Psychology Chapter: Understanding Psychopathology

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the ego in the structural model of the mind?

To act as the conscience

To generate libido

To operate according to the pleasure principle

To mediate conflict between the id and superego (correct)

Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to another person?

Rationalization

Projection (correct)

Repression

Displacement

What is the term for the process of directing potentially maladaptive feelings or impulses into socially acceptable behavior?

Sublimation (correct)

Displacement

Rationalization

Reaction Formation

Who is associated with the development of self-psychology?

Heinz Kohut Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of incorporating the images, memories, and values of a person who was important to one's development?

Introjection Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the therapist's emotional reaction to the patient, often based on the therapist's own unconscious feelings?

Countertransference Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy?

To reduce symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of exploring a patient's dreams to uncover unconscious conflicts?

Dream Analysis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the theory that emphasizes the importance of self-actualization and the role of external circumstances in blocking actualization?

Humanistic Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of instructing a patient to say whatever comes to mind without censorship, in order to uncover repressed thoughts and feelings?

Free Association Signup and view all the answers

What is psychological dysfunction associated with?

Distress or impairment in functioning Signup and view all the answers

According to Wakefield, what occurs when an internal mechanism is unable to perform its natural function?

Dysfunction is said to occur Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between behavioral, psychological, and biological dysfunctions?

They are interrelated Signup and view all the answers

Why is it difficult to draw the line between normal and abnormal dysfunction?

Because it is often on a continuum or dimension Signup and view all the answers

What is the distress criterion of psychological dysfunction?

The individual is extremely upset Signup and view all the answers

What is true about most psychological disorders?

They are extreme expressions of otherwise normal emotions Signup and view all the answers

What is not true about the distress criterion?

It is always present in psychological dysfunction Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of abnormal behavior?

A psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment Signup and view all the answers

Who is associated with the concept of 'systematic desensitization'?

Joseph Wolpe Signup and view all the answers

What is 'stimulus generalization' in classical conditioning?

The response generalizes to similar stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Who is associated with the Little Albert experiment?

John B. Watson Signup and view all the answers

What is 'extinction' in classical conditioning?

The loss of a conditioned response due to the absence of a conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What was Mary Cover Jones' contribution to psychology?

She showed that fears could be unlearned through conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of systematic desensitization?

To help individuals overcome phobias gradually Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Impairment in an important area of life Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of ' prototypes' in the context of mental disorders?

Prototypes are typical profiles of a disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between DSM-V and DSM-IV?

DSM-V includes dimensional estimates of disorder severity Signup and view all the answers

What is stigma associated with?

Groups considered different in some manner Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific study of psychological disorders called?

Psychopathology Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a mental disorder according to the DSM-5?

It involves clinically significant difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of abnormal behavior?

It is a violation of social norms Signup and view all the answers

What is required for a diagnosis of a mental disorder?

A minimum number of symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of trained professionals in the field of psychopathology?

They receive a Ph.D. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the concept of stigma?

It is a attitudes and beliefs held by society Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping in the context of Operant Conditioning?

a process of reinforcing successive approximations to a final behavior or set of behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist is associated with the law of effect?

Edward Thorndike Signup and view all the answers

What is a key focus of Cognitive Therapy?

Helping clients become more aware of their maladaptive thoughts Signup and view all the answers

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was developed by which psychologist?

Albert Ellis Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)?

To change cognition and eliminate self-defeating beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What is a key concept in Cognitive Therapy?

The role of cognition in influencing behavior and emotions Signup and view all the answers

What do early behavior theories lack, according to the content?

A focus on cognition and emotion Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of Cognitive Therapy, in terms of changing behavior?

Changing cognition to influence behavior and emotions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding Psychopathology

Psychological disorder or abnormal behavior: a psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected.
Criteria for psychological disorder:
- Psychological dysfunction: harmful dysfunction, breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and value judgment component.
- Distress: the individual is extremely upset, but not all mental disorders cause distress.
- Disability or impairment: in some important area of life (e.g., work or personal relationships), but not all mental disorders involve disability.
- Violation of social norms: social norms are widely held standards that people use to make judgments about behavior.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Definition: behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and associated with present distress and impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering, death, pain, or impairment.
Prototype: when most or all symptoms of a disorder are present in an individual, their profile is called a prototype.
Characteristics: the disorder occurs within the individual, involves clinically significant difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving, and involves dysfunction in processes that support mental functioning.

Stigma

Destructive beliefs and attitudes held by a society that are ascribed to groups considered different in some manner.
Four characteristics: a label is applied to a group of people, the label is linked to deviant or undesirable attributes, people with the label are seen as essentially different, and people with the label are discriminated against unfairly.

Psychopathology

Scientific study of psychological disorders, concerned with the nature, development, and treatment of mental disorders.
Trained professionals: clinical and counseling psychologists.

Structure of the Mind

Id: source of strong sexual and aggressive feelings or energies, operates according to the pleasure principle.
Ego: reality principle, mediates conflict between the id and superego, and juggling their demands with realities of the world.
Superego: conscience, represents the moral principle, and the voice within us that nags at us when we know we're doing something wrong.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious protective processes that keep primitive emotions associated with conflicts in check.
Examples: denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, repression, and sublimation.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Free association: patients say whatever comes to mind without censoring, intended to reveal emotionally charged material.
Dream analysis: therapist interprets the content of dreams, reflecting the primary-process thinking of the id.
Transference: patients relate to the therapist as they did to important figures in their childhood, particularly their parents.
Countertransference: therapists project their own personal issues and feelings onto a patient.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy: focuses on reducing symptoms, but symptom substitution may occur.

Humanistic Theory

Self-actualizing: the underlying assumption that all individuals could reach their highest potential if they had the freedom to grow.
Abraham Maslow: hierarchy of needs.
Carl Rogers: person-centered therapy, emphasizing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and a non-judgmental attitude.

Behavioral Model

A.k.a. cognitive-behavioral model or social learning model.
Ivan Pavlov: classical conditioning, stimulus generalization, and extinction.
John B. Watson: behaviorism, Little Albert.
Mary Cover Jones: Little Peter, extinguishing fear through classical conditioning.
Joseph Wolpe: systematic desensitization, gradual exposure to phobic objects or situations to extinguish fear.### Operant Conditioning
Shaping is a process of reinforcing successive approximations to a final behavior or set of behaviors, developed by B.F. Skinner.

Law of Effect

Behavior is either strengthened or weakened depending on the consequences of that behavior, as proposed by Edward Thorndike.

Cognition

Early behavior theories did not leave room for cognition and emotion.
The ways in which people think about, or appraise, situations can influence behavior in dramatic ways.

Cognitive Therapy

Emphasizes that how people construe themselves and the world is a major determinant of psychological disorders.
Therapists help clients become aware of their maladaptive thoughts.
Changing cognition can lead to changes in feelings, behaviors, and symptoms.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Developed by Albert Ellis.
Sustained emotional reactions are caused by internal sentences that people repeat to themselves, reflecting irrational beliefs.
Aim is to eliminate self-defeating beliefs.
People's interpretations of events can cause emotional turmoil, and therapy should focus on these beliefs rather than historical causes or overt behavior.

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Description

This quiz covers the concept of psychopathology, including psychological disorders and abnormal behavior. Understand the psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment.