PSYC 2051- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 110 pages long!)
Document Summary
Scientific study of symptoms and causes of mental disorders. Objectives: describing, explaining, predicting, and modifying behaviors associated with mental disorders. People who work in the field strive to alleviate distress and life disruption of those with mental disorders. 4 goals of psychology: describe describing behavior, mental health professionals. Assists in care of a patient"s mental health: psychodiagnosis. Attempts to describe, assess, and understand the situation: treatment plan. Focuses first on most distressing symptoms: explain explaining behavior, determine etiology (possible causes) High priority for mental health professionals: human behavior is complex. Multiple contributing factors: predict predicting behavior, various risk factor for violent behavior, civil commitment (involuntary confinement) Extreme decision impacting an individual"s civil liberties: the premise of the legal system. An individual is innocent until proven guilty: change modifying behavior, psychotherapy. Objective: improve a person"s behavioral, emotional, or cognitive state. Many types of therapies and professional helpers. Training includes course work in psychopathology, personality, diagnosis, psychological testing, psychotherapy, and human psychology.
