PSYC 3082 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Abnormal Psychology, Mental Disorder, Acetylcholine
Document Summary
Abnormal psychology: the scientific study of trouble-some feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders. This area of science is designed to evaluate, understand, predict, and prevent mental disorders. Characteristics of abnormality (at least one must be present): violate social norms or are statistically deviant, cultures differ in how they define what is normal. Interfere with functioning: maladaptive behavior: interferes with a person"s life, including ability to care for oneself, have good relationships with others, and function well at school or at work, cause great personal distress. Emotions, thoughts, and behaviors associated with mental disorders are present, to some degree, in all of us. Levels: normal, mild, moderate, mental disorder less severe, mental. Disorder more severe: emotional state: highly anxious, cognitive state: intense worry, behavior: avoidance of coworkers and friends. The psychodynamic model focuses on internal personality characteristics. The humanistic model focuses on person growth, choice, and responsibility: maslow"s need hierarchy: physiological, safety/security, social, ego, self-actualization.
