| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) | Traumatic or stressful events experienced during childhood that can have lasting effects on physical and mental health throughout the lifespan. |
| alarm reaction | The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring when stress is initially encountered, characterized by a fight-flight-freeze response. |
| behavior | Observable actions and responses of individuals that can influence health outcomes and wellness. |
| coping | The strategies and behaviors people use to manage stress and its effects on behavior and mental processes. |
| daily hassles | Minor, recurring stressful events in everyday life that can accumulate and affect overall well-being. |
| distress | Negative or debilitating stress that impairs functioning and well-being. |
| emotion-focused coping | A coping strategy in which a person manages their emotional reactions to stress through techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or medication to reduce emotional distress. |
| eustress | Positive or motivating stress that can enhance performance and well-being. |
| exhaustion phase | The third stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring when stress subsides or the body's resources become depleted, resulting in increased susceptibility to illness. |
| fight-flight-freeze response | An immediate physiological and behavioral reaction to a perceived threat, involving either confronting the stressor, escaping it, or becoming immobilized. |
| general adaptation syndrome (GAS) | A three-stage model describing the body's physiological response to stress: alarm reaction, resistance phase, and exhaustion phase. |
| health psychology | The branch of psychology that studies how psychological factors influence physical health, illness, and wellness. |
| hypertension | Elevated blood pressure, a physiological condition linked to chronic stress. |
| immune suppression | A weakening of the immune system's ability to fight illness and infection, often resulting from prolonged stress. |
| mental processes | Cognitive and psychological functions including thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that affect physical health and wellness. |
| physical health | The state of bodily functions and systems, including absence of disease and optimal functioning of the body. |
| problem-focused coping | A coping strategy in which a person addresses stress by identifying it as a problem and actively working toward finding and implementing solutions. |
| resistance phase | The second stage of the general adaptation syndrome, occurring as the body attempts to cope with and confront ongoing stress. |
| stress | A psychological and physiological response to demands or threats that can affect behavior, mental processes, and physical health. |
| stressors | Environmental or internal stimuli that trigger a stress response in an individual. |
| tend-and-befriend theory | A theory proposing that some individuals, particularly women, respond to stress by attending to their own needs and/or others' needs while seeking social connection. |
| traumatic stressors | Severe, overwhelming stressful events that can have significant psychological and physiological impacts. |
| wellness | A state of overall well-being that encompasses physical, mental, and social health. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| character strengths | Positive traits and virtues classified into six categories: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. |
| gratitude | A positive subjective experience involving appreciation and thankfulness that contributes to increased subjective well-being. |
| positive emotions | Emotional states such as joy, contentment, and hope that contribute to psychological well-being and life satisfaction. |
| positive psychology | An approach to psychology that focuses on identifying factors that lead to well-being, resilience, positive emotions, and psychological health rather than solely studying mental illness and dysfunction. |
| positive subjective experiences | Personal feelings and perceptions of positivity that individuals experience, such as gratitude or happiness, which influence behavior and mental processes. |
| posttraumatic growth | A positive subjective experience that may result from the experience of trauma or stress, involving personal development and positive psychological change. |
| psychological health | A state of mental and emotional well-being characterized by adaptive functioning and the absence of significant psychological distress. |
| resilience | The ability to recover from or adapt to difficult experiences and maintain psychological health in the face of adversity. |
| signature strengths | An individual's most prominent character strengths or virtues that, when exercised, contribute to higher levels of happiness and subjective well-being. |
| subjective well-being | An individual's personal evaluation of their life satisfaction and emotional experiences, often increased through positive practices like gratitude and exercising personal strengths. |
| virtues | Six fundamental categories of character strengths: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. |
| well-being | A state of overall psychological and emotional health characterized by life satisfaction and positive functioning. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| behavioral perspective | An approach to psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and learning through conditioning. |
| biological perspective | A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from physiological or genetic issues. |
| biopsychosocial model | A model that explains psychological disorders as arising from a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. |
