McGraw-Hill OnlineMcGraw-Hill Higher EducationLearning Center
Student Center | Instructor Center | Information Center | Home
Internet Primer
Study Skills Primer
Statistics Primer
Career Opportunities
Grade Summit
PowerWeb
Author Audio Introductions
Learning Objectives
Chapter Outline
Multiple Choice
Fill in the Blanks
Short Answers
Glossary
Internet Exercises
Interactive Activities
Crossword Puzzle
Frequently Asked Questions
Around the Globe
Rethink Answers
Web Links
Feedback
Help Center


Understanding Psychology Book Cover Image
Understanding Psychology, 6/e
Robert S. Feldman, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Psychological Disorders


antisocial personality disorder  A disorder in which individuals tend to display no regard for the moral and ethical rules of society or the rights of others
anxiety disorder  Anxiety with no obvious external cause that impairs daily functioning
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)  A learning disability marked by inattention, impulsiveness, a low tolerance for frustration, and a great deal of inappropriate activity
behavioral perspective  The perspective that looks at the behavior itself as the problem
bipolar disorder  A disorder in which a person alternates between periods of euphoric feelings of mania and periods of depressionbipolar_disorder (181.0K)
borderline personality disorder  A disorder in which individuals have difficulty developing a secure sense of who they are
cognitive perspective  The perspective that people's thoughts and beliefs are a central component of abnormal behavior
compulsion  An irresistible urge to repeatedly carry out some act that seems strange and unreasonable
conversion disorder  A major somatoform disorder that involves an actual physical disturbance, such as the inability to use a sensory organ or the complete or partial inability to move an arm or leg
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV  The manual of the American Psychiatric Association that presents the diagnostic system used by most U.S. mental health professionals to diagnose and classify abnormal behavior
dissociative amnesia  A disorder in which the person has significant, selective memory lossdissociative_amnesia (137.0K)
dissociative disorder  Psychological dysfunctions characterized by the separation of critical personality facets that are normally integrated; this reduces anxiety by repressing disturbing thoughts or memoriesdissociative_disorder (245.0K)
dissociative fugue  A form of amnesia in which people take sudden, impulsive trips, sometimes assuming a new identitydissociative_fugue (164.0K)
dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality)  A disorder in which a person displays characteristics of two or more distinct personalities
generalized anxiety disorder  Long-term, persistent anxiety and worry
humanistic perspective  The perspective that emphasizes people's responsibility for their own behavior, even when such behavior is abnormal
hypochondriasis  A disorder involving having a constant fear of illness and a preoccupation with one's healthhypochondriasis (144.0K)
major depression  A severe form of depression that interferes with concentration, decision making, and sociability
mania  An extended state of intense, wild elationmania (93.0K)
medical perspective  The perspective that the root cause of abnormal behavior will be found in a physical examination of the individual, which might reveal a hormonal imbalance, a chemical deficiency, or a brain injury
mood disorder  Disturbances in emotional feelings strong enough to interfere with everyday living
narcissistic personality disorder  A personality disturbance characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importancenarcissistic_personality (168.0K)
obsession  A persistent, unwanted thought or idea that keeps recurring
obsessive-compulsive disorder  A disorder characterized by obsessions or compulsions
panic disorder  Anxiety that reveals itself in the form of panic attacks that last from a few seconds to as long as several hours
personality disorder  A mental disorder characterized by a set of inflexible, maladaptive personality traits that keep a person from functioning properly in society
phobias  Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations
psychoanalytic perspective  The perspective that abnormal behavior stems from childhood conflicts over opposing wishes regarding sex and aggression
schizophrenia  A class of disorders involving severe distortions of realityschizophrenia (124.0K)
sociocultural perspective  The perspective that people's behavior-both normal and abnormal-is shaped by the kind of family group, society, and culture in which they live
somatoform disorder  Psychological difficulties that take on a physical (somatic) form, but for which there is no medical causesomatoform_disorder (196.0K)