Intro to Psych Flashcards
unit 4a and 4b (119 cards)
1
Q
Intelligence tests
A
- used to measure general mental ability.
- aptitude tests and achievement tests
2
Q
Achievement tests
A
measure learning in a given field. tests designed to access what a person has learned like psychology and math
3
Q
Aptitude tests
A
assess specific types of mental abilities. standardized tests like the ACTs or
SATs
4
Q
A
5
Q
Intelligence
A
- intelligence is the general abilities that help people achieve their goals.
- Alfred Binet developed the first modern intelligence test.
- designed to predict school performance in children.
6
Q
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
A
- IQ of the average child via the Stanford-Binet is 100.
- take the person’s mental age, divide it by their chronological age and multiply by
100: mental age / chronological age) x 100 = IQ
7
Q
MA / CA x 100 = IQ
A
- bright child would perform like a normal child of an older age.)
- chronological age (CA): number of years since
birth. - mental age (MA): the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of intelligence test performance.
8
Q
Stanford-Binet
A
- Lewis Terman from Stanford University revised Binet’s IQ test for use in the United States
- presently called the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
- designed to produce a score of general intelligence
9
Q
Standardization
A
process used to develop norms
* norm is the comparison average
10
Q
Valid test
A
the test must measure whatever attribute it is suppose to be measuring
11
Q
Reliable test
A
it must produce about the same result every time it is used to measure the same thing (the consistency of the measuring device)
12
Q
Bell Curve
A
displays a normal distribution
13
Q
Nature v.s. Nurture
A
- intelligence is inherited and is a product of an individual’s environmental experiences
- intelligence is dependent on both heredity and life experiences
- IQ scores not very dependable till about age 6
- IQs tend to be stable, thereafter, may continue to gradually increase until middle age
- around the age of fifty, for some people, IQ scores may decline slightly.
- performance based portions of IQ tests tend to show a decrease with age, but verbal based portions do not
- not everyone shows age related IQ declines
14
Q
Gardener: multiple intelligence
A
- Gardener believes that there are different
types of intelligence. - musical, verbal, mathematical, spatial, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalistic, etc
- each of the intelligences involve unique
cognitive skills and can be destroyed
by brain damage - each of the intelligences can show up in
exaggerated fashion in individuals who have mental retardation
15
Q
Creativity
A
the ability to think of things in novel and unusual ways
* creativity is primarily associated with
divergent thinking
16
Q
Divergent thinking
A
One tries to expand the range of alternatives by generating many possible solutions.
17
Q
Convergent thinking
A
- one tries to narrow down a list of alternatives converge on a single correct answer
- convergent thinking is commonly required on IQ tests
18
Q
Psychological tests
A
- a standardized measure of a sample of a person’s behavior
- used to measure individual differences
- mental ability (intelligence) and personality tests
19
Q
Personality tests
A
- measure various aspects of personality;
(motives, interests, values, attitudes) - (example: MMPI.)
20
Q
Basic Process of Memory
A
- Three basic processes:
encoding, storage, retrieval. - Order of the processes in which
information enters our memory
system and is later used: - encoding->storage->retrieval.
21
Q
Encoding
A
- Information in via sensory
processes. - Is the process of registering
information. - (via a code, acoustic, visual,
tactile)
22
Q
Storage
A
The maintenance of information
over time.
23
Q
Retrieval
A
- Information out.
- Finding information in memory
stores and bringing it to
awareness. - The process of recalling a
memory.
24
Q
Memory function
A
- Sensory memory holds
information only long enough
for it to be processed and for
stimulus identification to occur
(a few seconds).
25
Short Term Memory (working memory)
* 2nd component of the human
memory system.
* Capacity is very limited (can hold an average of 7 items, including chunks).
* chunking: putting items into
meaningful “chunks”, units
* Information reaching
short-term memory can
be consciously
manipulated and thought
about;
* Helps you solve
problems by storing,
organizing and
integrating facts.
* (ex. listen to a lecture, the
information is held in
STM until you write it
down in your notes).
26
Long term memory (LTM)
* Is the system that holds our
memories.
* Has an almost unlimited storage
capacity
27
Episodic Memory
Made up of temporally dated
recollections of personal
experiences
* (events at which you were
present)
* (ex. vacation memories)
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Semantic Memory
* General knowledge that is not tied
to the time when the information
was learned.
* not necessarily tied to memory of a
specific event.
* (ex. capital of OR (Salem))
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Procedural Memory
* Memory for actions, skills, and
operations.
* (ex. Knowing how to ride a
bike).
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Prospective Memory
* Involves remembering to perform
actions in the future.
* (ex. Dentist appointment next
Wednesday.)
