Chapter 18: Psychological Disorders
somatization
the expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms
typicality
the normality of a behavior or mental process often determined by the degree to which it is average of the behavior or mental processes of the majority of people
Psychoanalytic perspective on Schizophrenia
the result of the overwhelming of the ego by urges from the id
post-traumatic stress disorder
a disorder that follows a distressing event outside the range of normal human experience and is characterized by intense fear, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, and reliving of the event
depersonalization
a dissociative disorder characterized by persistent feelings that one is unreal or is detached from one's own experiences or body
agoraphobia
a fear of crowded, public places
schizophrenia
a group of severe psychotic disorders characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotion, and behavior
mania
a mood characterized by extreme elation and hyperactivity
psychological disorder
a pattern of behavior or a mental process that causes serious personal suffering or interferes with a person's ability to cope with everyday life
Biological Views on Schizophrenia
appears to be a brain disorder; research suggests that the difficulties may reflect a loss of synapses, the structures that connect neurons and make it possible for neurons to communicate with one another
Biological Views on Mood Disorders
mood disorders have a genetic basis; believe that two neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain: serotonin and noradrenaline, may at least partly explain the connection between genes and mood
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
most widely used classification system for psychological disorders
Learning theory (on anxiety disorders)
phobias are conditioned, or learned in childhood, either through direct experience or observing others. People avoid threatening situations to reduce anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
unwanted thoughts or ideas (obsessions); impulses that are difficult or impossible to resist, such as repeated hand washing (compulsions) connected with the idea that one's hands remain unclean (an obsession)
Psychoanalytic theory on Somatoform Disorders
somatoform disorders occur when individuals repress emotions associated with forbidden urges and instead express them symbolically in physical symptoms
Behavioral theorists' explanation on Somatoform Disorders are...
somatoform symptoms can serve as a reinforcer if they successfully allow a person to escape from anxiety
Cognitive theorists' explanation on Mood Disorders
some people are prone to depression because of their habitual style of explaining life events
Psychoanalytic view on Mood Disorders
some people are prone to depression because they suffered a real or imagined loss of a loved object or person in childhood
Dependent Personality Disorder
submissive, clinging
Conversion Disorder
sudden severe loss of physical functioning, as in blindness or paralysis, despite the fact that no medical explanation can be found for the physical symptoms; usually characterized by the person's apparent lack of concern about his or her physical symptoms
Learning theorists' explanation on Personality Disorders
suggested that childhood experiences "teach" children how to relate to other people; if children are not reinforced for good behavior and only receive attention when they behave badly, they may learn antisocial behavior
Aaron Beck
suggested that people who are depressed have a negative view of themselves, their experiences, and their future
Other psychological views on Schizophrenia
suggests that a family environment in which a parent frequently expresses intense emotions and has pushy, critical attitude puts children at risk of developing schizophrenia
malingering
the conscious attempt to "fake" and illness in order to avoid work, school, or other responsibilities
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy
Personality Disorders
patterns of inflexible traits that disrupt social life or work and/or distress the affected individual
Psychoanalytic theory on Dissociative Disorders
people dissociate in order to repress unacceptable urges
Cognitive theory (on anxiety disorders)
people exaggerate threats and believe they are helpless to deal with them
Multifactorial Model of Schizophrenia
-genetic factors -complications during pregnancy and birth -viral infections -family environment -stress
bipolar disorder
a disorder in which a person's mood inappropriately alternates between extremes of elation and depression
Psychoanalytic theory (on anxiety disorders)
anxiety represents the "leakage" of primitive aggressive or sexual ideas or urges that were repressed during childhood
Phobic Disorder
a persistent, excessive or irrational fear of an object or a situation
depression
a psychological disorder characterized by extreme sadness, an inability to concentrate, and feelings of helplessness and dejection
anxiety
a psychological state characterized by tension and apprehension, foreboding, and dread
obsessions
a recurring thought or image that seems to be beyond control
dissociation
a split in consciousness
Biological factors (on anxiety disorders)
anxiety disorders tend to run in families, suggesting a role for genetic factors; anxiety disorders may be exaggerated descendants of adaptive fears
Other learning theorists' explanation on Personality Disorders
antisocial personality disorder develops when a child lacks appropriate role models and when the role models they encounter act aggressively
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
acute discomfort in close relationships, eccentricities of behavior
simple phobia
an anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation
compulsion
an apparently irresistible urge to repeat an act or engage in ritualistic behavior
panic attack
an episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror or frightening sensations such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or choking
phobia
an excessive, irrational fear out of proportion to the actual danger
catatonic stupor
an immobile, expressionless, coma-like state associated with schizophrenia
social phobia
an irrational fear of social situations in which one might be exposed to the close scrutiny of others
Hypochondriasis
an unhealthy fear of having, or the unsubstantiated belief that one has, a serious disease; characterized by the person's misinterpretation of his or her normal bodily symptoms or functions
Cognitive theorists' explanation on Personality Disorders
antisocial adolescents tend to see other people's behavior as threatening, even when it is not; they use this faulty interpretation of other people's actions to justify their own antisocial behavior
Other psychologists' explanation on Somatoform Disorder is...
