Details Title: Abnormal Psychology Description: chapters 1-4 Total Flash Cards: 91 Created: 02/06/2006 09:08:08		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Psychology Flashcards
Cards in this set: 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