Psych 101: Abnormal Psychology – Flashcards
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frequently occurring behavior is normal, while infrequent behavior is abnormal not always applicable-- intelligence
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statistical
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going against norms or standards of society dependent on situational context
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social norm deviance
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social or environmental settings of a person's behavior
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situational context
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emotional distress or pain
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subjective discomfort
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inability to function normally
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maladaptive
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product of behavioral shaping within context of social groups
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sociocultural perspective
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need to consider the unique characteristics of culture in which behavior takes place
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cultural relativity
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Is the behavior unusual? Does the behavior go against social norms? Does the behavior cause subjective discomfort? Is the behavior maladaptive (resulting in the inability to function)? Does this behavior endanger self or others?
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criteria for abnormality
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abnormal behavior satisfying 2/5 criteria is classified as a _____________
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psychological disorder
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psychological disorders have a biological or medical cause Examples: schizophrenia related to chemical imbalances, and genetic variation
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biological model
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disorders result of repressing threatening thoughts/feelings in the unconscious mind Example: ritualistic washing of hands
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psychodynamic view
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psychological disorders are a set of learned behaviors Example: phobia of flying
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behaviorism
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interactions between biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences cause abnormal behavior Example: genetic X environment susceptibility to depression
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biopsychosocial model
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Used by most mental health professionals for diagnosis of psychological disorders 250 disorders included Includes both statistics of disorder prevalence and disorder criteria
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(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) DSM IV
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Axis of DSM-IV-TR: clinical disorders—includes most psychological disorders (eg. depression, anxiety), except for personality disorders Symptoms are transient
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Axis 1
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Axis of DSM-IV-TR: personality disorders and mental disabilities Symptoms are persistent
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Axis 2
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Axis of DSM-IV-TR: physical and genetic disorders that affect wellbeing
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Axis 3
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Axis of DSM-IV-TR: life stressors that may affect adjustment
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Axis 4
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Axis of DSM-IV-TR: Global Assessment of Functioning Overall judgment made on the person's mental health and adjustment
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Axis 5
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labeling disorders: helps psychological professionals communicate effectively and efficiently—common language
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pros
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labeling disorders: can affect how patients are viewed—bias has long lasting and power effects putting things into a category which may actually be a continuum
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cons
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main symptom of excessive or unrealistic anxiety and fearfulness
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anxiety disorder
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anxiety unrelated to any realistic, known factor -- highly characteristic of anxiety disorders
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free floating anxiety
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irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity
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phobic disorder
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fear of interacting with others or being in social situations Afraid of negative evaluation, avoid potentially embarrassing or humiliating situations
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social phobia
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irrational fear of and object or specific situation
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specific phobia
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fear inescapable situations Typically fear crowds, car traveling in planes/cars, leaving the house Significant impairment compared to specific phobias Severe cases result in person afraid to leave home
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agoraphobia
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sudden onset of intense panic, with multiple physical symptoms of stress, marked by feeling that one is dying
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panic attack
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frequent attacks causing impairment are results in __________
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panic disorder
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fear of panic attacks in public places prevents person from going to unfamiliar, exposed places
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panic disorder with agoraphobia
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intruding, recurring thoughts result in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors Anxiety results when compulsion is not performed— negatively reinforcing
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obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Symptoms include anxiety, dissociative symptoms, nightmares, problems with concentration Hallmark symptom: relive the event in dreams and flashbacks Onset occurs as long as 6 months post-event
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post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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characterized by high levels of free-floating anxiety—person has feelings of dread and impending doom for >6 months Usually occurs with other anxiety disorders and depression
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generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
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cause of anxiety disorder: repressed urges or conflicts attempting to surface create anxiety
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psychodynamic model
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cause of anxiety disorder: anxious behavioral patterns are learned
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behaviorist model
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cause of anxiety disorder: lower level of serotonin and GABA decrease ability to calm oneself during stressors
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biological model
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cause of anxiety disorder: irrational thinking patterns result in anxiety
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cognitive model
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make "mountains out of molehills"
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magnification
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belief that only perfect performance will avoid failure
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all or nothing thinking
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single negative event interpreted as pattern of defeat and failure
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overgeneralization
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giving little importance to one's successes or positive events/traits
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minimization
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disturbances in mood and emotions, in either direction
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mood disorder
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mild to moderate depression, but persistent, lasting 2 years or more
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dysthymia
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sudden depressed mood without any external cause depressed most of the day, almost everyday Symptoms: tiredness, sleeping disturbance (hypersomnia or insomnia), appetite and weight changes, excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness, difficulties concentrating, thoughts of suicide Most commonly diagnosed mood disorder, twice as common in females
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major depression
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inability to find pleasure in previously pleasurable activities
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anhedonia
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severe mood swings major depressive episodes and manic episodes Rapid cycling between 2 poles of possible emotions
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bipolar disorder
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marked by excessive excitement, energy, and elation or irritability
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manic episode
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causes of mood disorders: learned helplessness
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behaviorist
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causes of mood disorders: irrational negative, self-defeating thoughts about selves learned helplessness may lead to these negative self-defeating thoughts
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social cognitive perspective
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causes of mood disorders: linked with abnormal signaling of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine genetics
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biological perspective
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reduced eating results in 15% or more below expected body weight Causes physiological damage to heart, muscle tissue, and abnormal hormone secretion Obsession with food and exercise Distorted body image
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anorexia nervosa
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cycle of "binging" and inappropriate methods of avoiding weight gain Binges or overeating (usually in secret) characterized by lack of self-control due to anxious or depressed mood and social stressors May avoid weight gain via purging but also use laxatives, inducing vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting
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bulimia nervosa
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break into conscious awareness, memory, or sense of identity
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dissociative disorder
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loss of memory for personal information, either partial or complete Psychological cause (non-physical) Stressful, emotionally traumatic experience Memory deficit can occur for one particular moment, or for all previous personal details
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dissociative amnesia
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traveling away from familiar surroundings with amnesia about the trip, possibly for personal information Sometimes will take on a new identity Occur after emotional trauma
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dissociative fugue
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persona seems to have two or more distinct personalities within one body Main "core" personality unaware of events occurring in other personalities—loses memory and time when "alter" personalities appear
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dissociative identity disorder
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causes of dissociative disorders: method used to repress traumatic, threatening thoughts from consciousness
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psychodynamic perspective
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causes of dissociative disorders: "thought avoidance" is negatively reinforced Person feels guilt/shame/anxiety about a traumatic event, and avoiding these thoughts becomes negatively reinforced
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cognitive/behavioral perspective
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severe disorder characterized by disordered thinking, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, and inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality
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schizophrenia
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severe break from reality Results in disturbances in thinking, emotions, behavior, and perception
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psychotic disorder
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bizarre false beliefs continue to persist despite conflicting evidence
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delusions
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others trying to hurt them
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delusion of persecution
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others are trying to talk specifically to them (books, TV, etc)
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delusion of reference
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being controlled by external forces
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delusion of influence
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convinced they are powerful and can save the world
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delusion of grandeur
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hear voices or see things or people that are not present
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hallucinations
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lack of emotional responsiveness disorganized behavior, speech and odd facial gestures
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flat affect
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causes of schizophrenia: most prevalent Genetics, inflammation in the brain, altered neurotransmitters, and brain structural deficits
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biological model
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biological sensitivity created by genetics, then become further exacerbated by environmental factors
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stress vulnerability model