have argued that people with conversion disorder "convert" psychological stress into actual medical problems
maladaptivity
behavior that impairs an individual's ability to function adequately in everyday life
socially unacceptable behavior
behavior that violates a society's accepted norms
Learning theorists' explanation on Mood Disorders
believe that learned helplessness makes people prone to depression
Biological Views on Personality Disorders
believe the frontal part of the brain, an area that is connected with emotional responses may explain the antisocial personality disorder; discovered that people with antisocial personality disorder had fewer neurons in the frontal part which might make their nervous system less responsive
Dissociative Amnesia
characterized by a sudden loss of memory, usually following a particularly stressful or traumatic event
Dissociative Fugue
characterized not only by forgetting personal information and past events but also by suddenly relocating from home or work and taking on a new identity
Psychoanalytic theory on Personality Disorders
children who are rejected by adults and harshly punished rather than treated with affection tend to lack a sense of guilt which underlies the antisocial personality
culture-bound syndromes
clusters of symptoms that define or describe an illness in a particular culture
Catatonic Schizophrenia
disturbance of movement; hold unusual, uncomfortable body positions for long periods of time, even after their arms and legs swell and stiffen
Most common form of dissociation is...
daydreaming
Paranoid Schizophrenia
delusions or frequent auditory hallucinations, all relating to a single theme
Martin Seligman
demonstrated the concept of learned helplessness in a classic experiment in which he taught dogs that they were helpless to escape from electric shock
Most common mood disorder is...
depression
Histrionic Personality Disorder
excessive emotionality, need for attention
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
excessive or unrealistic worry that appears to be present nearly all the time
Depersonalization Disorder
feelings of detachment from one's mental processes or body
Disorganized Schizophrenia
incoherent in their thought and speech and disorganized in their behavior
Schizoid Personality Disorder
individuals have no interest in relationships with other people; lack normal emotional responsiveness
Antisocial Personality Disorder
individuals show a persistent behavior pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others; they do not feel guilt or remorse for their antisocial behaviors, and they continue the behaviors despite the threat of social rejection and punishment
Paranoid Personality Disorder
individuals tend to be distrustful and suspicious of others and to interpret others motives as harmful or evil; perceive other people's behavior as threatening or insulting even when it is not
Avoidant Personality Disorder
individuals who desire relationships with other people, but they are prevented from forming these relationships by tremendous fear of the disapproval of others
Somatoform Disorders
individuals who have psychological problems but experience inexplicable physical symptoms
Learning theorists' view on Dissociative Disorders
individuals with dissociative disorders have learned not to think about disturbing events in order to avoid feelings of guilt, shame, or pain
Borderline Personality Disorder
instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image
Stress Disorders
intense, persistent feelings of anxiety that follow traumatic events
Dissociative Identity Disorder
involves the existence of two or more personalities within a single individual
Mood Disorders
mood changes that seem inappropriate for or inconsistent with the situations to which they are responding
The most common psychological disorders are...
mood disorders
emotional discomfort
loss of interest in virtually everything someone once enjoyed and believe that life is no longer worth living
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
obsession with orderliness, perfectionism, and control
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
recurring, unexpected panic attacks characterized by rapid heart rate; Agoraphobia is a panic disorder in which people fear being caught in crowded, public places when they have an attack
Dissociative Disorder
when dissociation occurs as a way to avoid stressful events or feelings