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Retrospective Memory
* Involves remembering events from
the past or previously learned
information
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Recall Measure
* A measure that requires subjects
(people) to reproduce
knowledge w/o cues.
* (ex. A fill in the blanks type
exam.)
33
Recognition Measure
* Asking one to answer a
question based on cues, such as
a multiple-choice question
34
Forgetting
* Often occurs due to decay.
* Decay occurs when unused memory
representations slowly fade over time.
35
Interference
* Causes “forgetting” when one
piece of information impairs
either the encoding or retrieval
of another piece of information
36
Retroactive Interference
* Occurs when new information
impairs the retention of
previously learned information,
when new learning interferes
with the retrieval of older
learning.
* (ex. Move to new home, have a
new phone #; can no longer
remember old phone #.)
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Proactive Interference
* Occurs when previously learned
information interferes with the
retention of new information;
* occurs when old learning
interferes with remembering
new learning
38
Motivated Forgetting
* Tend to forget those things we
don’t want to remember or
don’t want to do.
39
psychological disorder (mental disorder)
“a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.
40
Psychopathology
the study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, etiology (i.e., their causes), and treatment. the inability to behave in ways that foster personal
well-being; engaging in abnormal or maladaptive
behavior.
41
comorbidity
the co-occurrence of two disorders. For example, the DSM-5 mentions that 41% of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. often the symptoms of each can interact in negative ways.
42
supernatural perspective
attributed to a force beyond scientific understanding. Those afflicted were thought to be practitioners of black magic or possessed by spirits.
43
specific ___ and genetic mutations that contribute to mental disorders
genes
44
diathesis-stress model by Zuckerman 1999
integrates biological and psychosocial factors to predict the likelihood of a disorder. This diathesis-stress model suggests that people with an underlying predisposition for a disorder are more likely than others to develop a disorder when faced with adverse environmental or psychological events, such as childhood maltreatment, negative life events, trauma, etc.
45
Many theories suggest that phobias develop through ___.
learning
46
first pathway
The first pathway is through classical conditioning. For example, a child who has been bitten by a dog may come to fear dogs because of a past association with pain. In this case, the dog bite is the UCS and the fear it elicits is the UCR. Because a dog was associated with the bite, any dog may come to serve as a conditioned stimulus, thereby eliciting fear; the fear the child experiences around dogs, then, becomes a CR.
47
third pathway
The third pathway is through verbal transmission or information. For example, a child whose parents, siblings, friends, and classmates constantly tell them how disgusting and dangerous snakes are may come to acquire a fear of snakes.
47
second pathway
The second pathway of phobia acquisition is through vicarious learning, such as modeling. For example, a child who observes their cousin react fearfully to spiders may later express the same fears, even though spiders have never presented any danger to them. This phenomenon has been observed in both humans and nonhuman primates.
48
safety behaviors
mental or behavioral acts that reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes. Safety behaviors include avoiding eye contact, rehearsing sentences before speaking, talking only briefly, and not talking about oneself.
49
Abnormal Psychology
branch of the science of psychology that addresses
the description, causes and treatment of patterns of
abnormal behavior.
50
Abnormal
behavior characteristics
atypical (unusual)
socially unacceptable or violates social norms
perception or interpretation of reality is faulty
distressing to the individual
maladaptive or self-defeating
dangerous
51
Risk Factors for Mental
Disorders
social conditions
poverty,
stressful living conditions
homelessness
overcrowding
family factors
parents who are immature, mentally disturbed, criminal or abusive
severe marital tension in the household
poor, inconsistent or harsh child discipline
psychological factors
low intelligence
learning disorders
biological factors
genetic defects
inherited vulnerabilities
poor prenatal care
very low birth weight
chronic phys illness or disability
exposure to toxic chemicals or drugs
head injuries
52
psychotic disorders
most severe of psychopathology (schizophrenia)
53
organic mental disorders
caused by brain pathology (drug damage, Alzheimer’s)
54
psychoactive substance use disorders
drug addiction
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mood disorders
unipolar, bipolar
56
anxiety disorders
(phobias, panic disorder,
generalized anxiety disorder...)
57
trauma disorders
(posttraumatic stress
disorder...)
58
obsessive-compulsive related disorders
obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding...
59
somatoform disorders
conversion disorder
60
dissociative disorders
amnesia, dissociative identity disorder
61
personality disorders
paranoid, narcissistic, antisocial
62
paraphilias
voyeurism, fetishism
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Anxiety Disorders
Most common psych disorder in US that people seek treatment for; mood disorders are second most common.
Anxiety: feeling of dread, apprehension or fear, accompanied by physiological arousal; a response to an unclear or ambiguous threat.
Person’s distress is out of proportion to the
situation.
Physical reactions: heart pounds, mouth dry, legs shaky, nauseated.
