Chapter 11
different types of coping (anticipatory, emotion-focused, problem-focused)
anticipatory = coping before the onset of a future stressor
emotion-focused = trying to prevent an emotional response to a stressor (passive, only works in the short-term)
problem-focused = taking direct steps to confront/minimize the stressor
symptoms of schizophrenia necessary for a diagnosis
1. delusions 2. hallucinations 3. disorganized speech 4. grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior 5. negative symptoms
(must have 2/5 and one of the 2 must be delusions/hallucinations/speech)
cognitive behavioral therapy
revolves around the idea that behavior is learned so it can be unlearned, involves cognitive restructuring, includes exposure therapy
four organized principles of psychology
1. the brain is a physical system
2. the brain is generated by natural selection
3. the brain is composed of functionally specialized mechanisms
4. consciousness is just the tip of the iceberg
types of long-term memory
explicit/declarative (composed of episodic and semantic) and implicit/procedural
general adaptation syndrome
consistent pattern of responses to stress consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion
difference between bipolar I and II
bipolar I has manic involves depressive episodes, bipolar II involves depressive episodes but only slightly elevated moods (hypomania)
four general categories of psychopharmacological treatments
1. antipsychotics 2. anxiolytics (anti-anxiety) 3. stimulants 4. anti-depressants
reliability vs. validity
the extent to which the measure is stable/consistent over repeated uses vs. extent to which variable measures concept it aims to
habituation (in terms of developmental psychology)
kids will becomes less interested in looking at a stimulus, but will increase looking time when a different stimulus is presented (shows babies notice differences)
the fast-acting sympathetic nervous system response and the slower-acting response from the HPA axis
diathesis-stress model
diagnostic model that proposes a disorder develops when an underlying vulnerability is coupled with a precipitating event
applied behavioral analysis
intensive treatment for autism, based on operant conditioning, increases IQ, can involve teaching joint attention and symbolic play
saltatory conduction
the "jumping" of an action potential between the unmyelinated nodes of ranvier
theory of mind milestones
social referencing (10 - 12 months), gaze monitoring (9 - 15 months), Sally-Anne task/first order false belief (4 years), second order false belief (6 years), understanding faux pas (9 years), third order false belief (13 years)
effects of initial stress vs. chronic stress on the body
initial: burst of energy, increased memory, decreased pain sensitivity, mobilization of resources
chronic: decreased immune system and antibodies produced, decreased working memory
internalizing vs. externalizing disorders
internalizing: characterized by negative emotions, more prevalent in females, include GAD and depression
externalizing: characterized by disinhibition, more prevalent in males, include APD
why are SSRIs used to treat depression over MAO inhibitors or tricyclics?
because they don't target histamine or acetylcholine, SSRIs don't have the same side effects as tricyclics, and they have less serious side effects than MAO
change blindness
we miss large changes to the visual world in order to cope with limited input
our brain makes assumptions and fills in the gaps
factors affecting g
1. genes (their effect becomes more pronounced over time)
2. shared environment (drops in adults)
3. unique environment
power of touch as it relates to social support
humans have decreased threat response when holding hands with someone
relates to tactile c fibers, which signals pleasant skin-to-skin contact and can release oxytocin which counteracts cortisol
pros and cons of using the DSM
pros: standardizes clinician's terms, establishes consistent and reliable diagnoses
cons: oversimplified (misses comorbidities), misdiagnoses or over-diagnoses
how does the regression to the mean theory relate to treatment/therapy
people enter therapy/treatment when in crisis, so will automatically improve regardless of the actual effectiveness
pathway of light from the eye to the brain
lens, cornea, retina, transduction with photoreceptors, bipolar cells, ganglion cells (possible crossing of hemispheres), thalamus, V1, V2, V4, V5/MT, temporal cortex (PIT, CIT, AIT)
the Barnum Effect
- People have the tendency to see themselves in vague, stock descriptions of personality
- seen through horoscopes, zodiac signs, Hogwarts houses