| cognitive perspective | A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions. |
| deviation from social norm | Behaviors or mental processes that differ significantly from what is considered typical or acceptable within a particular culture or society. |
| Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) | A classification system developed by the American Psychiatric Association that provides diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. |
| diathesis | A genetic or biological predisposition or vulnerability to developing a psychological disorder. |
| diathesis-stress model | A model that explains psychological disorders as developing from the interaction between genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and stressful life experiences (stress). |
| eclectic approach | A therapeutic method that combines techniques and theories from multiple psychological perspectives when diagnosing and treating clients. |
| evidence-based diagnostic tools | Standardized assessment instruments and procedures supported by scientific research used to identify and diagnose psychological disorders. |
| evolutionary perspective | A theoretical approach that explores how natural selection affects the expression of behavior and mental processes to increase survival and reproductive success. |
| humanistic perspective | A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from lack of social support and inability to fulfill one's potential. |
| interaction models | Frameworks that explain psychological disorders as resulting from the combined effects of multiple factors rather than a single cause. |
| International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD) | A classification system developed by the World Health Organization that categorizes mental and behavioral disorders. |
| level of dysfunction | The degree to which a psychological condition impairs an individual's ability to function in daily life. |
| maladaptive learned associations | Harmful connections between stimuli and responses that develop through learning and contribute to psychological disorders. |
| perception of distress | An individual's subjective experience of emotional or psychological suffering related to their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. |
| psychodynamic perspective | A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from unconscious thoughts and experiences, often originating in childhood. |
| psychological disorders | Patterns of behavioral or mental processes that deviate from social norms, cause distress, or result in dysfunction. |
| sociocultural perspective | A psychological approach that explains mental disorders as resulting from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics. |
| stigma | Negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination associated with having a psychological disorder. |
| stress | A psychological and physiological response to demands or threats that can affect behavior, mental processes, and physical health. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acrophobia | A specific phobia characterized by fear of heights. |
| acute | A sudden onset or short-term manifestation of a condition, as opposed to chronic. |
| agoraphobia | An anxiety disorder involving intense fear of specific social situations such as public transportation, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds, or being outside the home alone. |
| anorexia nervosa | An eating disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake and an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to significantly low body weight. |
| antisocial personality disorder | A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by disregard for the rights of others and lack of remorse for harmful actions. |
| anxiety disorders | A category of psychological disorders characterized by excessive fear and/or anxiety with related disturbances to behavior. |
| arachnophobia | A specific phobia characterized by fear of spiders. |
| ataque de nervios | A culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced mainly by people of Caribbean or Iberian descent, manifesting as panic attacks. |
| attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development. |
| autism spectrum disorder (ASD) | A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. |
| avoidant personality disorder | A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to rejection. |
| biological sources | Physical or physiological factors, such as brain chemistry or neural functioning, that may contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorders. |
| bipolar cycling | The alternating pattern of experiencing periods of depression and mania in bipolar disorders, which can vary in duration and frequency. |
| bipolar disorders | Mental health conditions characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression that can significantly impact mood, energy, and functioning. |
| Bipolar I disorder | A bipolar disorder characterized by at least one manic episode, often accompanied by depressive episodes. |
| Bipolar II disorder | A bipolar disorder characterized by hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes, but without full manic episodes. |
| borderline personality disorder | A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by unstable relationships, intense fear of abandonment, and emotional instability. |
| bulimia nervosa | An eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. |
| catatonia | A state of disordered movement that may be experienced as excitement (a positive symptom) or stupor (a negative symptom manifestation). |
