Exam 2 Key Terms

• Agoraphobia

  An anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of situations or places where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of a panic attack.
• Anal Stage


  In psychoanalytic theory, the second stage of psychosexual development, focusing on toilet training and control over bowel movements.
• Antianxiety Drug

  Medications prescribed to reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders by decreasing nervousness and agitation.
• Antidepressant Drugs


  Medications used to treat depression by altering brain chemistry, typically by affecting neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.
• Anxiety


  A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
• Anxiety Disorder


  A mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry or fear that disrupts daily life.
• Anxiety Sensitivity


  The fear of experiencing anxiety-related symptoms or sensations, often leading to heightened anxiety.
• Assertiveness Training


  Therapy aimed at helping individuals communicate their needs and desires effectively while respecting others.
• Avoidance Theory


  A psychological theory proposing that anxiety disorders develop when individuals avoid situations that provoke anxiety, thereby maintaining or exacerbating their fear.
• Basic Irrational Assumptions

  In rational-emotive therapy, deeply held beliefs that contribute to emotional distress.
• Benzodiazepines


  A class of psychoactive drugs used to treat anxiety disorders, acting as central nervous system depressants.
• Biofeedback


  A technique used to train individuals to control physiological processes such as heart rate or blood pressure.
• Biological Challenge Test

  A procedure used to induce symptoms of anxiety in a controlled environment for diagnostic purposes.
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder


  A mental health disorder characterized by obsessive concern over perceived flaws or defects in physical appearance.
• Brain Circuits


  Networks of interconnected neurons responsible for specific functions or behaviors.
• Conditioning


  The process of learning associations between stimuli and responses.
• Client-Centered Therapy

  A humanistic approach to therapy focused on providing a supportive and nonjudgmental environment in which clients can explore their feelings and experiences.
• Clomipramine


  A tricyclic antidepressant used primarily in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Cognitive Therapy


  A type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and beliefs to alleviate emotional distress.
• Compulsion


  Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessive thoughts, often in an attempt to reduce anxiety or distress.
• Conditioned Response


  A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
• Conditioned Stimulus

  A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.
• Covert Desensitization


  A therapeutic technique used to reduce anxiety or fear by imagining or visualizing anxiety-provoking stimuli in a safe environment.
• Diathesis-Stress


  A theoretical model suggesting that psychological disorders arise from an interaction between biological predispositions (diatheses) and environmental stressors.
• Dreams


  Mental experiences that occur during sleep, often involving vivid imagery and emotions.
• Electromyograph (EMG)


  A device used to measure and record electrical activity in muscles, often used in biofeedback therapy.
• Exposure and Response Prevention


  A behavioral therapy technique used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder by gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli while preventing compulsive behaviors.
• Exposure Treatments


  Therapeutic interventions involving gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli to reduce fear and anxiety.
• Family Pedigree Study

  Research method used to investigate the genetic basis of psychological disorders by examining patterns of disorder occurrence within families.
• Fear


  An emotional response to a real or perceived threat, characterized by physiological arousal and a desire to escape or avoid the threat.
• Fear Hierarchy


  A structured list of feared situations or stimuli, typically used in exposure therapy to gradually expose individuals to their fears.
• Flooding


  A behavioral therapy technique involving prolonged and intense exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety.
• Free Association


  A psychoanalytic technique in which clients express themselves freely without censorship or judgment, often revealing unconscious thoughts and feelings.
• Free-Floating Anxiety


  A general feeling of apprehension or unease without a specific trigger or cause.
• Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)


  A neurotransmitter that inhibits neural activity, often associated with relaxation and reduced anxiety.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder


  A chronic and excessive worry or anxiety about multiple events or activities, often without a specific trigger.
• Hair-Pulling Disorder


  Also known as trichotillomania, a mental health disorder characterized by recurrent pulling out of one's hair, leading to hair loss and distress.
• Hoarding Disorder


  A mental health disorder characterized by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, resulting in excessive clutter and distress.
• Intolerance of Uncertainty Theory


  A cognitive theory proposing that anxiety disorders arise from an inability to tolerate ambiguity or uncertainty.
• In Vivo Desensitization


  A therapeutic technique involving real-life exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety.