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Abnormal Psychology
chapters 1-4
91
Psychology
Not Applicable
02/06/2006

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Term
Abnormal Psychology
Definition
The scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning
Term
Norms
Definition
A society's stated and unstated rules for proper conduct
Term
Culture
Definition
A people's common history, values, insitutions, habits, skills, and arts
Term
"The 4 D's"
Definition
Deviant, Distressing, Dysfunctional, Dangerous
Term
Eccentricity
Definition
An unusual pattern that others have no right to interfer with.
Term
Treatment
Definition
A procedure designed to help change abnormal behavior into more normal behavior. Also called therapy.
Term
Trephination
Definition
An ancient operation in which a stone instrument as used to cut away a circular section of the skull, perhaps to treat abnormal behavior.
Term
Exorcism
Definition
The practice in early societies of treating abnormality by coaxing evil spirits to leave the body.
Term
Lycanthropy
Definition
People thought they were possessed by wolves or other animals.
Term
Humors
Definition
According to Greek and Roman physicians, bodily chemicals that influence mental and physical functioning
Term
Asylum
Definition
A type of institution that first became popular in the 16th century to provide care for persons with mental disorders. Most became prisoners
Term
Moral Treatment
Definition
A 19th century approach to treating people with mental dysfunction that emphasized moral guidance and humane and respectful behavior
Term
Dorothea Dix
Definition
(1802-1887) Made humane care a public concern in the US. She personally established 32 state hospitals
Term
Somatogenic
Definition
The view that abnormal psychological functioning has physical causes
Term
Psychogenic
Definition
The view that the chief causes of abnormal functioning are psychologoical
Term
Psychoanalysis
Definition
Either the theory or the treatment of abnormal mental functioning that emphasizes unconscious psychological forces as the cause of psychopathology
Term
Psychotropic Medications
Definition
Drugs that mainly affect the brain and reduce many symptons of mental dysfunctioning
Term
Deinstituionlization
Definition
The practice begun in the 1960s of releasing hundreds of thousands of patients from public mental hospitals
Term
Prevention
Definition
Interventions aimed at deterring mental disorders before they can develop
Term
Positive Psychology
Definition
The study and enhancement of positive feelings, traits, and abillities
Term
Model
Definition
A set of assumptions and concepts that helps scientists explain and interpret observations.
Term
Neuron
Definition
A nerve cell
Term
Neurotransmitter
Definition
A chemical that released by one neuron, crosses the synamptic space to be received at receptors on the dendrites of neighboring neurons.
Term
Hormones
Definition
The chemicals released by glands into the bloodstream
Term
Gene
Definition
Chromosome segments that ontrol the characteristics and traits we inherit
Term
Dendrites
Definition
Antenna-like extensions located at one end of the neuron.
Term
Axon
Definition
A long fiber extending from the neuron body. There are nerve endings at the far end of the neuron
Term
Mutation
Definition
An abnormal form of the appropiate gene that emerges by accident
Term
Psychotropic Medications
Definition
Drugs that primarily affect the brain and reduce many symptoms of mental dysfunctioning
Term
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ETC)
Definition
A form of biological treatment, used primarily on depressed patients, in which a brain seizure is triggered as an electric current passes throught the elctrodes attached to the patient's forehead.
Term
Biological Model
Definition
Biological theorists view abnormal behavior as an illness brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism. THey point to a malfunctioning brain as the cause.
Term
Id
Definition
According to Freud, the psychological force that produces instinctual needs, drives, and impulses
Term
Ego
Definition
According to Freud, the psychological force that employs reason and operates in accordance with the reality principle
Term
Ego Defense Mechanisms
Definition
Strategies developed by the ego to control unacceptable id impulses and to avoid or reduce the anxiety they arouse.
Term
Superego
Definition
According to Freud, the psychological force that represents a person's values and ideals
Term
Fixation
Definition
A condition in which the id,ego and superego do not mature properly and are frozen at an early stage of development
Term
Manifest Content
Definition
The consciously remembered dream, latent content is its symbolic meaning
Term
Ego Theory
Definition
The theory that emphasizes the role of the go and considers it an independent force
Term
Self-Theory
Definition
The theory that emphasizes the role of the self
Term
Free association
Definition
A technique in which the patient describes any thought, feeling, or image that comes to mind
Term
Resistance
Definition
An unconscious refusal to participate fully in therapy
Term
Transference
Definition
A process that occurs during psychotherapy, in which patients act toward the therapist as they did or do toward important figues in their lives
Term
Dream
Definition
A series of ideas and images that form during sleep
Term
Catharsis
Definition
The reliving of past repressed feelings in order to settle internal conflicts and overcome problems
Term
Working Through
Definition
The psychoanalytic process of facing conflicts, reinterpreting feelings, and overcoming one's problem
Term
Conditioning
Definition
A simple form of learning
Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition
A process of learning in which behavior that leads to satisfying consequences is likely to be repeated
Term
Modeling
Definition
A process of learning in which an individual acquires responses by observing and imitating feelings
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
Learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occure close together in time become fused in a person's mind producing the same response
Term
Systematic Desensitization
Definition
Treatment in which clients with phobias learn to react calmly instead of with intense fear
Term
Cognitive Therapy
Definition
Aaron Beck, helps people recognize and change their faulty thinking
Term
Self-Actualization
Definition
Humanistic process by which people fulfill their potential for goodness and growth
Term
Client Centered Therapy
Definition
Humanistic theory developed by Carl Rogers in which clinicians try to help clients by conveying acceptance, accurate empathy, and genuineness
Term
Gesalt
Definition
The humanistic therapy developed by Perls in which clinicians actively move clients tword self-recognition and self-acceptance by using techniques such as role-playing and self-discovery exercises.