| catatonic stupor | A negative symptom manifestation of catatonia characterized by a lack of movement or responsiveness. |
| chronic | A long-term or persistent manifestation of a condition that develops gradually over time. |
| Cluster A | The odd or eccentric cluster of personality disorders, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. |
| Cluster B | The dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster of personality disorders, including antisocial, histrionic, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders. |
| Cluster C | The anxious or fearful cluster of personality disorders, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. |
| cognitive changes | Mental or thinking-related symptoms in depressive disorders, such as difficulty concentrating, negative thoughts, or impaired decision-making. |
| compulsions | Intrusive, often repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions, typically intended to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. |
| culture-bound anxiety disorder | An anxiety disorder that is specific to or more prevalent in particular cultural groups, such as ataque de nervios or taijin kyofusho. |
| delusions | False beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence; a positive symptom of schizophrenia that may include delusions of persecution or grandeur. |
| dependent personality disorder | A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by excessive need to be cared for and difficulty making independent decisions. |
| depression | A period of persistently low mood, reduced energy, and diminished interest in activities often associated with bipolar disorders. |
| depressive disorders | A category of psychological disorders characterized by persistent sad, empty, or irritable mood along with physical and cognitive changes that impair functioning. |
| developmental period | The time span during childhood and adolescence when neurodevelopmental disorders typically first appear and are identified. |
| disorganized motor behavior | Abnormal or purposeless physical movements and behaviors; a symptom of schizophrenia that may manifest as catatonia. |
| disorganized thinking or speech | A positive symptom of schizophrenia characterized by incoherent or illogical thought patterns and speech, such as word salad. |
| dissociation | A disconnection or separation from consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, or behavior. |
| dissociative amnesia | A dissociative disorder involving the inability to recall important personal information, typically related to traumatic or stressful events. |
| dissociative disorders | A category of psychological disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior. |
| dissociative identity disorder | A dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities, often resulting from severe trauma. |
| dopamine hypothesis | A biological theory suggesting that schizophrenia may result from imbalances in dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. |
| emotional detachment | A symptom characterized by reduced emotional responsiveness and disconnection from others, often occurring in trauma and stressor-related disorders. |
| emotional responses | Feelings and affective reactions that can be maladaptive and contribute to the etiology of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. |
| empty mood | A symptom of depressive disorders characterized by a sense of emotional numbness or lack of feeling rather than active sadness. |
| feeding and eating disorders | Psychological disorders characterized by altered consumption or absorption of food that impairs health or psychological functioning. |
| flashbacks | Intrusive, vivid recollections of traumatic or stressful experiences that feel as if they are happening in the present moment. |
| flat affect | A negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by a lack of emotional expression or reduced emotional responsiveness. |
| fugue | A dissociative state involving sudden, unexpected travel away from home or one's usual environment, often accompanied by amnesia about one's identity or past. |
| generalized anxiety disorder | An anxiety disorder characterized by prolonged experiences of nonspecific anxiety or fear. |
| genetic sources | Hereditary factors and family history that may predispose individuals to developing obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. |
| hallucinations | False perceptions or sensory experiences that occur without external stimuli; a positive symptom of schizophrenia that may involve one or more senses. |
| histrionic personality disorder | A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. |
| hoarding disorder | A disorder characterized by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value, resulting in excessive accumulation of items. |
| hostility | Aggressive or antagonistic behavior and attitudes that may manifest as a symptom of trauma and stressor-related disorders. |
| hypervigilance | A state of heightened alertness and constant scanning of the environment for potential threats, often seen in trauma and stressor-related disorders. |
| insomnia | A sleep disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep. |
| irritable mood | A symptom of depressive disorders characterized by increased irritability, frustration, or anger rather than sadness. |
| learned associations | Connections between stimuli formed through experience that can contribute to the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. |
| major depressive disorder | A depressive disorder characterized by one or more major depressive episodes involving depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure lasting at least two weeks with significant functional impairment. |
