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Abnormal Psychology Questions
Q1. According to your text please describe how negative reinforcement increases the avoidance behaviors often associated with anxiety.
Negative reinforcement refers to the withdrawal of an unpleasant stimulus to reward behavior. Using operant conditioning in a laboratory experiment, this might be accomplished by the withdrawal of an unpleasant sound when the desired behavior is completed. However, in the real world, for someone experiencing anxiety, the usual way in which someone suffering from this psychological disorder deals with the unpleasant feelings of anxiety (pounding heart, sweating, and racing thoughts) is to withdraw from the situation and avoid the triggering stimulus. Although this, on the surface, might seem to be sensible on the one hand, on the other hand it can result in the anxious individual becoming socially withdrawn or avoiding positive life experiences because of the fear. For fears of very common things—such as driving—it can significantly impair the individual’s ability to engage in normal social behavior.
Q2. What percentage of individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder have another disorder or depression?
An estimated 60% of people with a diagnosed anxiety disorder also suffer from depression (Cameron, 2007).
Q3. What is the average age of onset for anxiety disorders?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (2020), 31 is the average age of onset of anxiety disorders.
Q4. Fear and anxiety disorders are more often reported by girls and women than men and boys. However, when placed in anxiety-producing situations, both sexes show equal physiological...
Discuss several societal factors which might explain this difference.
Although women make up the majority of the population, they are still a historically discriminated-against group, which can contribute to the stress and anxiety they feel as part of daily living. Women may also be more inclined to report depression than men because men may feel more pressured to hide their feelings, in deference to the stereotype of the strong, powerful male. Still, both men and women will feel the same physical sensations.
Q5. The relaxation site entitled “Progressive Muscle Relaxation” (http://youtu.be/HFwCKKa--18) was extremely helpful for me. I often found that I was unware of exactly how tense I was before completing the exercise. I also was unware of how much tension I stored in small “trigger areas” like my jaw and neck. Tensing and relaxing my muscles enabled me to pinpoint the areas of greatest tension, exercise mindful relaxation over problem areas, and gave me a time to focus on myself and cultivating a positive mindset.
Q6. Provide one hallmark symptom of the following disorders:
a. Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A sense of extreme self-consciousness, usually accompanied by low self-esteem, about one’s physical appearance.
b. Hoarding Disorder: Keeping objects that have no obvious purpose or use, and in such a manner that they make the acts of daily life and social relationships difficult.
c. Trichotillomania: Pulling hair in a manner which is obsessive, compulsive, and harmful to the individual psychologically and physically (yet the individual is unable to stop).
d. Excoriation:…
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Review Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a form of behavior therapy aimed at treating various different disorders, most commonly major depressive disorder. It developed from an interaction between cognitive therapy and behavior therapy, which is known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It adds the component of mindfulness, which is more than simply changing what a person perceives, but how those perceptions are made. The goal of MBCT
Depression is a state of sadness and gloom where one feels dull and overwhelmed by the challenges of life. People tend to say that they are "depressed' any time they feel very unhappy. More likely than not, it could just be a mere response to fatigue, sad thoughts or events. This improper use of this term causes confusion between an ordinary mood swing and a medical condition. While it
Anxiety Treating Anxiety through Talk Therapy Of the great variety of mental disorders that are recognized by our society today, generalized anxiety disorder (or GAD) is perhaps one of the more common. This type of disorder is characterized by "excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry" (MedicineNet, 1). People with anxiety symptoms thus tend to expect disastrous consequences for any simple life event or
Faith and reasoned thought can give an anxious person some much-needed perspective. For instance one therapist suggests that patients who are experiencing anxiety actually "allow themselves to feel the storm [of anxiety within] whip up, then let it pass, concentrating on not doing anything," rather than retreating to the hectic, hurrying busyness that is often the instinctive treatment for anxious feelings. (Carey, 2004) "This Zen-like self-observation, called mindfulness, is
Mindful vs. traditional martial arts toward improved academic grades in children diagnosed with ADHD While medication and psychotherapy are the current best practice in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), their benefits and aim are too peripheral and topical -- neither resolving the neurological origin of deficits. Moreover, many are opposed to these treatments and there are few substantiated and readily accepted alternatives. The consequences of ADHD have a ripple effect --
Treating someone with mental illness is a complex and multifaceted process that requires the careful consideration of the unique needs of the individual. Mental disorders can range from common conditions such as depression and anxiety to more severe cases like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Regardless of the severity, it is critical that treatment is approached with compassion, understanding, and evidence-based strategies. One of the fundamental elements in treating mental illness is