Chapter 14 Vocab

Abnormal Psychology- The study of psychological disorders

Agoraphobia- Unrealistic fear of open spaces, being outside the home alone, or being in a crowd
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)- A disorder characterized by an unusual lack of
remorse, empathy, or regard for normal social rules and conventions
Anxiety Disorder- A disorder featuring anxiety that is not proportional to a person’s
circumstances
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- A disorder characterized by either unusual
inattentiveness, hyperactivity with impulsivity, or both
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)- A disorder characterized by deficits in social relatedness and
communication skills that are often accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behavior
Bipolar Disorder- A mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression
Body Dysmorphic Disorder- A disorder characterized by the unrealistic perception of physical
flaws
Borderline Personality Disorder- A disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal
relationships, self-image, and emotion
Comorbid- Two or more disorders in the same individual
Compulsion- Repetitive, ritualistic behavior associated with high anxiety
Delusion- A false, illogical belief
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)- A system for classification of
psychological disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association
Diathesis–Stress Model- A model that suggests that the experience of stress interacts with an
individual’s biological predisposition to produce a psychological disorder
Dissociative Disorder- A disorder characterized by disruptions in a person’s identity, memory, or
consciousness
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)- A disorder characterized by excessive anxiety and worry
that is not correlated with particular objects or situations
Hallucination- A false perception
Learned Helplessness- A state in which experiencing random or uncontrolled consequences leads
to feelings of helplessness and possibly depression
Major Depressive Disorder- A disorder characterized by lengthy periods of depressed mood, loss
of pleasure in normal activities, disturbances in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating,
feelings of hopelessness, and possible thoughts of suicide
Mania- A period of unrealistically elevated mood
Obsession- An intrusive, distressing thought
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)- A disorder associated with intrusive obsessions and
compulsions
Panic Attack- The experience of intense fear and autonomic arousal in the absence of real threat
Panic Disorder- A disorder characterized by repeated panic attacks and fear of future attacks
Personality Disorder- A disorder characterized by impairments in identity, in personality traits,
and in establishment of empathy or intimacy
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- A disorder caused by the experience of trauma, which
leads to flashbacks, dreams, hypervigilance, and avoidance of stimuli associated with the
traumatic event
Schizophrenia- A disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thought and
speech, disorders of movement, restricted affect, and avolition or asociality
Social Anxiety Disorder- A disorder characterized by an unrealistic fear of being scrutinized and
criticized by others
Somatic Symptom Disorder- A disorder characterized by physical symptoms that do not have an
underlying medical cause
Specific Phobia- Fears of objects other than those associated with agoraphobia or social anxiety
disorder