64
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
free-floating anxiety; uncontrollable, excessive anxiety and excessive worry across several situations
vague unexplained but intense fears that are not attached to any particular object.
worry and anxiety happens on more days than not, and persists for six months or more.
65
Panic Disorder
Involves anxiety without a specific cause and is characterized by sudden panic attacks.
(Recurrent, intense and sudden onset of anxiety
66
Phobic Disorder
Exaggerated, irrational fears pertaining to
particular object, activities or situations that
persist even when there is no real danger.
67
Simple Phobia (or specific phobia)
Simple (or specific phobia): fear of specific types of objects or situations and avoidance of such objects or situations.
It is not unusual to have more than one phobia.
Having one phobia increases the chances of having another.
68
Specific Phobias are divided into five types.
Situational Type (bridges, boats, airplanes, etc.)
Natural Environment Type (thunderstorms, heights, etc.)
Blood-Injury-Injection Type (seeing blood, getting an injection, etc.)
Animal Type (dogs, snakes, rats, etc.)
Other Type (clowns, fear of vomiting, etc.)
69
Agoraphobia
Fear of having an anxiety attack & losing control in public places or in an unfamiliar situation; fear of leaving the house and familiar surroundings.
70
Selective mutism
child or adult persistently refuses to speak in specific situations where speaking is expected.
71
DSM-IV v.s. DSM-V
Up until recently (with the “new” DSM V) OCD was included in the Anxiety Disorders spectrum. It now is in a separate “Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder” grouping.
72
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorders
characterized by repetitive thoughts, distressing emotions, and compulsive behaviors. Obsessive: images or thoughts that intrude into the consciousness against the person’s will. Compulsive: person feels driven to repeat irrational acts. Compulsive act helps control or block out anxiety
caused by the obsession.
73
Hair Pulling Disorder (Trichotillomania)
recurrent pulling (removal) of one's hair. The disorder is more common in women and often begins during the onset of puberty.
74
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Extreme response to a severe stressor involving re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, a numbing of emotional responses, and symptoms of increased
arousal.
75
Adjustment Disorder (nervous breakdown)
Life’s stresses are too much to handle, often treated w/rest, supportive counseling and time.
76
Dissociative Amnesia
The inability to recall one’s name, address or past (personal information)
77
Dissociative Fugue
Fleeing from familiar surroundings to escape extreme conflict or threat (usually coupled with amnesia
78
Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality)
Two or more separate personalities exist in an individual.
Often have a history of extreme physical and sexual abuse.
79
Mood Disorders
Involve disturbances in affect (emotion)
Bipolar Disorder (manic-depression)
Unipolar Disorder (depression)
80
Unipolar
Is diagnosed when one experiences only one of the affect disturbances:
Depression (or Manic-not normally considered a disorder)
81
Bipolar
Manic-depressive: roller-coaster of emotions.
Person alternates between depression and mania or alternates between depression, normality and mania.
82
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Periods of depression or mania that tend to occur repeatedly about the same time each year.
83
Somatoform Disorders
A physical ailment that results from psychological factors without any accompanying physical basis.
84
Hypochondriasis
A preoccupation w/bodily symptoms that might involve physical illness.
A tendency to misinterpret minor bodily changes as being indicative of serious illness.
85
Conversion Disorder
Emotional conflicts are “converted” into symptoms that actually disturb physical functioning or closely resemble a physical disability.
86
Personality Disorders
Inflexible traits which impair social &/or
occupational functioning. However, the person does have contact with reality.
Usually begins before adulthood and persists throughout life without much variation.
Often a person will have more than one
personality disorder.
87
Borderline PD
Emotional
Extreme mood swings
Angry
Impulsive & unpredictable behavior
Unstable self-image
Unstable & intense relationships
Tendency to throw temper tantrums
Depressive, anxious, irritable
Manipulative
“Two-faced”
88
Histrionic PD
Overly dramatic
Attention seeking
Self-centered
Shallow
'The whole world is a stage'
89
Narcissistic PD
Self-centered
Fantasies of success
Grandiose view of their own uniqueness and abilities
Charming
Flirtatious
Likable and social
Displays a lot of sexually provocative behaviors, but withdraws from deep relationships.
90
Antisocial PD (psychopath, sociopath)
Signs of this disorder are usually seen before age 15 when it may be diagnosed as “conduct disorder” or “oppositional defiance disorder” (during childhood and adolescence). Antisocials do not seem to learn from negative experiences or to fear punishment. Will respond to certain types of situations or rewards, such as money.
Cannot be “cured”
Consistently disregards other people’s rights.
