| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Hallucinations | perceptions experienced in the absence of external stimuli |
| Delusions | fixed but patently false beliefs, such as believing that one is being hounded by demons |
| Culture-bound syndromes | psychological disorders found in only one or a few cultures |
| Dhat syndrome | culture-bound syndrome found in India in which men develop intense fears about losing semen |
| Medical model | framework for understanding abnormal behavior patterns as symptoms of underlying physical disorders or diseases |
| Biopsychosocial model | integrative model for explaining abnormal behavior patterns in terms of the interactions of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors |
| Diathesis-stress model | type of biopsychosocial model that relates the development of disorders to the combination of a diathesis, or predisposition, usually genetic in origin, and exposure to stressful events or life circumstances |
| Diathesis | vulnerability or predisposition to developing a disorder |
| Psychological disorders | abnormal behavior patterns characterized by disturbances in behavior, thinking, perceptions, or emotions that are associated with significant personal distress or impaired functioning |
| Anxiety disorders | class of psychological disorders characterized by excessive or inappropriate anxiety reactions |
| Phobias | excessive fears of particular objects or situations |
| Social phobis | type of anxiety disorder involving excessive fear of social situations |
| Specific phobia | phobic reactions involving specific situations or objects |
| Acrophobia | excessive fear of heights |
| Claustrophobia | excessive fear of enclosed spaces |
| Agoraphobia | excessive, irrational fear of being in public spaces |
| Panic disorder | type of anxiety disorder involving repeated episodes of sheer terror called panic attacks |
| Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) | type of anxiety disorder involving persistent and generalized anxiety and worry |
| Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | type of anxiety disorder involving the repeated occurrence of obsessions and/or compulsions |
| Anxiety sensitivity | fear of fear, involving excessive concern that anxiety symptoms will spin out of control |
| Dissociative disorders | class of psychological disorders involving changes in consciousness, memory, or self-identity |
| Somatoform disorders | class of psychological disorders involving physical ailments or complaints that cannot be explained by organic causes |
| Dissociative identity disorder (DID) | type of dissociative disorder characterized by the appearance of multiple personalities in the same individual |
| Conversion disorder | type of somatoform disorder characterized by change or loss of a physical function that cannot be explained by medical causes |
| Hypochondriasis | somatoform disorder in which there is excessive concern that one's physical complaints are signs of underlying serious illness |
| Secondary gain | reward value of having a psychological or physical symptom, such as release from ordinary responsibilities |
| Mood disorders | class of psychological disorders involving disturbances in mood states, such as major depression and bipolar disorder |
| Major depressive disorder | most common type of depressive disorder, characterized by periods of downcast mood, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities |
| Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) | type of major depression that involves a recurring pattern of winter depressions followed by elevations of mood in the spring and summer |
| Dysthymic disorder | type of psychological disorder characterized by mild but chronic depression |
| Bipolar disorder | type of mood disorder characterized by mood swings from extreme elation to severe depression |
| Manic episodes | periods of mania, or unusually elevated mood and extreme restlessness |
| Cyclothymic disorder | mood disorder characterized by a chronic pattern of relatively mild mood swings |
| Learned helplessness model | View that depression results from the perception of a lack of control over the reinforcements in one's life that may result from exposure to uncontrollable negative events |
| Attributional style | person's characteristic way of explaining outcomes of events in his or her life |
| Depressive attributional style | characteristic way of explaining negative events in terms of internal, stable, and global causes |
| Disinhibition effect | removal of normal restraints or inhibitions that serve to keep impulsive behavior in check |
| Schizophrenia | severe and chronic psychological disorder characterized by disturbances in thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior |
| Psychotic disorder | psychological disorder characterized by a 'break' with reality |
| Thought disorder | breakdown in the logical structure of thought and speech, revealed in the form of a loosening of associations |
| Positive symptoms | symptoms of schizophrenia involving behavioral excesses, such as hallucinations and delusions |
| Negative symptoms | behavioral deficits associated with schizophrenia, such as withdrawl and apathy |
| Disorganized type | subtype of schizophrenia characterized by confused behavior and disorganized delusions, among other features |
| Catatonic type | subtype of schizophrenia characterized by bizarre movements, postures, or grimaces |
| Waxy flexibility | feature of catatonic schizophrenia in which people rigidly maintain the body position or posture in which they are placed by others |
| Paranoid type | most common subtype of schizophrenia, characterized by the appearance of delusional thinking accompanied by frequent auditory hallucinations |
| Personality disorders | class of psychological disorders characterized by rigid personality traits that impair people's ability to adjust to the demands they face in the environment and that interfere with their relationships with others |
| Narcissistic personality disorder | type of personality disorder characterized by a grandiose sense of self |
