Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

How do social-cognitive theorists explain the development of our personality and the relationship among personality, the environment, and behavior? ● Social-cognitive theorists describe how our personality and behaviors result from interactions among the ways we think, our environment, and our behaviors. To truly describe personality, we need to consider not just personality traits but also […]

Historically, what were considered the causes of psychological disorders, and what are the current perspectives? ● Perspectives on psychological disorders have changed through the centuries. In the past, many “treatments” for psychological disorders were inhumane. ● French physician Philippe Pinel and other reformers worked to improve the treatment of people with psychological disorders. Pinel’s work […]

1. True or False: A criticism of the DSM is that it is biased in favor of the medical model of psychological disorders. 2. What are the potential dangers of diagnostic labels, and what are the benefits? ● Research indicates that people who suffer from mental disorders are stigmatized and discriminated against. Studies show that […]

What are the anxiety disorders, and what causes them? ● Generalized anxiety disorder is marked by disruptive levels of persistent, unexplained feelings of apprehension and tenseness. ● Panic disorder is marked by sudden bouts of intense, unexplained panic. ● Phobia is marked by disruptive, irrational fears of objects, activities, or situations. ● Obsessive-compulsive disorder is […]

What are the mood disorders, and what causes them? ● Major depressive disorder is diagnosed when five of the following nine symptoms (including one of the first two) are present for two or more weeks: depressed mood most of the day, little interest in activities, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, changes in activity level, […]

What are the symptoms, types, and causes of schizophrenic disorders? Summary and Formative Assessment Module 32 Thinking About Dissociative, Schizophrenic, and Personality Disorders ● Schizophrenic disorders include symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, and inappropriate emotions or behaviors. ● The main types of schizophrenia are paranoid schizophrenia, catatonic schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, and undifferentiated schizophrenia. ● The risk […]

What is psychotherapy in general, and what is Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory in particular? ● Psychotherapy is an interaction between a trained therapist and someone who is seeking to overcome psychological difficulties or achieve personal growth. ● Psychoanalysis is a theory of personality and a therapeutic technique that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives […]

What are the advantages of group therapy and when is group therapy most often used? psychotherapy, p. 588 eclectic approach, p. 588 psychoanalysis, p. 588 resistance, p. 589 interpretation, p. 589 transference, p. 589 client-centered therapy, p. 592 active listening, p. 592 behavior therapy, p. 594 systematic desensitization, p. 595 virtual reality exposure therapy, p. […]

What do antipsychotic, antianxiety, and antidepressant drugs do, and how effective are they? ● Antipsychotic drugs work by blocking the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine and are used primarily to treat schizophrenia. ● Antianxiety drugs boost the neurotransmitter GABA and are most often prescribed to treat people with anxiety disorders or people suffering from stress. […]

What are some of the different kinds of jobs that psychologists do? ● The most common psychological career is clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists use their skills to promote psychological health in groups and individuals. Clinical psychologists work in private practices, medical systems, schools, counseling centers, government agencies, and mental health service organizations. ● Academic psychologists […]