| maladaptive thinking | Unhealthy or counterproductive thought patterns that contribute to psychological distress and the development of psychological disorders. |
| mania | A period of abnormally elevated mood, increased energy, and heightened activity often associated with bipolar disorders. |
| narcissistic personality disorder | A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. |
| negative symptoms | Symptoms of schizophrenia characterized by the absence or reduction of typical behaviors, such as flat affect or lack of movement. |
| neurodevelopmental disorders | A group of disorders that begin during the developmental period and involve difficulties with behaviors and skills appropriate for a person's age or maturity level. |
| obsessions | Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety or distress and are difficult to control or dismiss. |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder | A mental disorder characterized by the presence of obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that significantly interfere with daily functioning. |
| obsessive-compulsive personality disorder | A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. |
| panic attacks | Unanticipated and overwhelming biological, cognitive, and emotional experiences of fear or anxiety that occur in panic disorder. |
| panic disorder | An anxiety disorder characterized by the experience of panic attacks, which are unanticipated and overwhelming biological, cognitive, and emotional experiences of fear or anxiety. |
| paranoid personality disorder | A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others. |
| persistent depressive disorder | A depressive disorder characterized by a chronically depressed mood lasting at least two years in adults, with symptoms less severe than major depressive disorder but more enduring. |
| personality disorders | Enduring patterns of internal experience and behavior that deviate from one's culture, are inflexible and pervasive, begin in adolescence or early adulthood, remain stable over time, and cause personal distress or impairment. |
| physical changes | Bodily symptoms in depressive disorders, such as changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, or psychomotor activity. |
| positive symptoms | Symptoms of schizophrenia involving the presence of abnormal experiences or behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech. |
| posttraumatic stress disorder | A trauma and stressor-related disorder that develops following exposure to a traumatic event and involves symptoms such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional distress. |
| sad mood | A primary emotional symptom of depressive disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness or unhappiness. |
| schizoid personality disorder | A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional expression. |
| schizophrenic spectrum disorders | A group of mental health conditions characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior, including symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. |
| schizotypal personality disorder | A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by eccentric behavior, unusual perceptual experiences, and social anxiety. |
| severe anxiety | Intense fear or worry that persists as a symptom of trauma and stressor-related disorders. |
| social anxiety disorder | An anxiety disorder involving intense fear of being judged or watched by others. |
| specific phobia | An anxiety disorder involving fear or anxiety toward a specific object or situation, such as heights or spiders. |
| stress | A psychological and physiological response to demands or threats that can affect behavior, mental processes, and physical health. |
| taijin kyofusho | A culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced mainly by Japanese people in which individuals fear that others are judging their bodies as undesirable, offensive, or unpleasing. |
| trauma | A deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can serve as a cause or contributing factor to dissociative disorders. |
| trauma and stressor-related disorders | A category of psychological disorders characterized by exposure to a traumatic or stressful event followed by psychological distress and maladaptive symptoms. |
| word salad | A pattern of speech in which words are strung together in nonsensical or incoherent ways, reflecting disorganized thinking. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| active listening | A therapeutic technique in which the therapist fully attends to and reflects back what the client is saying to demonstrate understanding and empathy. |
| anti-anxiety drugs | Psychoactive medications used to reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders. |
| antidepressants | Psychoactive medications used to treat depression by affecting neurotransmitter levels in the brain. |
| antipsychotic medications | Psychoactive medications used to treat psychotic symptoms by affecting dopamine and other neurotransmitters. |
| anxiety | A psychological condition characterized by worry or fear that hypnosis has demonstrated effectiveness in treating. |
| applied behavior analysis | The application of conditioning principles to address mental disorders and developmental disabilities through systematic behavioral interventions. |
| aversion therapy | A behavioral therapy technique that pairs an undesired behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce or eliminate the behavior. |
| biofeedback | A conditioning-based technique that provides clients with real-time information about their body systems to help them regulate physiological responses associated with anxiety or depression. |
