Question 1

What is a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

A statistical analysis used for combining the results of multiple scientific studies dealing with the same variables

Question 2

What does the psychoanalytic perspective believe about abnormal behavior?

Accepted Answer

It results from internal unresolved conflict in the unconscious, stemming from childhood trauma

Question 3

What is the goal of psychoanalytic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Help patients gain insight into their unconscious conflicts

(does not offer a cure)

Question 4

What is free association?

Accepted Answer

A technique in psychoanalysis where the patient says whatever comes to mind

Question 5

What is manifest content?

Accepted Answer

Literal events and imagery within a dream on the surface level

Question 6

What is latent content?

Accepted Answer

The underlying meaning and unconscious desire in dreams

(found by analyzing symbols within the dream)

Question 7

What is hypnosis?

Accepted Answer

A trance-like state where people experience increased attention, concentration, and suggestibility

(used in psychoanalysis)

Question 8

What are Freudian slips (parapraxes)?

Accepted Answer

An error in speech/memory/movement that is considered to reveal subconscious feelings

Question 9

What is resistance in psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Blocking anxiety-provoking feelings and experiences, and pushing against suggestions

May be a sign the client has reached an important issue that needs to be discovered

Question 10

What is transference in psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

A phenomenon where the feelings a client has about a significant person in their lives (parents) are unconsciously transferred to the present situation (the therapist)

Question 11

What is catharsis in psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Release of emotional tension after traumatic events surface and are relived

(possibly resulting in anxiety relief)

Question 12

What is the difference between psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic is a more modern version and is shorter in duration, less frequent, and involves a more active conversation

Question 13

What does the humanist approach believe about abnormal behavior?

Accepted Answer

It results from conditions of worth society places on an individual, leading to a poor self-concept

(the client's inherent goodness has been stifled by external constraints)

Question 14

What is the goal of humanistic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Reduce the discrepancy between the ideal and the real self

Question 15

What is unconditional positive regard?

Accepted Answer

A concept in humanistic therapy where the therapist must be accepting and supporting of a client, no matter what they do

(allows the client's inner strength to flourish, resulting in personal growth and the elimination of problems)

Question 16

What is self-actualization?

Accepted Answer

Realizing and fulfilling your talents and full potential

(part of humanistic therapy)

Question 17

What is self-concept?

Accepted Answer

The collection of beliefs an individual holds about themselves

(Rogerian psychotherapy aims at developing a more positive self-concept)

Question 18

What is the aim of nondirective Rogerian psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Developing a more positive self-concept, and showing sensitivity/genuineness

(done through unconditional positive regard and active listening)

Question 19

What is active listening in Rogerian psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Echoing, restating, and seeking clarification of what the client says and does

Question 20

What is Gestalt therapy?

Accepted Answer

A type of therapy that emphasizes personal responsibility and focusing attention on the current moment

(directive in questioning, as opposed to client-centered therapy)

Question 21

What does the behavioral approach believe about abnormal behavior?

Accepted Answer

It comes from maladaptive responses learned through reinforcement of the wrong kinds of behavior

Question 22

What is the goal of behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

Extinguish unwanted behavior and replace it with wanted behavior

(based on classical and operant conditioning)

Question 23

What is systematic desensitization?

Accepted Answer

A treatment for phobias where the patient is slowly exposed to more and more anxiety-provoking stimuli

Question 24

What is an anxiety hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

A hierarchy about a specific fear, ranking the least-feared to most-feared stimulus

Question 25

What is flooding in behavioral therapy?

Accepted Answer

An extreme type of behavioral treatment that immediately exposes a client to a stressful stimulus, rather than building its way up

Question 26

What is aversive conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A type of behavior therapy that trains the client to associate unwanted behavior with physical discomfort

(Antabuse to discourage alcohol)

Question 27

What is Antabuse?

Accepted Answer

A drug that has no effect on its own, but when paired with alcohol it causes extreme nausea

(example of aversive conditioning)

Question 28

What is behavior modification?

