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Abnormal Psychology
Test 1 Notecards
75
Psychology
Undergraduate 4
09/14/2008

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Term
medical model
Definition
a biological perspective in which abnormal behavior is viewed as symptomatic of underlying illness
Term
psychological disorder
Definition
abnormal behavior pattern that involves a disturbance of psychological funtcioning or behavior
Term
abnormal psychology
Definition
the branch of psychology that deals with the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior problems
Term
trephination
Definition
a prehistoric method that was thought to release demons where a hole is cut in a person's skull
Term
humors
Definition
the vital bodily fluids, according to the Hippocratic belief system (phlegm, black bile, yellow bile, blood)
Term
dementia praecox
Definition
the term given by Kraepelin to the disorder now known as schizophrenia
Term
general paresis
Definition
a degenerative brain disease occurring when the bacterium that causes syphilis directly invades brain tissue
Term
psychodynamic model
Definition
the model of Freud and his followers, in which abnormal behavior is viewed as the product of clashing forces within the personality
Term
biopsychosocial model
Definition
an integrative model for explaining abnormal in terms of the interactions of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors
Term
scientific method
Definition
a systematic method of conducting scientific research in which theories or assumptions are examined in the light of evidence
Term
informed consent
Definition
the principle that subjects should recieve enough information about an experiment beforehand to decide freely whether to participate
Term
correlational method
Definition
a scientific method of study that examines the relationships between factors or variables expressed in statistical terms
Term
correlation coefficient
Definition
a statistical measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables expressed along a continuum that varies between -1.00 and 1.00
Term
longitudinal study
Definition
a research study in which subjects are followed over time
Term
experimental method
Definition
a scientific method that aims to discover cause and effect relationships by manipulating independent variables and recording effects on dependent variables
Term
independent variables
Definition
factors that are manipulated in an experiment
Term
dependent variables
Definition
outcomes of an experiment believed to be dependent on the effects of the independent variable
Term
selection factor
Definition
a type of bias in which differences between experimental and control groups result from differences in the types of participants in the group, not from the independent variable
Term
blind
Definition
a state of being unaware whether one has received an experimental treatment
Term
internal validity
Definition
the degree to which manipulation of the independent variables can be causally related to changes in the dependent variables
Term
external validity
Definition
the degree to which experimental results can be generalized to other settings and conditions
Term
construct validity
Definition
the degree to which treatment effects can be accounted for by the theoretical mechanisms represented in the independent variables
Term
epidemiological studies
Definition
research studies that track rates of occurrence of particular disorders among different population groups
Term
survey method
Definition
a research method in which large samples of people are questioned by means of a survey instrument
Term
incidence
Definition
the number of new cases of a disorder that occurs within a specific period of time
Term
prevalence
Definition
the overall number of cases of a disorder in the population within a period of time
Term
genotype
Definition
the set of traits specified by an individuals genetic code
Term
phenotype
Definition
an individuals actual or expressed traits
Term
proband
Definition
the case first diagnosed of a given disorder
Term
adoptee studies
Definition
studies that compare the traits and behavior patterns of adopted children to those of their biological parents and their adoptive parents
Term
case study
Definition
a carefully drawn biography based on clinical interviews, observations, and psychological tests
Term
single-case experimental design
Definition
a type of case study in which the test subject is used as his or her own control
Term
reversal design
Definition
an experimental design that consists of repeated measurement of a subjects behavior through a sequence alternating baseline and treatment phases
Term
culture-bound syndromes
Definition
patterns of abnormal behavior found within only one or a few cultures
Term
reliability
Definition
in psychological assessment, the consistency of a measure or diagnostic instrument or system
Term
validity
Definition
the degree to which a test or diagnostic system measures the traits or constructs it purports to measure
Term
sanism
Definition
the negative stereotyping of people who are identified as mentally ill
Term
content validity
Definition
the degree to which content of a test or measure represents the content domain of the construct it purports to measure
Term
criterion validity
Definition
the degree to which a test correlates with an independent, external criterion or standard
Term
construct validity
Definition
the degree to which a test measures the hypothetical construct it purports to measure
Term
objective tests
Definition
self-report personality tests that can be scored objectively and that are based on a research foundation
Term
projective tests
Definition
psychological tests that present ambiguous stimuli onto which the examinee is thought to project his or her personality and unconscious motives
Term
reality testing
Definition
the ability to perceive the world accurately and to distinguish reality from fantasy
Term
neuropsychological assessment
Definition
measurement of behavior or performance that may be indicative of underlying brain damage or defects
Term
cognitive assessment
Definition
measurement of thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes that may be associated with emotional problems
Term
physiological assessment
Definition
measurement of physiological responses that may be associated with abnormal behavior
Term
neurons
Definition
nerve cells
Term
dendrites
Definition
the rootlike structures at the ends of neurons that receive nerve impulses from other neurons
Term
axon
Definition
the long, thin part of a neuron along which nerve impulses travel
Term
terminals
Definition
the small branching structures at the tips of axons
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical substances that transmit messages from one neuron to another
Term
synapse
Definition
the junction between one neuron and another through which nerve impulses pass
Term
receptor site
Definition
a part of a dendrite on a receiving neuron that is structured to receive a neurotransmitter
Term
central nervous system
Definition
the brain and spinal chord
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
the somatic and autonomic nervous system
Term
medulla
Definition
an area of the hindbrain involved in a regulation of heartbeat and respiration
Term
pons
Definition
a structure in the hindbrain involved in respiration
Term
cerebellum
Definition
a structure in the hindbrain involved in coordination and balance
Term
reticular activating system
Definition
brain structure involved in processes of attention, sleep, and arousal
Term
thalamus
Definition
a structure in the forebrain involved in relaying sensory information to the cortex and in processes related to sleep and attention
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a structure in the forebrain involved in regulating body temperature, emotion, end motivation
Term
limbic system
Definition
a group of forebrain structures involved in learning, memory and basic drives
Term
basal ganglia
Definition
an assemblage of neurons located between the thalamus and cerebrum, involved in coordinating motor processes
Term
cerebrum
Definition
the large mass of the forebrain, consisting of the two cerebral hemispheres
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the wrinkled surface area of the cerebrum responsible for processing sensory stimuli and controlling higher mental functions, such as the use of thinking and languages
Term
somatic nervous system
Definition
the division of the peripheral nervous system that relays information from the sense organs to the brain and transmits messages from the brain to the skeletal muscles
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
the division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the activities of the glands and involuntary functions
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
pertaining to the division of the autonomic nervous system whose activity leads to heightened states of arousal
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
pertaining to the division of the autonomic nervous system whose activity reduces states of arousal and regulates bodily processes that replensish energy reserves
Term
psychoanalytic theory
Definition
the theoretical model of personality developed by Sigmund Freud; also called psychoanalysis
Term
conscious
Definition
to freud, the part of the mind that corresponds to our present awareness
Term
preconscious
Definition
to freud, the part of the mind whose contents lie outside present awareness but can be brought into awareness by focusing attention
Term
unconscious
Definition
to freud, the part of the mind that lies outside the range of awareness and contains instinctual images
Term
id
Definition
the unconscious psychic structure, present at birth, that contains primitive instincts and is regulated by the pleasure principle
Term
pleasure principle
Definition
the governing principle of the id, involving demands for immediate gratification of needs
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