psychology final exam questions and answers 2023 update already graded A+

abnormal psychology is the psychological study of mental illness maladaptive behavior is behavior that hinders a person's ability to function in work, school, relationships, or society The American Psychiatric Association provides three main criteria to identify abnormal from unusual behavior: i.) The behavior causes distress to self or others. ii.) The behavior impairs the ability to function in day-to-day activities. iii.) The behavior increases the risk of injury, death, legal problems or punishment for breaking rules, or other detrimental consequences. medical model using our understanding of medical conditions to think about psychological conditions. Just like medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cancer, etc.), psychological disorders have symptoms, probable causes, and likely outcomes. They also are analogous in terms of preventative measures, interventions, and treatments. The second model we adopt includes the multiple perspectives of the biopsychosocial model. this model helps us develop what? a comprehensive understanding of psychological disorders. a.) For example, one biological factor associated with depression involves disrupted activity of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. b.) Psychological factors include persistent negative beliefs about the self and feelings of hopelessness. c.) Social factors include impoverished neighborhoods and stressful family problems. When attempting to diagnose mental illness, psychologists and psychiatrists rely on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders ( the fifth edition has just been released in 2013, so we will use the abbreviation DSM- 5). This is the manual that establishes criteria for the diagnosis of mental disorders. One view of psychological disorders is called the normal-abnormal distinction is a matter of degree Anxiety dimensional view For example, someone who has an unusually stressful experience that brings about heightened anxiety may feel fine after several days. categorical view normal-abnormal distinction is a matter of kind disorders are viewed as separate types. Differences between normal and abnormal functioning are of kind, rather than degree. According to this view, a disorder is not just an extreme version of thoughts or behaviors, but rather something altogether different. For example, Down syndrome is an example of a categorical disorder. Either you have an extra 21st chromosome or you don't. personality disorders are particularly unusual patterns of behavior for one's culture that are maladaptive, distressing to oneself or others, and resistant to change. Odd,eccentric Dramatic,emotional,erratic Anxious,fearful,inhibited borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized as intense extremes between positive and negative emotions, an unstable sense of self, impulsivity, and difficult social relationships. Each of the characteristics of BPD seems to be connected to a tendency to think in all-or-none terms. For example, a person with BPD may fall in love quickly, professing deep commitment and affection, but just as quickly become disgusted by someone's imperfections. Friends, family, colleagues, and public figures can also be idealized and despised in the same way. People with BPD may have a hard time understanding that there are bound to be conflicts in any relationship. narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and an intense need for attention and admiration, as well as intense self-doubt and fear of abandonment. In fact, people with NPD are known to manipulate and arrange their relationships to make sure their own needs are met, no matter the toll it takes on others. They often lack empathy. histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is characterized by excessive attention seeking and dramatic behavior. People who have HPD are typically very successful at drawing people in with flirtatiousness, provocative sexuality, and flattery. However, they are simply playing the roles they believe are necessary to be the center of attention. Thus people with HPD are characterized by extreme shallowness and emotional immaturity. antisocial personality disorder (APD) refers to a condition marked by a habitual pattern of willingly violating others' personal rights, with very little sign of empathy or remorse. People with APD tend to be physically and verbally abusive, destructive, and frequently find themselves in trouble with the law. Men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with APD than women, and symptoms of the disorder typically appear during childhood and adolescence. dissociative disorders are a category of mental disorders characterized by a split between conscious awareness from feeling, cognition, memory, and identity. dissociative disorders include what type of conditions? i.) Dissociative fugue: A period of profound autobiographical memory loss. a.) People in fugue states may go so far as to develop a new identity in a new location with no recollection of their past. ii.) Depersonalization disorder: A belief that one has changed in some fundamental way, possibly ceasing to be "real." iii.) Dissociative amnesia: A severe loss of memory, usually for a specific stressful event, when no biological cause for amnesia is present. dissociative identity disorder (DID) occurs when a person claims that his or her identity has split into one or more distinct alter personalities, or alters. i.) Alters may differ in name, gender, sexual orientation, personality, behavior, memory, perception, and autobiographical sense of self. ii.) The