Lecture 1 notes

Question 1

What is abnormal psychology?

Answer 1

The branch of psychology that addresses the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior patterns

Abnormal behavior affects virtually everyone in one way or another.

Question 2

What percentage of Canadians will experience a psychological disorder in their lifetime?

Answer 2

33%

This statistic highlights the prevalence of psychological disorders in the population.

Question 3

List the criteria used to define abnormal behavior.

Answer 3

• Is the behavior unusual?
• Does it violate social norms?
• Does it involve a faulty interpretation of reality?
• Does it cause personal distress?
• Is it maladaptive?
• Is it dangerous?

These criteria help in assessing whether behavior is considered abnormal.

Question 4

True or false: Violating social norms is context-dependent.

Answer 4

TRUE

What is considered valid behavior can vary significantly based on the social situation.

Question 5

What does maladaptive behavior refer to?

Answer 5

Behavior that negatively impacts the quality of life for the individual or those around them

An example includes stealing from family and friends.

Question 6

How does culture influence the perception of abnormal behavior?

Answer 6

Behavior considered normal in one culture may be deemed abnormal in another

For instance, expressions of anxiety and depression can vary widely across cultures.

Question 7

What is the Demonological Model?

Answer 7

The belief that mental health issues were caused by demon possession

This model led to practices like trephining to cast demons out.

Question 8

Who created the Medical Model of mental health?

Answer 8

Hippocrates

This model attributed mental health to imbalances in bodily fluids.

Question 9

What were the four bodily fluids in the Medical Model?

Answer 9

• Blood
• Yellow bile
• Black bile
• Phlegm

Imbalances in these fluids were believed to affect temperament and health.

Question 10

What was the purpose of exorcisms in medieval times?

Answer 10

To evict demons or spirits from individuals

This practice was based on the belief that mental imbalance was due to spirit control.

Question 11

What is the Malleus Maleficarum?

Answer 11

A treatise on witchcraft written by the Catholic Church

It discussed the effects of black and white magic on mental health.

Question 12

What was Bedlam known for?

Answer 12

One of the first and largest asylums in London

It became notorious for its overcrowded conditions.

Question 13

What is the Reform Movement in mental health?

Answer 13

A movement aimed at providing humane treatment in an encouraging environment

Key figures included Philippe Pinel, William Tuke, and Dorothea Dix.

Question 14

What is Moral Therapy?

Answer 14

A therapeutic approach focusing on humane treatment and encouraging environments

It aimed to humanize the treatment of mentally ill individuals.

Question 15

What controversial procedure was known as lobotomy?

Answer 15

A surgical procedure that involved drilling into the frontal lobe

It was intended to treat severe mental disorders but often left patients incapacitated.

Question 16

What was the impact of deinstitutionalization in the 1970s?

Answer 16

Large numbers of hospitalized mental patients were discharged to the community

This led to an increase in psychiatric homelessness.

Question 17

What are the four main objectives of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)?

Answer 17

• Develop a national mental health strategy
• Initiate an awareness campaign to reduce stigma
• Create a center of knowledge for best practices
• Support research endeavors into mental health

The MHCC was established in 2007 to improve mental health awareness.

Question 18

What is the biological perspective on mental disorders?

Answer 18

Mental disorders are diseases of the brain with underlying biological defects or abnormalities

This perspective moved away from the idea of evil spirits.

Question 19

Who is associated with the concept of Dementia Praecox?

Answer 19

Emil Kraepelin

This term is now known as schizophrenia.

Question 20

What does the psychodynamic model focus on?

Answer 20

Understanding abnormalities through unconscious thoughts and social conditioning

Developed by Freud, it emphasizes the impact of social expectations on behavior.

Question 21

What does the sociocultural perspective attribute psychological problems to?

Answer 21

Rooted in social ills such as poverty, discrimination, and changing social values

This perspective highlights the impact of societal factors on mental health.

Question 22

What is the estimated number of homeless Canadians annually?

Answer 22

200,000

A significant portion of this population has experienced mental health issues.

Question 23

What is the interactionist model?

Answer 23

A model that integrates biological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives

It recognizes the complexity of mental health disorders.

Question 24

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 24

Chemical messengers in the nervous system that transmit signals between neurons

Examples include norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin.

Question 25

What are the two main parts of the **nervous system**?

Answer 25

* Central nervous system * Peripheral nervous system ## Footnote The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.

Question 26

What does the **sympathetic nervous system** do?

Answer 26

Prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses ## Footnote It heightens states of arousal.

Question 27

What is the role of the **parasympathetic nervous system**?

Answer 27

Reduces states of arousal and regulates bodily processes ## Footnote It helps the body return to a state of calm.

Question 28

The **nervous system** has two main parts: _______ and parasympathetic.

Answer 28

sympathetic ## Footnote The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for heightened states of arousal, such as the fight or flight response.

