Chapter 2 Flashcards
(57 cards)
It is a flexible, well-rounded way of understanding and treating mental disorders by combining multiple factors and techniques to best help the individual.
Multidimensional Integrative/Eclectic Approach
What are the influences in abnormal behavior?
Behavioral Influences
Biological Influences
Emotional Influences
Social Influences
Developmental Influences
These involve how a person learns from their environment—through conditioning, reinforcement, or modeling others. Maladaptive behaviors may develop if they are learned or rewarded.
Behavioral Influences
These relate to genetics, brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, and physical health. A person might be more vulnerable to mental illness due to inherited traits or brain dysfunction.
Biological Influences
Emotions can affect how we think and behave. Chronic negative emotions like fear, anger, or sadness can contribute to the development or worsening of disorders.
Emotional Influences
These include family dynamics, peer relationships, cultural expectations, and societal pressures. Isolation, abuse, or lack of support can play a role in psychological issues.
Social Influences
Developmental Influences
These consider a person’s age and stage in life. Certain disorders may appear at specific developmental periods due to vulnerabilities or missed milestones.
Scenario:
Maria developed a fear of dogs after being bitten by one as a child. Now, even seeing a small dog on TV causes her anxiety.
What most likely influenced Maria’s abnormal behavior?
A. Biological Influences
B. Emotional Influences
C. Behavioral Influences
D. Social Influences
C. Behavioral Influences
→ Her fear was learned through a traumatic experience (classical conditioning).
Jake has a family history of depression. Even though his life circumstances are stable, he experiences persistent low mood and fatigue. His doctor finds low levels of serotonin in his brain.
What most likely influenced Jake’s abnormal behavior?
A. Social Influences
B. Biological Influences
C. Behavioral Influences
D. Developmental Influences
B. Biological Influences
→ The presence of depression in his family and imbalanced brain chemicals point to biological causes.
What is a predisposing factor in the development of a psychological disorder?
A predisposing factor is something that puts an individual at risk of developing a psychological disorder. It can include genetic factors, childhood trauma, or environmental influences.
Scenario:
Samantha has a family history of anxiety disorders. Her parents both struggle with anxiety, and she grew up in a stressful environment.
What is the factor that affects Samantha’s potential development of anxiety?
A. Precipitating Factor
B. Perpetuating Factor
C. Protective Factor
D. Predisposing Factor
D. Predisposing Factor
→ The family history of anxiety and stressful upbringing make her more vulnerable to developing the disorder.
What is a precipitating factor in the development of a psychological disorder?
A precipitating factor is an event or trigger that causes or accelerates the onset of a psychological disorder. This could include a traumatic event, loss, or major life change.
Scenario:
Carlos was involved in a serious car accident and has since started experiencing panic attacks whenever he gets into a vehicle.
What is the factor that affects Carlos’s panic attacks?
A. Protective Factor
B. Perpetuating Factor
C. Precipitating Factor
D. Predisposing Factor
C. Precipitating Factor
→ The car accident is the event that triggered the onset of his panic attacks.
What is a perpetuating factor in the development of a psychological disorder?
A perpetuating factor is something that maintains or worsens the disorder over time, such as poor coping mechanisms, lack of treatment, or ongoing stress.
Scenario:
Rachel has been feeling depressed for months. She isolates herself from friends, avoids seeking help, and continues to dwell on negative thoughts.
What is the factor that affects Rachel’s depression?
A. Precipitating Factor
B. Perpetuating Factor
C. Protective Factor
D. Predisposing Factor
B. Perpetuating Factor
→ Her isolation, avoidance of help, and negative thought patterns are keeping her depression ongoing.
What is a protective factor in the development of a psychological disorder?
A protective factor is something that reduces the likelihood of developing a disorder, such as supportive relationships, good coping strategies, or access to mental health care.
Scenario:
Tom has a supportive family, enjoys a strong social network of friends, and practices mindfulness to manage stress. Despite facing challenges at work, he maintains good mental health.
What is the factor that influence Tom’s resilience?
A. Perpetuating Factor
B. Predisposing Factor
C. Protective Factor
D. Precipitating Factor
C. Protective Factor
→ His supportive relationships, social network, and stress management techniques are protecting him from developing a disorder.
Using _____________ of genetics we can predict fairly accurately how many offspring will develop a certain trait, characteristic, or disorder, depending on whether one or both of the parents carry that dominant gene.
Mendelian laws
True or False: It has also become clear that adverse life events such as a “chaotic” childhood can overwhelm the influence of genes
TRUE
True or False: For psychological disorders, the evidence indicates that genetic factors make some contribution to all disorders but account for less than half of the explanation.
TRUE
Genetic Endowment and Stress Susceptibility
Genetic endowment refers to the genetic makeup inherited from one’s parents, which can influence various traits, including susceptibility to stress. Some individuals may have genetic variations that make their stress-response systems more sensitive or reactive. This heightened sensitivity can lead them to perceive and react to stressors more intensely than others, potentially increasing their risk of developing stress-related disorders. Studies have identified specific genes involved in the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that are associated with altered stress responses
Genetic Vulnerability, Personality Traits, and Environmental Risk Factors
Genetic vulnerabilities can predispose individuals to certain disorders, but personality traits can influence how they interact with their environment, potentially creating situations that trigger these disorders. For example, consider someone with a genetic predisposition to blood-injury-injection phobia. If this person also has an impulsive personality, they might engage in risky behaviors, such as rushing through tasks or neglecting safety precautions, leading to accidents where they might see blood. These self-created situations can act as environmental triggers, activating their genetic vulnerability and increasing the likelihood of developing the phobia. Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors, including personality traits and life experiences, interact in complex ways to influence the development of phobias and other anxiety disorders.
True or False: Both genetic factors and personality traits can shape how individuals respond to their environment. When these responses lead to exposure to specific stressors, they can trigger the onset of psychological disorders, especially in those with a genetic predisposition. This interplay underscores the importance of considering both innate and environmental factors when examining the origins of mental health conditions.
True
The human nervous system includes the ___________, consisting of the ______ and the ___________, and the __________, consisting of the ______________ and the ______________.
central nervous system, consisting of the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, consisting of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