dissociation of alter identities can be so strong that one alter may have no memory of events experienced by other alters. Only 1% of psychiatric patients have been diagnosed with DID. anxiety disorders are a category of disorders involving fear of nervousness that is excessive, irrational, and one of the most frequently diagnosed disorders, affecting more than 40 million Americans ages 18 and older. types of anxiety disorders Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Panic disorder Phobias Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves frequently elevated levels of anxiety that are not directed at or limited to any particular situations. Those with GAD, like other anxiety disorders, have trouble concentrating and sleeping. ii.) However, those with GAD struggle to identify the specific reasons for why they are anxious. iii.) The anxiety people feel with GAD doesn't seem to go away, even if the issue is resolved. a.) Instead, the anxiety is redirected to the next problem or issue. panic disorder is an anxiety disorder marked by repeated episodes of sudden, very intense fear. A panic attack escalates when the fear of death causes increased physical arousal, and the increased physical symptoms feed the frightening thoughts. These attacks rarely go on for more than 10 minutes, after which the person returns to a more relaxed state. agoraphobia an intense fear of having a panic attack or lower level panic symptoms in public social phobia this is an intense fear of being watched and judged by others. Fear of public appearances in which embarrassment or humiliation is possible. obsessions intense, unwanted worries, ideas, or images that repeatedly pop up in mind compulsions repeated strong feeling of "needing" to carry out an action, even if it doesn't feel like it makes sense obsessive compulsive disorder a disorder characterized by unwanted, inappropriate, and persistent thoughts ( obsessions); repetitive stereotyped behaviors ( compulsions); or a combination of the two. obsessions (repetitive thoughts) concern with dirt, germs, toxins something terrible happening (fire, death) symmetry, order, or exactness compulsions (repetitive behaviors) excessive hand washing, bathing, grooming repeating rituals checking doors, locks, appliances, car breaks PTSD rises from exposure to trauma, which might involve direct experience, witnessing an event, or simply getting prolonged and detailed information about trauma that is too graphic or strikes to close to home. Characteristic symptoms of PTSD include: Re-experiencing may involve flashbacks, nightmares, and other vivid, anxiety-provoking thoughts. Avoidance occurs when the individual avoids contexts similar to when the trauma or stressor was experienced. Sights, sounds, and smells can all lead to painful reexperiencing symptoms. mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, are common in 21 million people major depression disorder marked by prolonged and unjustified periods of sadness, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, social withdrawal, and cognitive and physical sluggishness. Prolonged periods of sadness, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, social withdrawal, and cognitive and physical sluggishness are symptoms of major depression. Identify other symptoms associated with major depression. cognitive aspects of depressions Those suffering from depression often develop a depressive explanatory style, in which the person explains life with three qualities: internal, stable, and global (see figure 13.5). i.) For example, let's say you lose your keys. If you have a depressive explanatory style, you would think, "I'm so stupid! I always lose my keys when I'm in a hurry. This ruins everything": a.) Internal: I'm so stupid, it's all my fault, I'm worthless. b.) Stable: It's always going to be this way; things will never change. c.) Global: This applies to everything, not just the current situation. What mood disorder is characterized by alterations between periods of extremely high levels and extremely low levels of activity? seasonal affective disorder SAD involves a recurring seasonal pattern of depression, usually during winter's short, dark, cold days. bipolar discorder formerly referred to as manic depression) is characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood, motivation, and energy. characteristic of mania a period of hyper-elevated mood that is euphoric, giddy, easily irritated, hyperactive, impulsive, overly optimistic, and grandiose suicide is the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally. warning signs of suicidal thoughts Talks about committing suicide, prior attempt(s) Has trouble eating, sleeping Drastic behavior changes Withdrawal from friends,social activities Loss of interest in school,hobbies,personalappearance Preparing for death(writing will,giving away possessions) Unnecessary risk taking Recent experience with serious loss Preoccupied with death and dying Increased use of alcohol/drugs is suicide more likely for women or men? men schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation. The rate of schizophrenia in the general population is around 1%. what are delusions? in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. (illusory beliefs) Oftenbizarre Most common:delusions of grandeur and delusions of persecution what are hallucinations? perceiving things that are not there Most common: hearing voices that no one else hears, often with upsetting content Can also be visual, olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), or gustatory (taste) what other symptoms of schizophrenia? Severely affects a person's ability to think