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