These are notes from Abnormal Psychology Class. The notes and definitions would help anyone taking this or a similar class, or even general psychology. Lots of definitions here.
Chapter 1 Key Terms
Psychopathology
The field concerned with the nature and development of mental disorders.
Normal Curve
A type of population distribution which depicts the majority of people being in the middle as far as any particular characteristic is concerned.
Clinicians
The various professionals authorized to provide psychological services.
Clinical psychologist
Requires a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree.
Diagnosis
Techniques necessary to determine that a patient's symptoms or problems indicate a particular disorder.
Psychotherapy
A primarily verbal means of helping troubled individuals change their thoughts, feelings, and behavior to reduce distress and to achieve greater life satisfaction.
Psychiatrist
Holds and MD degree and has had postgraduate training (residency) in which he has received supervision in diagnoses and psychotherapy.
Psychoactive drugs
Chemical compounds that can change how people feel and think.
Psychoanalyst
Specially trained at a psychoanalytic institute
Psychiatric social worker
M.S.W. degree.
Counseling psychologist
Has completed Masters or Doctorate program
Psychopathologist
A diverse group that conduct research into the nature and development of the disorders that their therapist colleagues try to treat. Varied academic background.
Exorcism
The casting out of evil spirits by ritualistic chanting or torture.
Somatogenesis
The notion that something wrong with the soma (body) disturbs thought and action.
Psychogenesis
The belief that something is due to psychological origins.
Asylums
Places of confinement For the mentally ill.
Moral treatment
Sympathetic and attentive treatment provided for the mentally ill.
Syndrome
A tendency for a certain group of symptoms that run together within a disorder.
General paresis
The deterioration in mental and physical health, characterized by syphilis.
Germ theory
Disease is caused by infection of the body by small organisms.
Milieu therapy
The entire hospital becomes a therapeutic community. All ongoing activities and all its personnel become part of the treatment program. Appears to be a return to moral practices...
More Psychology
essays:
Describe and Evaluate Using Psychological Research the Contribution of Behaviourist Approaches to an Understanding of Human Behaviour.
... done has always been disputed, proved and disproved by other psychologists. The discovery of classical conditioning from Pavlov and operant conditioning ... of behaviourism were founded by John Watson and his paper "Psychology as the Behaviourist views it"(1913), he believed that self ...
Differences between the extraverts and introverts of Hans Eysenck
... is a person's personality. Peterson (1997) defines personality as, "psychological characteristics of an individual that are general, enduring, distinctive, integrated and functional". (Peterson, 1997 ...
Question: Explain the Significance of the Acquisition and Development of Language to the Learning Process. “The Spoken Word Is the Most Important form of Communication Between Humans” -Discuss.
... 1995) Individual Differences, Normal and abnormal. Psychology Press ... also comprise methods of communicating via sign language. Some speech disorders are so extensive, such as is sometimes the case with ...
This is a journal essay i did in psychology on adolescent depression and risk factors.
... Mood disorders are often accompanied by other psychological problems such as anxiety, eating disorders, hyperactivity, substance abuse and suicide. All of which can hide depressive symptoms. The signs of clinical depression ...
The Link between Crime and Mental Disorder
... sample distribution could become uneven. A study conducted by Teplin [1984, 1985] cited by Bartol [1999, p.143] examined the tendency of police officers to arrest individuals with a mental disorder. Graduate students of psychology looked ...
The Validity and Etiology of Dissociative Identity Disorder
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Should TV cameras be allowed in court? This essay was for a level 300 pych & law class and looks at the pros and cons in how it affects the participants in a trial
... the lawyers, judges, and defendants involved in the trail. Many psychological studies have shown people do not act natural around cameras ... for the trial. If this jury is made up of individuals who have partaken of any significant amount of viewing television ...
Psychology / the use and definition of psychology and its advantages to modern medical theory
... oAbnormal psychology deals with behavior disorders and disturbed individuals. oClinical psychology is diagnosing and treating mental disorders and adjustment problems. oComparative psychology explores ...