Week 1
What are the "4 D's" used to define psychological disorders?
Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger.
What was the purpose of trephination in ancient times?
Drilling holes in the skull to release “evil spirits.”
What is hypervigilance, and in which disorder is it common?
Being constantly on guard; common in PTSD.
What is the purpose of free association in therapy?
To allow thoughts to flow freely without filtering so unconscious material can surface.
What does an Institutional Review Board (IRB) evaluate in a risk‑benefit assessment?
It examines whether the risks to participants are justified by the potential benefits and scientific value.
What is comorbidity
Having two or more disorders at the same time.
What is the main difference between structured and semi‑structured interviews?
Structured = fixed questions;
Semi‑structured = guided questions but flexible order.
What is the difference between acute stress disorder and PTSD?
Acute stress disorder lasts 3 days to 1 month;
PTSD lasts more than 1 month.
What does an agonist drug do at the receptor site?
It mimics a neurotransmitter and activates the receptor.
Why does correlation NOT prove causation?
Because a third variable may cause both events; correlation alone doesn’t show cause-and-effect.
What does the medical model say about abnormal behavior?
It views abnormal behavior as a sign of mental illness that can be diagnosed and treated like a medical condition.
What is etiology?
The causes or origins of a disorder.
What is a compulsion, and how is it different from an obsession?
A compulsion is a repetitive behavior done to reduce anxiety;
an obsession is an intrusive, unwanted thought.
What does it mean when a disorder is “polygenic”?
It means many genes contribute to the disorder, not just one.
What makes longitudinal research unique compared with other designs?
It studies the same people repeatedly over a long time.
Why has the DSM been criticized for cultural limitations?
Because it may not capture how symptoms appear differently across cultures.
What is the essential feature of panic disorder?
Repeated, unexpected panic attacks.
What is the main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
Classical conditioning pairs two stimuli, while operant conditioning uses rewards and consequences to shape behavior.
According to the diathesis‑stress model, what two factors interact to produce mental disorders?
A genetic vulnerability (diathesis) + environmental stress.
What is the very first step in the scientific method?
Observing a phenomenon and forming a research question.
Why did deinstitutionalization occur in Canada?
Because institutions weren’t effective, and keeping people isolated wasn’t helping recovery.
What is the main feature of phobic disorders?
Persistent, excessive fears of specific objects or situations.
In cognitive therapy, which three types of negative thoughts make up Beck’s Cognitive Triad
The Self, The World, and The Future.
What does epigenetics study?
How gene activity can change without changing the DNA sequence itself.
What is a confounding variable, and why is it important?
A variable that explains or influences the results, making the relationship between two variables unclear.