Personality Disorders

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PRIMARY PREVENTION

A regimen of programs and research with the main goal of promoting physical, behavioral and mental health in the nonclinical

PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUE

Also known as the projective method, projective technique is any personality assessment process that uses a fixed series of random

PSYCHODIAGNOSIS

A diagnostic technique for the determination of underlying factors in behavior and disordered behavior. Also, the diagnosis of disorder through

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

The scientific study of mental disorder(s). The field covers the theory, research, diagnosis and treatment of psychological diseases. It is

PURPOSIVISM

An explanation of actions or behaviors based on goals and purposes. of those being observed.

REACTIVE AGGRESSION

A physical act committed with little consideration of the consequences. Generally the act is associated with intent to harm and

REFRAMING

Developing a new conceptual or emotional outlook relating to situations experienced, and putting it into another frame which follows the

REPRESENTATIVENESS HEURISTIC

Psychological term in which people judge the probability of a hypothesis by ascertaining how well the hypothesis mimics available data.

RETENTION

Endurance of behaviors which have been learned or acquired when the behavior is not being utilized; signified by being able

RUMINATION

Obsessive thoughts concerning extreme, recurring ideas or concepts that interrupt other types of cognitive actions; a typical element of obsessive-compulsive

SECONDARY APPRAISAL

Within the cognitive assessment concept of feelings, evaluation of one's potential to deal with the outcomes of an encounter with

PRIMARY REINFORCEMENT

Also referred to as unconditioned reinforcement, primary reinforcement is the process by which presentation of a stimulus following a response

PROMPTING

A term used in psychotherapy, prompting is using suggestion or hints by the therapist to encourage discussion by the client

PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy strong on psychoanalytical tradition; viewing individuals as reacting to unconscious forces. Common traits of the psychodynamic approach are an

PSYCHOPHARMACOTHERAPY

The study and use of pharmacological agents in mental disorders. For example, depression is treated with the administration of anti-depressants.

PYGMALION EFFECT

An effect caused by the expectations of a superior regarding the performance of their subordinates. It has been called a

REACTIVE MEASURE

Any measure with the action of altering a response under examination. For instance, if a subject is aware of clinical

REGRESSION ANALYSIS

A technique for correlating the computation of the most likely value of one variable from the known value of another.

REPRESSION

Psychological act of excluding impulses or desires from consciousness. Exclusion of a specific event from the memory and having no

RETROSPECTIVE FALSIFICATION

Deliberately or unconsciously making changes to a story each time it is repeated to exaggerate good points or increase interest