Accepted Answer

Promoting a wanted behavior with tiny rewards for each step towards it

(the client selects a goal and gets rewarded for each step towards it)

Question 29

How can token economies be used in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Used in institutions to encourage acceptable behaviors (by giving tokens) and discourage unacceptable behaviors (by taking tokens)

Question 30

What is social skills training?

Accepted Answer

A behavior therapy to improve social skills in people with mental disorders

Question 31

What is biofeedback?

Accepted Answer

A mind-body technique that gives visual/auditory statistics and feedback about involuntary actions such as blood pressure and heartrate

Question 32

What are psychoanalysts' criticisms of behavioral therapy?

Accepted Answer

It only "cures" the symptom, rather than the underlying problem, so the problem may resurface in a different way

(a "cured" smoker begins a new compulsive habit, like eating or drinking)

Question 33

What is cognitive restructuring?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing maladaptive thoughts and turning them into more realistic thoughts, in order to change abnormal behavior

Question 34

What is Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)?

Accepted Answer

A cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps the client change irrational belief

(identifies irrational beliefs, then challenges those beliefs)

Question 35

What is Beck's cognitive triad?

Accepted Answer

A view of depression, where the individual has uncontrollable negative thoughts about

the self

the world/environment

the future

(depressed individuals are low in all three)

Question 36

What does the biological approach believe about abnormal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters, hormones, genetic predispositions, and other brain abnormalities

Question 37

What is psychopharmacotherapy?

Accepted Answer

The use of psychotropic drugs to treat mental disorders

Question 38

What are the four major classifications of psychotropic drugs?

Accepted Answer

Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications)

Antidepressants

Stimulants

Neuroleptics (anti-psychotics)

Question 39

What are anxiolytics (tranquilizers)?

Accepted Answer

Anti-anxiety drugs used to prevent anxiety and treat related disorders

(often work quickly; can be habit forming)

Question 40

What are antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Medications used to elevate mood and treat depression

(make serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine more available to stimulate postsynaptic neurons)

Question 41

What are stimulants?

Accepted Answer

Psychoactive drugs that activate motivational centers to treat people with narcolepsy and ADHD

(increase activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine; reduce activity in inhibitory centers; can be addictive)

Question 42

What are neuroleptics (antipsychotics)?

Accepted Answer

A class of medication used to manage psychosis (delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, ...)

(may have serious side effects)

Question 43

What is tardive dyskinesia?

Accepted Answer

A side effect of neuroleptics that causes jerky and uncontrollable movements of the face/body

(might blink your eyes, stick out your tongue, or wave your arms without meaning to)

Question 44

What is electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT)?

Accepted Answer

A procedure that administers an electric shock to patients, intentionally triggering a brief seizure

Causes changes in brain chemistry that can reverse serious depression and other conditions

(done while patient is under anesthesia; no long term damage, but short term memory loss; only used as a last resort; works for an unknown reason)

Question 45

What is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)?

Accepted Answer

A new treatment for severe depressive disorder, which places a magnetic coil above the right eyebrow to deliver magnetic pulses through your brain

Question 46

What is psychosurgery?

Accepted Answer

The removal of brain tissue to treat organic problems that cause abnormal behavior

(absolute last resort; irreversible effects)

Question 47

What is a prefrontal lobotomy?

Accepted Answer

A type of psychosurgery that severs connections between the lower brain regions and the frontal lobes

(formerly performed on violent schizophrenics, but left them as emotional zombies)

Question 48

What is a corpus callosum transection (split-brain surgery)?

Accepted Answer

An operation that severs the corpus callosum to prevent severe seizures

(used very rarely)

Question 49

What is group therapy?

Accepted Answer

A form of psychotherapy that involves therapist(s) interacting with a group of people, rather than an individual

(helps people learn others have similar problems; cheaper)

Question 50

What is couples and family therapy?

Accepted Answer

A type of psychotherapy where a therapist attempts to help spouses or family members understand each other and improve their relationship

Question 51

What are self-help groups?

Accepted Answer

Informal groups of people who share a similar problem, and work together to improve it

(Alcoholics Anonymous where recovering alcoholics get support and can share their personal experiences)

Treatment, AP Psychology Flashcards