter of the brain that covers almost all of each hemisphere.
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classical conditioning
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Pairing of an unconditioned stimulus so the future presentation of a conditioned stimulus results in a conditioned response.
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client-centered therapy
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A humanistic therapy that relies heavily on unconditional positive regard and empathy.
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cognitive distortions
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Irrational, inaccurate thoughts that people have about environmental events.
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cognitive perspective
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A perspective of abnormal behavior that assumes that problematic symptoms develop because of the way we perceive and think about our present and past experiences.
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cognitive schema
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Set of beliefs or expectations that represent a network of already accumulated knowledge.
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cognitive-behavioral therapy
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A type of treatment that focuses on the connection between thinking patterns, emotions, and behavior and uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to change dysfunctional thinking patterns.
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conditional positive regard
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An environment in which others set conditions or standards for one's life.
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culture
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The unique behavior and lifestyle shared by a group of people.
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culture-bound syndromes
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Syndromes caused by culturally shared beliefs and ideas that lead to high levels of stress and mental disorder.
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defense mechanisms
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Strategies used by the ego to stave off threats from the id or superego.
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dream analysis
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A psychodynamic technique to access unconscious material thought to be symbolized in dreams.
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ego
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The organized, rational component of the personality.
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ethnicity
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Clusters of individuals who share cultural traits that distinguish themselves from others.
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exposure treatment
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A behavioral technique for reducing anxiety in which clients expose themselves to fear and avoided situations.
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expressed emotion
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Family interactions characterized by high levels of emotional overinvolvement, hostility, and criticism.
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family systems perspective
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The idea that each family has its own structure and rules that can affect the mental health of individual family members.
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fixation
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Frustration and anxiety at a psychosexual stage that can cause a person to be arrested at that level of development.
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free association
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A psychodynamic technique in which a client speaks continuously without censorship.
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frontal lobe
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An area of the brain in front of the brain that is responsible for movement, planning, organizing, inhibiting behavior, and decision making.
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functional analysis
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A behavioral assessment strategy to understand antecedents and consequences of behavior.
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genotype
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The genetic composition of an individual that is fixed at birth and received from one's parents.
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humanistic model
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A model of abnormal behavior that emphasizes personal growth, free will, and responsibility.
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hypothalamus
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A region of the brain below the thalamus that influences body temperature, food intake, sleep, and sex drive.
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id
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The deep, inaccessible portion of the personality that contains instinctual urges.
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insight
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(1) An active treatment ingredient whereby a client comes to understand reasons for his maladaptive behavior and how to address it. (2) Understanding the unconscious determinants of irrational feelings, thoughts, or behaviors that create problems or distress.
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interpretation
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A method in which a psychodynamic theorist reveals unconscious meanings of a client's thoughts and behaviors to help the person achieve insight.
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latent content
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The symbolic meaning of a dream's events.
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limbic system
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An area of the brain in the forebrain that regulates emotions and impulses and is responsible for basic drives like thirst, sex, and aggression.
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manifest content
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The literal meaning of a dream.
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model
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A systematic way of viewing and explaining what we observe.
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modeling
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Learning a new skill or set of behaviors by observing another person perform the skill or behavior.
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molecular genetics
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Analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to identify links between specific genetic material and mental disorders.
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negative reinforcement
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Removing an aversive event following a behavior to increase frequency of the behavior.
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neuron
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The basic unit of the nervous system that comprises a cell body, dendrites, one or more axons, and terminal buttons.
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neurotransmitters
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Chemical messengers that allow a nerve impulse to cross the synapse.
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occipital lobe
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An area of the brain behind the parietal and temporal lobes and associated with vision.
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operant conditioning
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A learning principle that behavior followed by positive or pleasurable consequences is likely to be repeated but behavior followed by negative consequences is not likely to be repeated.
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parietal lobe
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An area of the brain behind the frontal lobe that is associated with the sensation of touch.
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peripheral nervous system
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The somatic and autonomic nervous system that controls muscles and voluntary movement, impacts the cardiovascular and endocrine system, assists with digestion, and regulates body temperature.
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phenomenological approach
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An assumption that one's behavior is determined by perceptions of herself and others.
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phenotype
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Observable characteristics of an individual.
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pleasure principle
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The rule of conduct by the id to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
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positive reinforcement
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Presenting a pleasant event or consequence after a behavior to increase frequency of the behavior.
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primary process
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The irrational and impulsive type of thinking that characterizes the id.
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projection
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A defense mechanism used when a person attributes his or her unconscious feelings to someone else.
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projective hypothesis
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The assumption that, when faced with unstructured or ambiguous stimuli or tasks, individuals impose their own structure and reveal something of themselves.
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psychic determinism
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An assumption of psychodynamic theory that everything we do has meaning and purpose and is goal-directed.
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psychodynamic model
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A model of abnormal behavior that assumes all mental states, emotions, and behaviors to arise from unconscious motives and intrapsychic conflicts.
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psychosexual stages of development
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A series of developmental stages marked by a particular erogenous zone of the body.
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race
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A socially constructed category typically based on physical characteristics.
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rational restructuring
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A set of techniques to teach individuals to examine their assumptions about situations or the world in general and think more realistically.
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reaction formation
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A defense mechanism that occurs when an unconscious impulse is consciously expressed by its behavioral opposite.
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reality principle
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The rule of conduct by the ego that defers gratification of instinctual urges until a suitable object and mode of satisfaction are discovered.
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regression
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A defense mechanism that occurs when a person returns to a life stage that once provided substantial gratification.
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repression
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A defense mechanism that involves keeping highly threatening sexual or aggressive material out of conscious awareness.
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reuptake
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A feedback mechanism that informs a neuron about the amount of neurotransmitter needed to be released in the future.
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secondary process
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The rational and self-preservative type of thinking that characterizes the ego.
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self-actualization
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A striving to be the best one can be.
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sociocultural perspective
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A perspective of abnormal behavior that focuses on influences that other people, social institutions, and social forces exert on a person's mental health.
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superego
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A component of the personality representing the ideals and values of society as conveyed by parents.
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synapse
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A small gap between ends of neurons.
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syndrome
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Symptoms that cluster or group together within individuals.
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systematic desensitization
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A behavioral technique for reducing anxiety in which clients practice relaxation while visualizing anxiety-provoking situations of increasing intensity.
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temporal lobe
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A middle area of the brain associated with auditory discrimination.
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thalamus
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A structure within the forebrain that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.
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token economy
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An operant conditioning system in which desired behaviors are promoted through reinforcements.
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transference
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A key phenomenon in psychodynamic therapy in which a client reacts to the therapist as if the latter represented an important figure from the client's past.
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unconditional positive regard
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An environment in which a person is fully accepted as she is and allowed to pursue her own desires and goals.
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unconscious motivation
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Motivation that resides outside conscious awareness.
