Download Unit 2 Learning Objectives - Kirkwood Community College

Unit 4 Learning Objectives
How do psychologists identify, explain, and classify abnormal behavior?
 Describe five common myths regarding mental health and illness (p.456).
 Define abnormal behavior, and describe and evaluate the strengths and limitations of the
four basic standards for identifying such behavior (pp. 457-459).
 Summarize the historical progression in the definition of abnormality, and discuss criticisms
of the medical model of mental illness (pp. 459-461).
 Based upon Rosenhan’s study, discuss how psychiatric labels influence how other people
expect to see in those people with the label (p. 461).
 Describe the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), including the
DSM-IV-TR’s classification system, purpose, and limitations (pp. 461-464).
What are some of the major issues in therapy?
 Discuss the five goals of therapy (pp. 525-526).
 Differentiate between the various types of mental health professionals and compare the
approaches taken by these professionals who practice in the various fields of therapy (pp.
526-527).
 Describe similarities and differences in therapy across cultures, and the five major areas of
concern for women in therapy (pp. 527-529).
 Discuss the controversies regarding deinstitutionalization and involuntary commitment;
discuss community mental health centers as an alternative to institutionalization (pp. 529531).
 Describe the results of controlled research regarding the effectiveness of therapy and discuss
several strategies for finding an appropriate therapist (pp. 531-532).
When do disturbances in mood become abnormal?
 Describe two major mood disorders: Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar disorder (pp.
470-472).
 Discuss the possible biological and psychosocial causes of mood disorders including the
relationship between learned helplessness and depression (pp. 472-473).
 Discuss ten common myths regarding suicide, and describe what steps to take if someone
you know is suicidal (pp. 473-474).
What are the core treatment techniques in cognitive therapy?
 Define cognitive therapy, and describe its emphasis on changing self-talk via cognitive
restructuring (pp. 506-507).
 Compare Ellis’s rational-emotive behavior therapy with Beck’s cognitive-behavior therapy
(pp. 507-509).
 Describe the successes and criticisms of cognitive therapies (p. 509).
What are the major biomedical therapies?
 Define biomedical therapy and discuss the advantages of psychopharmacology, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery (pp. 519-522).
 Discuss the limitations of psychopharmacology, electroconvulsive therapy, and
psychosurgery (pp. 522-524).
What is PTSD, and what are anxiety disorders, and what causes them?
 Describe the nature and symptoms of PTSD, and identify the five important tips for coping
with crisis (pp. 105-106).
 Describe the major anxiety disorders and phobias (pp. 465-468).
 Discuss the possible causes of anxiety disorders (pp. 468-470).
How are learning principles used in behavior therapy?
 Define behavior therapy, and describe how classical conditioning (systematic desensitization
and aversion therapy), operant conditioning (shaping and reinforcement), and observational
learning (modeling therapy) are applied to increase adaptive behaviors and decrease
maladaptive behaviors (pp. 514-518).
 Describe the successes reported for behavioral therapy with specific types of problems, and
discuss the three major criticisms of this method (p. 518).
What are eating disorders?
 Define and discuss symptoms/characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and
state the causes and risk factors for the development of these eating disorders (pp. 384-385).
How are substance, dissociative, and personality disorders identified?
 Define comorbidity and describe theories regarding why substance-related disorders often
overlap with other mental disorders (pp. 483-484).
 Identify the common characteristic for all dissociative disorders, and differentiate between
dissociative amnesia, fugue, depersonalization, and identity disorder (pp. 484-485).
 Describe the essential characteristics for all personality disorders, the four hallmark
symptoms for an antisocial personality disorder, and the core features of borderline
personality disorder; discuss the possible causes of these personality disorders (pp. 485487).