| Paranoid personality disorder | type of personality disorder characterized by extreme suspiciousness or mistrust of others |
| Schizoid personality disorder | type of personality disorder characterized by social aloofness and limited range of emotional expression |
| Borderline personality disorder | type of personality disorder characterized by unstable emotions and self-image |
| Antisocial personality disorder (APD) | type of personality disorder characterized by callous attitudes toward others and by antisocial and irresponsible behavior |
| All-or-nothing thinking | viewing events in black or white terms, as either all good or all bad |
| All-or-nothing thinking example | Do you view an ended relationship as a total failure? |
| Misplaced blame | tedency to blame or criticize yourself for disappointments or setbacks while ignoring external circumstances |
| Misplaced blame example | Do you automatically assume when things don't go as planned it's your fault? |
| Misfortune telling | tendency to think that one disappointment will inevitably lead to another |
| Misfortune telling example | If you get a rejection letter from a job you applied for, do you assume that all the other applications you sent will meet a similar fate? |
| Negative focusing | focusng your attention only on the negative aspects of your experiences |
| Negative focusing example | When you get a job evaluation, do you overlook the praise and focus only on the criticism? |
| Dismissing the positives | snatchign defeat from the jaws of victory by trivializing or denying your accomplishments; minimizing your strengths or assets |
| Dismissing the positives example | When someone compliments you, do you find some way of dismissing it by saying something like 'It's no big deal' or 'Anyone could have done it'? |
| Jumping to conclusions | drawing a conclusion that isn't supported by the facts at hand |
| Jumping to conclusions example | Do you usually or always expect the worst to happen? |
| Catastrophizing | exaggerating the importance of negative events or personal flaws (making mountains of molehills) |
| Catastrophizing example | Do you react to a disappointing grade on a particular examination as though your whole life is ruined? |
| Emotion-based reasoning | reasoning based on your emotions rather than on a clear-headed evaluation of the available evidence |
| Emotion-based reasoning example | Do you think that things are really hopeless because it feels that way? |
| Shouldisms | placing unrealistic demands on yourself that you should or must accomplish certain tasks or reach certain goals |
| Shouldisms example | Do you feel you should be further along in life than you are? |
| Name calling | attaching negative labels to yourself or others as a way of explaining your own or others' behavior |
| Name calling example | Do you label yourself as lazy or stupid when you fall short of reaching your goals? |
| Mistaken responsibility | assuming that you're the cause of other people's problems |
| Mistaken responsibility example | Do you automatically assume that your partner is depressed or upset because of something you said or did? |
| Myth: people who threaten suicide are only seeking attention | Not so. Researchers report most people who commit suicide gave prior indications of their intentions or consulted a health provider beforehand |
| Myth: a person must be insane to attempt suicide | most people may feel hopeless or out of touch with reality, but they're not 'insane' |
| Myth: talking about suicide with a depressed person may prompt the person to attempt it | An open suicide discussion with a depressed person doesn't prompt the person to attempt it. In fact, extracting a promise that the person won't attempt suicide before calling or visiting a mental health worker may prevent suicide |
| Myth: people who attempt suicide and fail aren't serious about killing themselves | most people who commit suicide have made previous unsuccessful attempts |
| Myth: if someone threatens suicide, it's best to ignore it so as not to encourage repeated threats | though some people do manipulate others by making idle threats, it is prudent to treat every suicidal threat as genuine and to take appropriate action |
| Axis 1 - clinical disorders/other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention | mental disorders that impair functioning/problems that may warrant attenion but don't represent diagnosable mental disorders |
| Axis 2 - personality disorders/mental retardation | class of mental disorders characterized by ways of relating to others and adjusting to external demands/generalized delay or impairment in intellectual development |
| Axis 3 - general medical conditions | illnesses and other medical conditions that may be important to the understanding or treatment of the person's psychological disorder |
| Axis 4 - psychosocial and environmental problems | problems in the person's social or physical environment that may affect the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of mental disorders |
| Axis 5 - global assessment of functioning | overall judgement of the person's level of functioning in meeting the responsibilities of daily life |
| Medical model | biological underpinnings of abnormal behavior |
| Psychodynamic model | unconscious conflicts and motives underlying abnormal behavior |
| Behavioral model | learning experiences that shape the development of abnormal behavior |
| Humanistic model | roadblocks that hinder self-awareness and self-acceptance |
| Cognitive model | faulty thinking underlying abnormal behavior |
| Sociocultural model | social ills contributing to the development of abnormal behavior, such as poverty, racism, and prolonged unemployment; relationships between abnormal behavior and ethnicity, gender, culture, and socioeconomic level |
| Biopsychosocial model | interactions of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors in the development of abnormal behavior |
Combine with other sets
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