Essentials of understanding abnormal behavior

PsychopathologyThe study of mental or behavioral disordersAbnormal PsychologyThe scientific study whose objectives are to describe, explain, predict, and modify behaviors that are considered strange or unusual. ONESSENTIALS OF UNDERSTANDING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUFOR ONLY$13. 90/PAGEOrder NowPsychodoagnosisAssessment and description of an individual’s psychological symptoms, including inferences about what might be causing the psychological distress. TherapyA program of systematic intervention whose purpose is to improve a person’s behavioral, affective (emotional), or cognitive state. Abnormal behaviorA behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that reflects an underlying psychological dysfunction, is associated with distress or disability, and is not merely an expectable response to common stressors or losses. CultureThe configuration of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that is transmitted from one generation to another by members of a particular group and symbolized by artifacts, roles, expectations, and institutions. Cultural universalityThe assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists whose obvious manifestations cut across cultures. Cultural relativismThe belief that lifestyles, cultural values, and worldviews affect the expression and determination of behavior. Psychiatric epidemiologyThe study of the prevalence of mental illness in a society. PrevalenceThe percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a particular disorder during a particular period of timeIncidenceNumber of new cases of a disorder that appear in an identified population within a specified time period. Lifetime prevalenceThe percentage of people in the population who have had a disorder at some point in their lives. TrephiningA surgical method from the stone age in which part of the skull was chipped away to provide an opening through which an evil spirit could escape. ExorcismTreatment method used by the early Greeks, Chinese, Hebrews, and Egyptians in which prayers, noises, emetics, flogging, and starvation were used to cast evil spirits out of an afflicted person’s body. Brain pathologyA dysfunction or disease of the brain. Mass madnessGroup hysteria in which a great many people exhibit similar symptoms that have no apparent physical cause. TarantismA mania or form of mass hysteria prevalent during the middle ages, characterized by wild raving, jumping, dancing, and convulsing; also known as St. Vitus’s dance. HumanismA philosophical movement that emphasizes human welfare and the worth and uniqueness of the individual. Moral treatment movementMovement instituted by Phillipe Pinel that resulted in a shift to more humane treatment of people who were mentally disturbedSpiritual beingA person’s animating life force that speaks to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to a transcendent state or one’s capacity for creativity, growth, and love. Biological (organic) viewpointThe belief that mental disorders have a physical or physiological basis. SyndromeCertain symptoms that tend to occur regularly in clusters. Psychological viewpointThe belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological and emotional factors rather than organic or biological ones. Cathartic methodA therapeutic use of verbal expression to release pent-up emotional conflicts. Multicultural psychologyAn approach that stresses the importance of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic class, and other similar factors in its effort to understand and treat abnormal behavior. Positive psychologyThe philosophical and scientific study of positive human functioning in the strengths and assets of individuals, families, and communities. Optimal human functioningQualities such as subjective well-being, happiness, optimism, resilience, hope, courage, ability to cope with stress, self-actualization, and self determinism. SpiritualityThe animating life force or energy of the human condition that is broader than but inclusive of religion. Managed health careThe industrialization of healthcare, whereby large organizations in the private sector control the delivery of services.