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General Psychology
N/A
38
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
12/13/2010

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Term
What is considered "abnormal"?
Definition
*"Abnormal” is behavior or emotions that distress (cause you discomfort and anxiety), dysfunction (impair your ability to function), or deviance (deviate greatly from a cultural norm).
Term
How are psychological disorders diagnosed?
Definition
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders). 100’s of different diagnoses. Specifies exactly what symptoms must be present for particular diagnosis. # of listings in DSM has increased from handful to hundreds. CONTROVERSY: + recognize many problems, get treatment. – label everything “disorder” problematic.
Term
Three Basic Points for Modern Therapy
Definition
1 – Different disorders have different causes.
2 – The same disorder can have different causes in different people.
3 – Different treatments must be used to overcome different causes of abnormal behavior.
Term
What are the consequences of labeling someone with a psychological disorder?
Definition
People are not abnormal, behaviors are abnormal. Not “schizophrenics”, but “people who suffer from schizophrenia.”
Term
Anxiety Disorders
Definition
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Term
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Definition
*Approximately 6.8 million American adults experience GAD, affecting about twice as many women as men.
*Constant worry about many issues.
*The worry interferes with functioning.
*Physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension, irritability)
Term
Phobia (Specific and Social)
Definition
*Phobia – an intense, irrational fear that may focus on objects, events, or particular social settings.
*Specific phobias – fear of specific object.
Top three fears – 1. Snakes, 2. Being buried alive, 3. Heights
Top five fears of men – 1. Being buried alive, 2. Heights, 3. Snakes, 4. Drowning, 5. Public Speaking
Top five fears of women – 1. Snakes, 2. Being bound/tied up, 3. Being buried alive, 4. Heights, 5. Public speaking
*Some unusual specific phobias
Ailurophobia – fear of cats
Algobphobia – fear of pain
Uxoripophibia – fear of one’s wife
Monophobia – fear of being alone
Panaphobia – fear of everything
Santa phobia – fear of being stuck in a chimney
Term
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Definition
*20% of people with OCD have only obsession or compulsions; the rest have both
*Generally appears before the age of 25
*Fairly genetic
Example: A college student has the urge to shout obscenities while sitting through class. Compulsion: He checks his watch and every sixty seconds will bite his tongue to prevent himself from yelling.
Term
Panic Disorder
Definition
*Characterized by recurring severe panic attacks
Term
Mood Disorders
Definition
Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
Term
Major Depressive Disorder (biological and psychological factors)
Definition
*Depression of mood (prolonged hopelessness and lethargy; very severe)
*Lasts without remission for at least 2 weeks
*Symptoms: Sadness, feelings of worthlessness, changes in sleep, changes in eating
*Connection between stressful life events and onset of depression
*Connection between negative cognitions and depression
Term
Bipolar Disorder
Definition
*(formerly manic-depressive disorder) Cycling between depression and mania
*Mood levels swing from severe depression to extreme euphoria (mania)
*Between .6 and 1% of US population will have bipolar disorder in their lifetime.
*Affects both sexes equally.
*Onset is sudden and, typically, no precipitating event is obvious
*First episode usually manic and occurs between 20 and 30
*Fairly genetic
*Symptoms of mania: Mood or Emotional Symptoms (euphoric, elevated mood; in some cases irritability), Grandiose Cognition (no limits to abilities; flight of ideas; messengers of God), Motivation Symptoms (compulsive gambling, reckless driving, etc.), and Physical Symptoms (lessened need for sleep)
Term
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Definition
delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized behavior, negative symptoms
Term
Causes of Schizophrenia (prenatal and biochemical)
Definition
*Prenatal – Being born in winter or spring, prenatal exposure to infections
*Biochemical – Brain abnormalities such as enlarged ventricles, loss of gray matter as the disorder develops
Term
What is conformity and what is the relationship between conformity and social norms?
Definition
*Conformity – adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.
*Conformity happens because of social norms (rules)
Term
Asch's Conformity Study (methodology and results)
Definition
*It’s not easy being a minority of one (1955)
*Groups of 5 – 7 “confederates; shown a card with a line, then another card with three lines; asked which line matched the first one in length; the real participant answered last; the first few times everyone gave the obvious correct answer, then the confederates all gave a wrong answer
*Participants conformed to the majority 37% of the time; 25% conformed none of the time; 75% conformed at least once; 5% conformed every time
Term
III. Reasons for conforming (differences between informational and normative social influence)
Definition
*Informational social influence – uncertain situations lead people to look to others for information. This leads to private conformity (acceptance).
*Normative social influence: threat of negative consequences for failure results in conformity. This leads to public conformity (compliance or obedience).
