Dissociative Disorders

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DEPERSONALIZATION

The state of mind where the self appears to be unreal.

DIATHESIS-STRESS MODEL

Theory stating that mental and physical disorders develop from genetic or biological predisposition combined with stress.

DISCRIMINATIVE STIMULUS

Operant conditioning. A stimulus that increases the probablity of a response.

DISTORTION

1. Unconscious process of altering emotions and thoughts or the conscious misrepresentation of facts. 2. Psychoanalytic theory. Using dream work

DYSFUNCTION

Any disturbance, deficiency or impairment of function or behaviour.

EGO-DEFENSIVE FUNCTION OF AN ATTITUDE

The role that an attitude plays in maintaining and enhancing our self esteem.

EMOTIONAL STABILITY

The consistency and predictability of emotional reactions. Compare affective lability.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

The study of the distribution and incidence of diseases and disorders. See incidence- relative risk.

EXACT REPLICATION

Repeating an experiment where the goal is to have the conditions as close to the original conditions as possible.

EXTERNAL VALIDITY

The extent that research can be generalized beyond the results to other situations or people.

LOOKING-GLASS SELF

is a theory which attempts to explain the mechanism and reasoning behind humans consistent attempts to evaluate their own performance

MASOCHISM

is a psychological condition whereby an individual obtains pleasure or enjoys the experience of feeling pain whether inflicted by themselves,

MENTAL DISORDER

is an umbrella a term used to describe any psychological symptoms, abnormal behaviours, impaired functioning or any combination of the

MIRROR TECHNIQUE

otherwise known as mirroring, in psychological experiments, one participant is asked to complete an exercise whilst a confederate (fake participant)

MOTOR TENSION

has been linked to anxiety disorder where the individuals muscles will be in a state of tension due to restlessness.

NEGATIVE AFFECT

is an internal feeling or emotion which is typically experienced after one has failed to complete a task or goal,

NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

an abstract continuous probability distribution which is na act of two parameters: the expected value, p, and the variance, o.

OCCASION SETTER

with regard to Pavlovian conditioning, a stimulant which is differentially coupled with a stimulant-stimulant contingency.

OVERDETERMINATION

with regard to psychoanalytic theory, the idea postulating that many unconscious facets might mix to generate one symptom, dream, dysfunction,

PASSIVE DECEPTION

the withholding of specific data from research-engaged parties, like not making them aware of the entire details of the study.