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Abnormal Psychology > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the elements in the definition of abnormal psychology?

A

Understanding:
- Nature of mental disorders
- Causes of mental disorders
- Treatment of mental disorders

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2
Q

Why do some object to the teaching of Abnormal Psychology?

A

What is considered to be abnormal in some cultures may not be considered abnormal in others

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3
Q

List the elements/indicators of abnormality

A
  • Subjective distress
  • Maladaptiveness
  • Statistical deviancy
  • Violation of society’s standards
  • Social discomfort
  • Irrationality & unpredictability
  • Dangerousness
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4
Q

What are the 3 types of neurotransmitters?

A
  • Excitatory
  • Inhibitory
  • Neuromodulatory
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5
Q

What do the major psychological theories/models have in common?

A
  • All emphasize the importance of causal factors of a characteristic type
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6
Q

How do the major psychological models differ?

A
  • Psychoanalytic: Assumes that there is an unconscious self
  • Behavioralist: Assumes behavior structures thought
  • Cognitive-Behavioral: Assumes thought structures behavior
  • Humanism: Assumes that there is free will
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7
Q

Can you recognize what type of research design is being used in a given study?

A

Correlational, Experimental, Case Studies, Longitudinal

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8
Q

What does reliability and validity mean in terms of a classification/diagnostic category, such as a diagnosis in DSM 5?

A
  • Reliability: The degree to which different clinicians consistently agree on a patient’s symptoms and diagnosis
  • Validity: The degree to which a clinician can determine the present and future course of a patient’s disorder
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9
Q

When tests have reliability and validity, what does it mean?

A
  • Reliability: Results are consistent across multiple studies/tests
  • Validity: A test accurately measures what it is supposed to measure
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10
Q

Stress is defined by chance, intensity, duration, and cumulative amount. What are some of the recommendations for managing stress?

A
  • Healthy diet and sleep
  • Emotional regulation
  • Emotional disclosure
  • Biofeedback
  • Relaxation/Meditation
  • CBT
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11
Q

Based on what we know about stress, when is someone most likely to get sick?

A

Long-term stressors
- Cytokine production decreases during an increased activity of stress/conflict in the brain

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12
Q

Abnormal Psychology definition

A

Domain of psychology concerned with assessment, treatment, and prevention of “abnormal” behavior

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13
Q

ABAB Design

A

Experimental design; (A) Baseline, (B) Treatment, (A) Baseline/Removing treatment, (B) Treatment reinstated

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14
Q

Definition of Acute

A

A disorder with a sudden onset–usually with intense symptoms

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15
Q

Analog Studies

A

Researchers attempt to emulate conditions that are hypothesized to lead to an abnormality

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16
Q

Bias

A

Preconceived ideas and expectations influence observations and conclusions in studies

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17
Q

Case Study

A

Investigation of individual or family

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18
Q

Chronic Definition

A

Long-standing, constant

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19
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

A statistic that represents the strength of a correlation; positive or negative

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20
Q

Criterion Group

A

Group of subjects that exhibit a disorder being studied

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21
Q

Dependent Variable

A

Factor expected to chage with manipulated (independent) variables

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22
Q

Double-Blind Study

A

Experiment in which neither participants nor researcher knows if the subject received the treatment or not

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23
Q

Epidemiology

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A

Study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a population

24
Q

Etiology

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A

Factors that are related to the development, or cause, of a disorder

25
External Validity
The extent to which findings in a study are relevant to other populations, contexts, or times
26
Generalizability
The extent to which findings in a study can be used to draw conclusions about other samples
27
Incidence
Onset rate of a disorder in a given population
28
Internal Validity
The extent to which a study is free of confounds, is methodologically sound, and allows researchers to have confidence in their findings
29
Labeling
Assigning a person to a particular diagnostic category (ex. schizophrenia)
30
Nomenclature
A formalized naming system
31
1-year Prevalence
Total number of cases of a condition in a population for a given year
32
Prospective Research
Research method that focuses on those with a higher-than-average likelihood of becoming psychologically disordered before the abnormal behavior is observed
33
Retrospective Research
Research approach that attempts to retrace early life events
34
Statistical Significance
The probability that a research finding could have occurred by chance alone
35
Catharsis
Discharge of emotional tension caused by, or associated with, something (ex. discussing past trauma)
36
Free Association
Method to probe the unconscious by having patients talk freely about themselves
37
Attachment Theory
(Contemporary) Developmental and Psychodynamic theory that emphasizes the importance of experiences with attachment relationships early in life. The early-life attachment relationships lay the foundation for functioning later in life
38
Behaviorism
(Watson) Believes psychology should be treated as an objective science that studies behavior without referencing mental processes - Behavior structures thought
39
Biopsychosocial Viewpoint
Approach to mental disorders that emphasizes biological causations
40
Behavioral Perspective
Viewpoint that emphasizes that learning is central in determining human behavior
41
Cytokines
Small protein molecules that enable the brain and immune system to communicate with each other
42
Antigens
A foreign body (ex. virus, bacteria) or internal threat (ex. tumor) that can trigger an immune system response
43
T-Score Distribution
Standard distribution of scores that allows for a comparison of scores in a test by comparing scores with a group of unknown values
44
Standardization
- Process that ensures a test is uniform and is set to meet a specific standard. - An assessment is approached and scored the same way each time
45
What is the difference between Symptoms and Signs?
Symptoms: Patient's subjective experience Signs: Objective observations from a clinician
46
Projective Personality Tests
Assessments that present stimuli without a specified meaning to subjects, and their responses can be interpreted to identify underlying personality characteristics
47
Objective Personality Tests
Structured tests used in psychological assessments (ex. self-inventories)
48
Neuropsychological Assessment
Tests that measure a person's cognitive, perceptual, and motor performance to obtain clues to the extent and location of brain damage
49
Inter-rater Reliability
A measure of an agreement between different raters that have assessed the same person
50
What is the difference between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?
MRI: Internal scanning that measures variations in magnetic fields in order to have a visualization of anatomical features of internal organs fMRI: Internal scanning that measures changes in blood flow in the brain in order to map psychological activity (ex. sensations, images, thoughts)
51
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Graphical record of a brain's electrical activity that is obtained by placing electrodes on the scalp and measuring brain wave impulses
52
Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine gland associated with many regulatory functions - Regulates growth and control of hormones
53
Phenotype
Observed structural and functional characteristics of a person that result from interactions between genotypes and the environment
54
Object Relations Theory
- Psychoanalytic theory - Viewpoint that focuses on an infant or young child's interactions with real or imagined "objects", in addition to how they make symbolic representations of important people in their lives
55
Neurotransmitters
Chemical substances that are released into a synapse by a pre-synaptic neuron, as well as transmitting nerve impulses from one neuron to another
56
Necessary Cause
A condition that must exist for a disorder to occur

Abnormal Psychology (8 decks)

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