Term
Milgram obedience studies
Definition
*It’s not easy saying “no” (1963, 1974)
*Done after WWII Nuremburg trials. “I was only following orders.” 63% fully complied with experimenter and administered the full range of shocks
Term
What is an attitude?
Definition
*Attitude – an evaluation (positive or negative) of an object, person, or idea
Term
Components of Attitudes
Definition
Affect
Behavioral Tendency
Cognition
Term
Bases of attitudes (differences and application)
Definition
*Cognitively – based on beliefs about merits of object. EX., Attitudes toward dishwashers (Loudness? Cleaning ability?) *Affectively – based on feelings and values more than nature of the object EX., “I don’t like you, but I love you Seems that I’m always, thinking of you You treat me badly, I love you madly…” *Behaviorally – based on how one behaves toward an object EX., (self-perception theory) “How do you feel about working out?” “I guess I don’t like it because I never do it.”
Term
Stanford Prison Experiment
Definition
24 students played prisoners; the ones playing “officers” displayed authoritarian measures, while the ones playing “prisoners” displayed passive attitudes; Zimbardo, the “Prison Superintendant”, even began to allow abuse as if it were a real prison
Term
What is cognitive dissonance?
Definition
Dissonance – an “aversive motivational state” (feeling of tension, irritation, or discomfort) that results from inconsistencies among cognitions. We want to reduce dissonance when we experience it.
Term
How is dissonance reduced?
Definition
*Change a behavior/cognition/attitude
*Add consonant cognitions (rationalize)
*Alter the importance of the cognitions (trivialize)
Term
Festinger & Carlsmith (1959) study (understand the results and the explanation behind them)
Definition
*The participants in the $1 group rated the experience more positively than those in the $20 group. The $1 group experienced dissonance between the conflicting cognitions “I told someone the task was interesting” and “I thought the task was boring”. When paid $1 participants were forced to internalize the attitude they were induced to express because they had no other justification. Those in the $20 condition had external justification for their behavior and experienced less dissonance.
Term
Principles of Persuasion
Definition
1. Reciprocation
2. Social Validation
3. Consistency/Commitment
4. Friendship/Liking
5. Scarcity
6. Authority
Term
Reciprocation
Definition
We are more willing to comply with a request from someone of who has done something for us before. E.g., free samples in stores
*Reciprocation following concessions: People are more likely to comply with a small request if they’ve initially denied a large request.
*Cialdini (1975); students asked to volunteer at Juvenile Detention Facility for 2 hours a week, for 2 years (large request) % who say yes: 0
*Then asked to escort kids to the zoo for 2 hours, for 1 evening (small request) % who say yes: 50
*Control PS (Who didn’t receive initial big request): 16%
Term
Social Validation
Definition
We are more likely to comply with a request if similar others are doing so (others as indicator of “correct” behavior). E.g., claims that a product is “fastest growing”, fund-raising drives report on who has donated or how much has been given
*Effects of social proof are strongest when: People are unsure how to act and Others are similar to the self
Term
Consistency/Commitment
Definition
After committing to a position, we are more likely to comply with requests that are consistent with that position. E.g., initiation rituals
*Commitment and the Foot-In-The-Door Effect: Getting people to comply with a small request makes them more likely to grant a larger request later.
Term
Friendship/Liking
Definition
We are more willing to comply with the requests of people we like. E.g., tupperware parties, attractive salespeople who are complimentary
Term
Scarcity
Definition
We try to secure those opportunities that are scarce or dwindling. Scarcity induces reactance (threat to freedom). E.g., “limited time offer!”, “one day sale!
*Mazis (1975); Dade County, Florida passes ban on laundry products containing phosphates. This lead to smuggling, hoarding, etc. and an increased perception of effectiveness of phosphates (compared to Tampa control subjects)
Term
Authority
Definition
We are more willing to follow the suggestions of authority figures. E.g., titles, use of “experts” in ads, uniforms/business clothing
*Hofling (1966) Researchers phone hospital wards claiming to be physician; orders 20 mg of astrogen to patient. Nurses comply 95% of the time.
Term
What is the official definition of serial killing?
Definition
*The Crime Classification Manual defines serial murder as “3 or more separate events in 3 or more separate locations with an emotional cooling off period in between the homicides.”
Term
Types of serial killers (4 types)
Definition
1.Visionary
2.Missionary-oriented
3.Hedonistic
4.Power/control-oriented
Term
Visionary Serial Killers
Definition
They believe that visions or voices guide their actions.
Term
Missionary-Oriented Serial Killers
Definition
They believe that they have to remove a certain group from society
Term
Hedonistic
Definition
Killers who derive pleasure or gain from the killing.
Term
Power/Control-Oriented
Definition
Enjoy controlling their victims with some sexual control.
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