Term
Existential Therapy
Definition
A therapt that encourages clients to accept responsibility for their lives and to live with greater meaning
Term
Biophsychosocial Therapy
Definition
Explanations that attribute the cause of abnormality to an interaction of genetic, biological, developmental, emotional, etc. influences
Term
Primary Prevention
Definition
Consists of efforts to improve community attitudes and policies. It's goal is to prevent psychological disorders althogether
Term
Seconday Prevention
Definition
Consists of identifying and treating psychological disorders in early stages, before they become serious
Term
Tertiary Prevention
Definition
Provides effective treatment as soon as it is needed so that moderate or severe disorders do not become long term problems
Term
Idiographic Understanding
Definition
An understanding of the behavior of a particular individual
Term
Assessment
Definition
Process of collecting and interpreting relevant information about a client or subject
Term
Standardization
Definition
Process in which a test is administered to large group of people, whose performance then serves as a common standard or norm against which any individuals score can be measured
Term
Reliability
Definition
A measure of the consistency of test or research results
Term
Validity
Definition
The accuracy of a test's pr study's result. The extent to which the test or study actually measures or shows what it claims.
Term
Clinical Interview
Definition
A face-to-face encounter in which clinicians ask questions of clients and learn about them and their problems
Term
Mental Status Exam
Definition
A set of interview questions and observations designed to reveal the degree and natur of a client's abnormal functioning
Term
Test
Definition
A device for gathering information about a few aspects of a person's psychological functioning
Term
Projective Tests
Definition
A test consisting of material that people interpret or respond to. EX: inkblot
Term
MMPI
Definition
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The most widely used personality inventory. Consists of 550 self-statements to be labeled true or false
Term
Intelligence Test
Definition
A test designed to measure a person's intellectual ability
Term
IQ
Definition
A general score derived from intelligence tests that is considered to represent a person's overall level of intelligence
Term
Diagnosis
Definition
A determination that a person's problems reflect a particular disorder
Term
Syndrome
Definition
A cluster of symptoms that usually occur together
Term
DSM-IV
Definition
Diagnostic and Statistical Mental Disorder. Lists about 400 mental disorders
Term
Fear
Definition
The central nervous system's physiological and emotional response to a serious threat to one's well being
Term
Anxiety
Definition
The central nervous system's phsyiological and emotional response to a vague sense of threat or danger
Term
Generallized Anxiety Disorder
Definition
A disorder marked by persistent and excessive feelings of anxiety and worry about numerous events and activities
Term
Rational Emotive Therapy
Definition
Cognitive Theory developed by Ellis which helps clients to identify and change their irrational assumptions and thinking that cause their psychological disorder
Term
Phobia
Definition
A persistent and unreasonable fear of a particular object, activity, or situation
Term
Specific Phobia
Definition
A sever and persistent fear of a specific object or situation
Term
Social Phobia
Definition
A severe and persistent fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur
Term
Preparedness
Definition
A predisposition to develop certain fears
Term
Exposure Treatments
Definition
Behavioral treatment in which persons are exposed to the objects or situations they dread
Term
Systematic Desensitization
Definition
A behavioral treatment that uses a hierarchy to help clients with phobias react calmly to the objects or situations they dread
Term
Flooding
Definition
A treatment of phobias in which clients are exposed repeatedly and intensively to a feared object and made to see that it is actually harmless
Term
Modeling
Definition
The therapist confronts the feared object while the fearful person observes
Term
Panic Attacks
Definition
Periodic short bouts of panic that occur suddenly, reach a peak within minutes, and gradually pass
Term
Panic Disorder
Definition
An anxiety disorder marked by recurrent and unpredictable panic attacks
Term
Obsession
Definition
Persistent thought, idea, or image that is experienced repeatedly and causes anxiety
Term
Compulsion
Definition
Repetitive and rigid behavior or mental ac a person feels driven to perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety
Term
OCD
Definition
A disorder in which a person has recurrent and unwanted thoughts, a need to perform repetitive and rigid actions, or both
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