| cognitive restructuring | A cognitive therapy technique that involves identifying and challenging maladaptive or irrational thoughts and replacing them with more realistic ones. |
| cognitive triad | In cognitive therapy, the three components of depression consisting of negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future. |
| cognitive-behavioral therapy | A therapeutic approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to treat mental and behavioral disorders. |
| cultural humility | An approach in therapy where therapists recognize and respect cultural differences, acknowledge their own limitations, and work to understand clients' cultural backgrounds. |
| deinstitutionalization | The process of releasing large numbers of patients from hospitals and asylums into community-based care settings. |
| dialectical behavior therapy | A cognitive-behavioral therapy that combines acceptance and change strategies, particularly used to treat borderline personality disorder and other disorders. |
| dream interpretation | A psychodynamic technique in which the therapist analyzes a client's dreams to access unconscious thoughts and conflicts. |
| electroconvulsive therapy | An invasive biological intervention that uses electrical currents to induce controlled seizures for treating severe mental disorders. |
| ethical principles | Fundamental moral guidelines that psychologists must follow when treating psychological disorders, established by professional organizations like the APA. |
| evidence-based interventions | Treatment approaches that are supported by scientific research demonstrating their effectiveness in treating psychological disorders. |
| fear hierarchies | A cognitive therapy technique in which feared situations are ranked from least to most anxiety-provoking to guide exposure-based treatment. |
| fidelity | The ethical principle of being faithful and loyal to clients, maintaining trust and honoring commitments in therapeutic relationships. |
| free association | A psychodynamic technique in which clients freely express thoughts, feelings, and memories without censorship to uncover unconscious material. |
| group therapy | A form of psychotherapy in which a therapist works with multiple clients simultaneously, allowing them to share experiences and provide support to one another. |
| hypnosis | A therapeutic technique used to induce a focused state of consciousness that can be effective for treating certain psychological conditions. |
| individual therapy | A form of psychotherapy in which a therapist works one-on-one with a single client to address their psychological concerns. |
| integrity | The ethical principle of being honest, truthful, and maintaining consistency between words and actions in psychological practice. |
| lithium | A psychoactive medication used primarily to treat bipolar disorder by affecting neurotransmitter function. |
| lobotomy | A form of psychosurgery that was performed in the mid-20th century but is rarely used today to treat mental disorders. |
| meta-analytic studies | Research that combines and analyzes data from multiple studies to draw overall conclusions about the effectiveness of treatments or interventions. |
| neurotransmitters | Chemical messengers in the nervous system that transmit signals between neurons and are targeted by psychoactive medications. |
| nonmaleficence | The ethical principle of avoiding harm to clients in psychological treatment. |
| pain | A physical or emotional sensation that hypnosis has been shown to help manage or reduce. |
| parasympathetic nervous system | The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'rest and digest' response that helps reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. |
| person-centered therapy | A humanistic therapy approach that emphasizes the therapist's use of active listening and unconditional positive regard to facilitate client growth. |
| psychosurgery | Surgical interventions on the brain used to treat mental disorders, which may involve lesioning brain tissue. |
| psychotherapy | Treatment of psychological disorders through psychological techniques and interventions rather than medical procedures. |
| psychotropic medication | Drugs that affect mood, perception, and behavior by altering brain chemistry to treat psychological disorders. |
| rational-emotive behavior therapy | A cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that lead to emotional distress. |
| respect for people's rights and dignity | The ethical principle of honoring clients' autonomy, privacy, and inherent worth as individuals in psychological treatment. |
| sympathetic nervous system | The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response that contributes to feelings of anxiety. |
| systematic desensitization | An exposure therapy technique that gradually exposes clients to feared stimuli while in a relaxed state to reduce anxiety responses. |
| tardive dyskinesia | A movement disorder that can develop as a side effect of antipsychotic medications due to changes in dopamine regulation. |
| therapeutic alliance | The collaborative relationship and trust established between a therapist and client, which is essential for successful treatment outcomes. |
| token economy | A behavioral therapy system in which clients earn tokens or rewards for desired behaviors that can be exchanged for privileges or reinforcers. |
| transcranial magnetic stimulation | A non-invasive brain stimulation technique that uses magnetic pulses to treat mental disorders. |
| unconditional positive regard | A humanistic therapy principle in which the therapist accepts and values the client without judgment or conditions. |