clearly, reason, make good judgements, communicate effectively, behave appropriately, understand the difference between reality and their imagination; feel depressed/irritable, affects everyday functioning what are positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia? postive Experiences that happen in addition to normal experience e.g. hallucinations, delusions, confusions within brain, disorganised thought processes/behaviour Negative Symptoms A loss or decrease in normal functioning e.g. loss of pleasure, loss of interest in normal activities, motivation, socialisation psychotherapy is the processes for resolving personal, emotional, behavioral, and social problems so as to improve well-being. Approximately 13% of U.S. adults received some form of treatment between 2004 and 2008, including more than 57% who could be diagnosed with a disorder. Men in the U.S. and elsewhere often go without treatment due to stereotypes and gender roles. two of the major barriers in mental health treatment are time and money Although many individuals voluntarily seek treatment, others are court-ordered to seek outpatient services for people with severe disorders i.) The majority of cases stem from erratic or disturbing behavior resulting in legal trouble. ii.) Additional reasons for involuntary treatment include driving while intoxicated and domestic violence. How does bias influence a person's decision to seek mental health treatment? Clinical Psychologists are mental health professionals with doctoral degrees who diagnose and treat mental health problems ranging from the everyday to the chronic and severe. counseling psychologists are mental health professionals who typically work with people needing help with common problems such as stress, coping, and mild forms of anxiety and depression, rather than severe mental disorders. In terms of similarity, psychologists who practice from either perspective typically earn a doctoral degree, including a PhD, PsyD, or EdD, although some states will certify counselors who hold a master's degree. psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in mental health, and who diagnose and treat mental disorders primarily through prescribing medications that influence brain chemistry. deinstitutionalization this movement pushed for returning people from mental institutions to their communities and families and enabling them to receive treatment on an outpatient basis. residential treatment centers provide psychotherapy and life skills training so that the residents can become integrated into society to the greatest extent possible community psychology is an area of psychology that focuses on identifying how individuals' mental health is influenced by the neighborhood, economics, social groups, and other community-based variables. what uses techniques from various forms of therapy to fit the client's problems, strengths, and preferences. eclectic approach Medications and psychotherapy can be used together, and may help the each other achieve better reduction in symptoms. psychodynamic therapies are forms of insight therapy that emphasize the need to discover and resolve unconscious conflicts. free association patient speaks freely about memories, dreams, feelings resistance was a tendency of psychoanalysis patients to avoid directly answering crucial questions posed by the therapist. (according to Freud) transference was a psychoanalytic process that involves patients directing the emotional experiences that they are reliving toward their therapists. object relations therapy is a variation of psychodynamic therapy that focuses on how early childhood experiences and emotional attachments influence later psychological functioning. humanistic psychology emphasis on human potential for growth, self-actualization, and personal fulfillment. behavioral therapies address problem behaviors and thoughts, and the environmental factors that trigger them, as directly as possible. uses the principles of learning, especially classical and operant conditioning, to help reduce unwanted responses. These might include behaviors such as addictions, or emotions such as panic. counterconditioning If you have been conditioned to fear stores because you have had panic attacks there, you could be led into a store and then helped with relaxation exercises. The goal is to associate stores with relaxation, a state incompatible with fear. exposure treatments are a process in which exposure to the feared situation is completed gradually and under controlled conditions systematic desensitization is a technique in which gradual exposure to a feared stimulus or situation is blended with relaxation training. applications of systematic desensitization beginning with a tiny reminder to feared situation, keep increasing exposure intensity as person learns to tolerate previous level of intensity cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of therapy that consists of procedures such as exposure, cognitive restructuring, and stress inoculation training. systems approach is an orientation toward family therapy that involves identifying and understanding what each individual family member contributes to the entire family dynamic. group therapy tends to be less costly than individual sessions. Also, groups may be organized in many different ways to suit different purposes psychopharamacotherapy refers to the process of treating psychological disorders with drugs. psychotropic drugs are medications designed to alter psychological functioning blood brain barrier is a network of tightly packed cells that only allow specific types of substances to move from the bloodstream to the brain.