Question 29

The **sympathetic nervous system** is very hard to control because it uses lots of energy and protects us from _______.

Answer 29

harm ## Footnote It leads to heightened states of arousal.

Question 30

The **parasympathetic nervous system** reduces states of arousal and regulates bodily processes such as _______.

Answer 30

* Gastrointestinal activity increases * Muscles relax * Heart rate slows ## Footnote It is a division of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 31

The **cerebral cortex** is responsible for higher mental functions such as _______.

Answer 31

* Thought * Use of language ## Footnote It is the outermost layer of the brain.

Question 32

The **corpus collosum** connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain and is a _______.

Answer 32

thick bundle of fibers ## Footnote It plays a crucial role in communication between the two hemispheres.

Question 33

Freud's **Psychoanalytic theory** includes the concepts of the unconscious, preconscious, and _______.

Answer 33

conscious mind ## Footnote These are linked with a range of defense mechanisms.

Question 34

The **Ego** operates on reality principles and is aware of balancing the _______ and ID.

Answer 34

superego ## Footnote It employs secondary process thinking.

Question 35

The **Superego** represents the _______ principle.

Answer 35

moral ## Footnote It is the overregulated part that battles with the ego.

Question 36

The **ID** is driven by the _______ principle.

Answer 36

pleasure ## Footnote It is associated with animal instincts.

Question 37

Name the **pioneers of behaviorism**.

Answer 37

* Ivan Pavlov * John B. Watson * B.F. Skinner ## Footnote They contributed significantly to the field of psychology.

Question 38

Ivan Pavlov is known for his experiment on **classical conditioning** involving a dog and a bell, identifying terms such as _______.

Answer 38

* Conditioned response (CR) * Unconditioned stimulus (US) * Conditioned stimulus (CS) * Unconditioned response (UR) ## Footnote His work laid the foundation for behaviorism.

Question 39

B.F. Skinner is known for his work on **operant conditioning**, identifying concepts such as _______.

Answer 39

* Reinforcement * Punishment ## Footnote He distinguished between positive and negative reinforcers and punishments.

Question 40

The **humanistic psychology** movement was founded by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, emphasizing _______.

Answer 40

personal freedom ## Footnote It focuses on conscious choices that give life meaning.

Question 41

The concept of **self-actualization** refers to the inborn tendency to strive to become all one is capable of being, leading to _______.

Answer 41

happiness ## Footnote It is a key idea in humanistic psychology.

Question 42

The **neo-humanistic perspective** was founded by Leslie Greenberg, focusing on _______.

Answer 42

* Emotions as adaptive * Emotional intelligence * Emotion-focused therapy ## Footnote It emphasizes the role of meaning in daily life.

Question 43

The **cognitive-behavioral perspective** was influenced by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, who identified that _______.

Answer 43

* Irrational beliefs foster negative emotions * Cognitive errors can lead to depression ## Footnote They contributed to cognitive-behavior therapy.

Question 44

Albert Bandura's **social-cognitive theory** emphasizes the roles of _______.

Answer 44

* Thinking (cognition) * Learning by observation (modeling) ## Footnote His Bobo Doll experiment demonstrated how behaviors are adopted.

Question 45

The **sociocultural perspective** considers the impact of social and cultural factors such as _______.

Answer 45

* Ethnicity * Gender * Social roles * Poverty ## Footnote It seeks causes of abnormal behavior in societal failures.

Question 46

Mental health issues in **Canadian Indigenous Communities** include disproportionately higher rates of _______.

Answer 46

* Major depression and anxiety * Posttraumatic stress disorder * Alcoholism and substance abuse * Sexual abuse and family violence * Chronic disease * Lower life expectancy * Suicide ## Footnote These issues highlight significant health disparities.

Question 47

The **interactionist perspective** suggests that no single theoretical perspective can account for _______.

Answer 47

complex forms of abnormal behavior ## Footnote It emphasizes the interaction of multiple factors.

Question 48

The **Diathesis-Stress Model** explains that mental health issues may be influenced by _______.

Answer 48

* Genetic predisposition (diathesis) * Environmental stressors ## Footnote It illustrates how biological and psychological factors interact.

Question 49

The **Biopsychosocial Model** includes the interplay of three major systems: biological, psychological, and _______.

Answer 49

sociocultural ## Footnote It emphasizes the dynamic interplay of these domains.

Question 50

The **Medical Model** encompasses factors such as _______.

Answer 50

* Spirituality * Values * Family * Work * Friends * History * Politics * Education ## Footnote It provides a comprehensive view of health.

Question 51

The **Recovery Model** includes factors such as _______.

Answer 51

* History * Family * Friends * Work * Education * Sexuality * Politics * Spirituality * Hopes & dreams * Values & beliefs * Vulnerability * Community/culture ## Footnote It focuses on holistic recovery.