Unit 5 - Part 1

A specialized field studying how biological, social, and psychological factors (the biopsychosocial model) influence health, illness, and healthcare. Aims to promote wellness, prevent disease, and manage chronic illnesses or pain by understanding behaviors, beliefs, and emotions.

The type and impact of stress depend on the stressor:

A biobehavioral stress response, primarily female-associated, characterized by nurturing behaviors (tending) to protect offspring and forming social alliances (befriending) for protection.

A field focused on understanding what makes life most worth living, helping individuals thrive, become more resilient, and create strong relationships.

Positive psychology generally focuses on three key areas of a person's life:

Involves recognizing and appreciating positive aspects of life.

Refers to positive psychological changes that occur after struggling with challenging life events or traumatic events.

A complex condition impacting an individual's thinking, feelings, mood, and behavior. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it's characterized by cognitive disturbances, emotional disturbances, abnormal behaviors, or impacted functioning.

Psychological disorders are identified based on these criteria:

Focuses on maladaptive learned associations that shape irrational fears or unhealthy habits, acquired through Classical, Operant, or Observational Learning.

Highlights unconscious conflicts often originating from repressed childhood experiences or trauma.

Focuses on a lack of social support, failure to achieve potential, or an incongruent self-concept (the gap between the actual self and ideal self). More incongruence leads to more anxiety and lower self-esteem.

Proposes that disorders stem from maladaptive thought patterns, including distorted beliefs or irrational beliefs.

Examines social and cultural factors such as group dynamics, cultural norms, and interpersonal relationships. For example, social pressures related to thinness can contribute to eating disorders.

States that disorders are primarily driven by physiological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalances, brain structure abnormalities, or other inherited vulnerabilities.

Focuses on how abnormal behaviors and tendencies may originate in genetics, suggesting certain maladaptive traits were once helpful for survival but are no longer. This includes Genetic predispositions.

A group of conditions characterized by early onset (typically in childhood) and functional impairments in areas like social relationships, communication, or learning.

Characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Individuals often struggle to focus, fidget, and act without thinking. ADD is now considered a subtype of ADHD (DSM pdf: 97).

An umbrella term for a variety of disorders (DSM pdf: 88) characterized by challenges in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and increased sensitivity to sensations like light or sound.

A group of disorders (DSM pdf 137) characterized by significant disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior, manifesting as positive symptoms (behaviors added) or negative symptoms (behaviors absent or reduced).

False beliefs that are firmly held despite evidence to the contrary. Examples include Delusions of Persecution (others are out to harm you) and Delusions of Grandeur (exceptional abilities or fame).

False perceptions without external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) are most common, but visual, tactile, or olfactory hallucinations can also occur.

Includes word salad (random words), loose associations (jumping between unrelated topics), and tangential speech (straying off-topic).

A condition affecting a person's movement and behavior, including Catatonia.

Reduced emotional expression, characterized by a monotone voice and lack of facial expression.

Diminished speech.

Characterized by significant changes in mood (e.g., feeling sad, empty, easily frustrated), physical changes (e.g., fatigue, disrupted sleeping patterns, appetite changes), and cognitive changes (e.g., trouble concentrating, remembering details, suicidal thoughts).

A group of disorders (DSM pdf 161) involving significant shifts between manic episodes and depressive episodes.

Individuals experience alternating periods of mania and depression.

Involve excessive fear or worry that goes beyond normal unease and significantly impacts daily activities (DSM pdf 227). Often leads to avoidant behaviors or safety-seeking behaviors and physical symptoms like panic attacks, sweating, and rapid heart rate.

Excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached (DSM pdf 228).

Intense irrational fear or anxiety directed at a particular object or situation (DSM pdf 235), such as animal, natural environment, blood-injection-injury, or situational types. Examples include Acrophobia (fear of heights), Arachnophobia (fear of spiders), and Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces).

Fear of being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized in social situations (DSM pdf 240). Includes the Japanese cultural variant Taijin Kyofusho, a fear of offending others.

Unexpected episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, chest pain, and nausea (DSM pdf 246). Includes cultural variants like ataque de nervios (Caribbean/Iberian descent), which involves screaming or aggressive behavior.

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult (e.g., crowds, lines, public transport) (DSM pdf 255).

Excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life (health, work, school, finances) lasting at least 6 months (DSM pdf 260).

A psychological condition specific to a particular cultural group, such as Taijin Kyofusho and Ataque de Nervios.

A category of disorders (DSM pdf 274) that includes conditions like OCD and Hoarding Disorder.

Characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value, leading to the accumulation of items that clutter living areas and compromise their intended use, often resulting in unsafe/unsanitary living conditions. Individuals feel anxiety at the thought of getting rid of items.

Presence of two or more distinct personality states (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder). Individuals experience gaps in memory, changes in behaviors or preferences, and detachment from oneself. Often linked to severe childhood trauma, where new identities serve as a coping strategy.

Inability to recall personal information due to trauma or a severe stressor. This can be localized (selective aspects of an event) or generalized (complete loss of memory for one's life history).

A specific type of Dissociative Amnesia where an individual wanders, usually far from home, and forgets their identity.

A category of disorders that develop in response to traumatic or highly stressful experiences.

Individuals re-experience the traumatic event they witnessed or experienced through flashbacks or nightmares. Symptoms include hypervigilance, avoiding different situations or items that remind them of the traumatic event, emotional detachment (withdrawal from friends and family), severe anxiety, and insomnia.

When an individual is always on the lookout for danger.

Disorders characterized by persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that results in altered consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning.

Inflexible, disruptive, and enduring behavior patterns that begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. These patterns significantly impair daily activities and social functioning, regardless of whether the individual recognizes the issue. Grouped into three clusters: Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric), Cluster B (Dramatic/Emotional), and Cluster C (Anxious/Fearful).

Characterized by social awkwardness, suspiciousness, and difficulty relating to others.

Distrust and suspicion of others, believing they want to harm or deceive them. Leads to constant suspicion of others' intent.

Detachment from social relationships and a preferred solitude. Individuals have a restricted range of emotional expression.

Eccentric behaviors, odd beliefs, and social anxiety. Individuals experience discomfort in social settings, exhibit odd beliefs, and have eccentric behaviors or speech. May include magical thinking (superstitious beliefs), eccentric appearance, and unconventional, paranoid thoughts.

Characterized by intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and a strong need for attention or admiration.

Disregard for others' rights, often exhibiting repulsive behavior and a lack of remorse or conscience for wrongdoing. Often associated with terms like psychopathy or sociopathy (more commonly diagnosed in men).

Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking (acting out) or validation seeking. Individuals often display exaggerated emotion and use their physical appearance to draw attention.

A pervasive need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. Individuals have an inflated sense of self-importance and entitlement, expecting special treatment.

Instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions. Characterized by a fear of abandonment, intense rage, risky behaviors (including self-harming behaviors), and intense mood swings. Also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).

Characterized by anxiety, fearfulness, and behaviors aimed at avoiding perceived harm or rejection.

Social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Individuals avoid social situations due to fear of rejection or embarrassment.

A strong need to be taken care of (needy). Individuals have difficulty making decisions independently and often experience separation issues.

Characterized by being perfectionists, constantly seeking control over aspects of their life, and wanting things to be in a set order.