How Do Anxiety Disorders Differ from Ordinary Worries and Fears - Assignment Example

Psychology 1a.What are anxiety disorders, and how do they differ from ordinary worries and fears? Describe the symptoms for 3 of the 5 anxiety disorders. According to Freud, what produces the thoughts and feelings that mark anxiety disorders? EXPLAIN! Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause people to feel excessively frightened, distressed, or uneasy during situations in which most other people would not experience these same feelings hence significantly different from ordinary worries and fears. Some of the symptoms include; feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness, uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts, repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences, nightmares, ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing and Problems sleeping among others (Weiten 34-5). According to Freud on psychology of the mind and the role of internal conflicts in causing and maintaining anxiety is core in its formation. 1b.What are mood disorders, and what forms do they take? Also, differentiate between depressive and mania symptoms. What causes mood disorders, and what might explain the Western world’s rising incidence of depression among youth and young adults? Why is depression viewed as a “vicious cycle”? Explain! (15 points) Psychological disorder characterized by the elevation or lowering of a persons mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder(Weiten 37-8). 1c. how does biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders? HINT: Include the view of the depressed brain and negative thoughts/moods. EXPLAIN! Mood disorder is a less severe form of depression. Although less extreme, dysthymic disorder causes chronic of long-lasting moodiness. With dysthymic disorder, low, dark moods invade your life nearly every day for two years or more(Weiten 44-6). Dysthymia is contrasted with a full major depressive episode that lasts two years or longer, which is called chronic major depression. 1d. What patterns of thinking, perceiving, feeling, and behaving characterize schizophrenia? Also, define schizophrenia; include the sub-types and the chronic/acute in your discussion. How can we understand schizophrenia? Schizophrenia constitutes psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality and by significant social or occupational dysfunction. What are the genetic influences on schizophrenia? What factors may be early warning signs of schizophrenia in children? Also, what are the psychological factors that may trigger schizophrenia? (15 points) 1e. Differentiate between dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia. Compare the usefulness of a medical perspective and a biopsychosocial approach for each of these two disorders. 1f. What are the three clusters of personality disorders? What behavior and brain activity characterize the antisocial personality and how can we understand this disorder? EXPLAIN! Cluster A personality disorders: these are disorders in which odd or eccentric behavior is considered to be central. For example in schizotypal, schizoid and paranoid personality disorders. Cluster B personality disorders: this group includes personality disorders in which dramatic and erratic emotional responses are common. Borderline, antisocial, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders belong in this cluster. Cluster C personality disorders: personality disorders which are classified as belonging to cluster C are those in which anxious and fearful behavior are central – including avoidant, dependent and obsessive compulsive personality disorders. 2. Define psychological disorders. Identify and discuss the two perspectives that can help us understand psychological disorders. Also, indicate how they differ in their perspectives (15 points). A psychological disorder can be defined as a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and create distress for the person experiencing such symptoms. In most cases health professionals can use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR), which is American Psychiatric Association publication, to determine whether a set of symptoms or behaviors meets the criteria for diagnosis as a psychological disorder. Cultural and religious teachings are some of the perspectives that often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of mental illness, and shape attitudes towards the mentally ill. Biological perspective is the scientific research in which facts are established towards the cause-effect of the condition. Chapter 16: Therapy: MUST CHOOSE ONE (1) QUESTION 1 .Identify and discuss 3 of the 4 major forms of psychological therapies. Include the major themes/goals and techniques for each approach. For example: What are the aims and methods of psychoanalysis, and how have they been adapted in psychodynamic therapy? OR: What are the basic themes of humanistic therapy, such as Rogers’ client-centered approach? Also, what are the three elements shared by all forms of psychotherapies? (15 points) Behavior therapy. This approach focuses on learnings role in developing both normal and abnormal behaviors. In this case we introduce Ivan Pavlov who made important contributions to behavior therapy by discovering classical conditioning, or associative learning. Pavlovs famous dogs, for example, began drooling when they heard their dinner bell, because they associated the sound with food. Cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy emphasizes what people think rather than what they do. Cognitive therapists believe that its dysfunctional thinking that leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors. By changing their thoughts, people can change how they feel and what they do. Humanistic therapy. This approach emphasizes peoples capacity to make rational choices and develop to their maximum potential. Concern and respect for others are also important themes. Three types of humanistic therapy are especially influential. Client-centered therapy rejects the idea of therapists as authorities on their clients inner experiences. Instead, therapists help clients change by emphasizing their concern, care and interest. Existential therapy focuses on free will, self-determination and the search for meaning The three psychotherapies rely on three common elements, i.e. behavior change, cognitive aspect of the individual and learning. Appendix A: Subfields of Psychology-MUST CHOOSE ONE (1) QUESTION 1. Identify 5 careers in the main specialty areas of psychology and describe treatment approach and training/degree required. Biopsychology: Biopsychology is a field of psychology that analyzes how the brain and neurotransmitters influence our behaviors, thoughts and feelings. This field can be thought of as a combination of basic psychology and neuroscience. Clinical Psychology: Clinical psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior and psychiatric problems. Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics. Comparative Psychology: Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. Modern research on animal behavior began with the work of Charles Darwin and Georges Romanes and has continued to grow into a multidisciplinary subject. Today, biologists, psychologists, anthropologists, ecologists, geneticists and many others contribute to the study of animal behavior. Counseling Psychology: Counseling psychology focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to clients who experience a wide variety of symptoms. It is also one of the largest specialty areas within psychology. The Society of Counseling Psychology describes the field as " a psychological specialty that facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental and organizational concerns." Work Cited Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes & Variations. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2008. Print. Read More