Charming
No shame
No Remorse
Doesn’t feel guilt
Unable to form sincere relationships
Blunt and insensitive
Projects a bully image
Provokes fear in others
Does not take responsibility for their actions
Risk taker (& gets trills from taking risks)
Hard nosed, no nonsense types.
Attributes their own aggression to others.
Are competitive
91
Schizophrenia
Severe disorder characterized by disturbances of thought, emotion and behavior.
Individual may have one episode only, or symptoms may be controlled with meds, or not in cases of severe schizophrenia.
92
Psychosis
Severe mental disorder in which thinking and emotion are so impaired that the individual is seriously out of contact with reality.
Withdrawal from contact with others.
A loss of interest in external activities.
A breakdown of personal habits & ability to deal with daily events.
Individual may experience delusions, hallucinations and other thought abnormalities.
May engage in psychomotor abnormalities.
93
Positive Symptoms
Additions to normal behaviors, such as delusions and hallucinations.
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Psychomotor Abnormalities
Unresponsiveness or agitated, purposeless
behavior.
95
Types of Schizophrenia
Catatonic
Disorganized
Paranoid
Undifferentiated
96
Catatonic
Characterized by psychomotor disturbances.
Stupor
Rigidity
Unresponsiveness
Posturing
Mutism
Occasional agitated, purposeless behavior.
Make same bizarre motions over and over.
Waxy Flexibility
97
Disorganized
Experiences hallucinations and delusions.
Grossly disorganized behavior.
Silliness.
Inappropriate laugher.
Obscene behavior.
Bizarre thinking.
Inappropriate emotions.
Incoherence.
Use of clang associations, word salads,
derailment of speech.
Clang associations: words are used together simply because they rhyme or sound similar.
98
Paranoid
Experiences hallucinations and delusions of
grandeur and persecutions.
99
Undifferentiated
Schizophrenia in which there are prominent psychotic symptoms, but none of the specific features of catatonic, disorganized or paranoid types.
100
Classifying Mental Disorders
DSM-V: manual used by therapists, clinicians, insurers, etc. that is a classification system that categorizes mental disorders on the basis of their
symptoms.
101
Psychotherapy
any psychological technique used to facilitate positive changes in a person’s
personality, behavior or adjustment.
102
Trepanning
a hole bored, chipped or bashed into
the skull of the patient, presumably to relieve pressure or release evil spirits.
103
Demonology
abnormal behavior attributed to supernatural forces.
104
Psychoanalysis
vmain purpose of treatment is to unlock the unconscious.
Therapy stresses that repressed memories,
motives ane conflicts (stemming from instinctual drives for sex and aggression) were the cause of neurosis,
105
Techniques used during Psychoanalysis
free association
analysis of resistance
analysis of transference
dream analysis
106
Free Association
Patient says whatever comes to mind, thoughts are allowed to move freely roam one association to the next.
107
Analysis of Resistance
If patient resists talking about or thinking about certain topics these resistances are said to reveal important, unconscious issues.
108
Analysis of Transference
The individual undergoing psychoanalysis may transfer feelings to the therapist that relate important past relationships with others.
109
Dream Analysis
Dreams were thought to contain manifest
content (dream as it is recalled & reported by patient and latent content (dream as a symbolic representation of the contents of the unconscious)
110
Humanistic Therapies
Client-centered therapy explores the conscious thoughts and feelings; believes that what is right or valuable or the therapist may not be right and
valuable for client. Is non-directive.
Client is the center of a process of personal
growth.
111
Biological Perspective
Emphasizes physical causes for behavioral
and/or mental problems.
112
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Interest is in thoughts, as well as visible behavior.
Self-instructional training: person is taught to think rational, positive thoughts instead of irrational, negative ones.
113
Behavioral Therapies
Many are based on unlearning.
Therapy’s aim is to change a client's problematic behavior.
Systematic desensitization, flooding, role play, aversion conditioning, behavior modification (techniques of classical and or operant conditioning).
114
Aversion Therapy
individual learns to associate a
strong aversion (or negative emotion response) to an undesirable habit such as smoking, drinking or gambling.
115
Systematic Desensitization
Based on principle of reciprocal inhibition,
whereby one emotional state is used to prevent the occurrence of another can't be relaxed and tense at the same time).
Desensitization is brought about by gradually approaching a feared stimulus while maintaining complete relaxation.
1. Client lists hierarchy of fear-provoking situation;
2. Client is taught to relax;
3. Client performs the least disturbing item on list, then moves up the list.
116
Vicarious Desensitization
Learn by watching someone else, experience through another
117
Flooding
Person is confronted with object of fear while accompanied by therapist (cold turkey extinction).
118
Token Economies
A form of operant conditioning: the preferable therapy if you want to establish positive behaviors rather than eliminate negative ones.
Tokens are symbolic rewards that can be
exchanged for real rewards.
