Abnormal Psychology Chapter 1

Abnormal behavior

behavior that is inconsistent with the individual's developmental, cultural and societal norms, and creates emotional distress or interferes with daily functioning

Behavioral genetics

the field of study that explores the role of genes and environment in the transmission of behavioral traits

behaviorism

the theory that the only appropriate objects of scientific study are behaviors that can be observed and measured directly

biological scarring

the process by which years of living with a disorder cause changes in the brain

biopsychosocial perspective

the idea that biological, psychological, and social factors probably contribute to the development of abnormal behavior and that different factors are important for different individuals

classical conditioning

a form of learning in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to produce a conditioned response (CR) (ex: Pavlov's dog)

culture

shared behavioral patterns and lifestyles that differentiate one group of people from another

culture-bound syndrome

abnormal behaviors that are specific to a particular location or group

developmental trajectory

the idea that common symptoms of a disorder may vary depending on a person's age

diathesis-stress model of abnormal behavior

the idea that psychological disorders may have a biological or psychological predisposition (diathesis) that lies dormant until environmental stress occurs and the combination produces abnormal

dimensional approach

an approach to understanding behavior that considers it from a quantitative perspective (a little shy, moderately shy, a lot shy), not a qualitative perspective (shy or not shy)

ego psychology

a form of psychodynamic theory that focuses on conscious motivations and healthy forms of human functioning

emotional contagion

the automatic mimicry and synchronization of expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements of one person by another

goodness of fit

the idea that behavior is problematic or not problematic depending on the environment in which it occurs

mass hysteria

a situation in which a group of people share and sometimes even act upon a belief that is not based in fact (ex. lycanthropy)

neuron

a nerve cell found throughout the body, including the brain

neuroscience

the study of the structure and function of the nervous system and the interaction of that system and behavior

neurotransmitter

chemical substances that are released into the synapse and transmit information from one neuron to another

operant conditioning

form of learning in which behavior is acquired or changed by the events that happen afterward

phenomenology

a school of thought that holds that one's subjective perception of the world is more important than the world in actuality

placebo effect

effect in which symptoms are diminished or eliminated not because of any specific treatment but because the patient believes that a treatment is effective

psychoanalysis

theory of abnormal behavior originated by Freud that was based on the belief that many aspects of behavior were controlled by unconscious innate biological urges that existed from infancy

punishment

application of something painful or the removal of something positive

reinforcement

a contingent event that strengthens the response that precedes it

scientist-practitioner approach

approach to psychological disorders based on the concept that when providing treatment to people with psychological disorders, the psychologist relies on the findings of research, and in turn, when conducting research, the psychologist investigates topics

sociocultural model

idea that abnormal behavior must be understood within the context of social and cultural forces

synapse

space between neurons

talking cure

therapy in the form of discussion of psychological distress with a trained professional, leading to the elimination of distressing symptoms

trephination

the process in which a circular instrument was used to cut away sections of the skull, possibly in an attempt to release demons from the brain

vicarious conditioning

a distinct type of learning in which the person need not actually do the behavior in order to acquire it

viral infection theory

the theory that during the prenatal period or shortly after birth, viral infections could cause some psychological disorders