Category Archives: Psychology
Psychiatric Symptoms and the Gene SGCE (Sarcoglycan Epsilon)
The SGCE gene has other symbols as “ESG” and “DYT11”. It is located at 7q21.3. As a member of the sarcoglycan family, it is a component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). It provides the connections between the actin cytoskeleton and … Continue reading
Neuropsychiatric Disorders and the Gene COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase)
The COMT gene has another symbol as “HEL-S-98n”. It is located at 22q11.21. It is an important enzyme in the process of metabolic degradation of catecholamines (Gogos et al., 1998). The 158met variant on the nondeleted allele has been related … Continue reading
Psychiatric Diseases and the Gene DISC1 (Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1)
The DISC1 gene has other symbols as “SCZD9” and “C1orf136”. It is located at 1q42.2. It is involved in the regulation of the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and associated with embryonic and adult neurogenesis (Kim et al. 2009). DISC1 has been … Continue reading
Stress, Depression, Inflammation, and Personalized Medicine
Stress, Depression, Inflammation, and Personalized Medicine Psychological stress has been associated with higher levels of inflammation and the risks of many physical disorders including heart diseases. For example, chronic stress responses may cause a variety of skin disorders including allergic … Continue reading
Stress, Chronic Diseases, and Psychoneuroimmunology
Stress, Chronic Diseases, and Psychoneuroimmunology Although many chronic diseases such as cancer are apparently physical, they can lead to psychological distress. Chronic psychosocial stress may in turn affect the physical health negatively. Studies in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) have shown that the … Continue reading
Mindfulness and Psychotherapy: How It can Help
Psychotherapies containing mindfulness elements have increased to more than 40% (Simon, 2007). Mindfulness is becoming a “transtheoretical” construct and a major perceptual process in psychotherapies. Scientific studies of meditation are transforming meditation into the main stream. The focus of the … Continue reading
Treatment of Mental Problems: A Summary of Therapies and Features
Treatment of Mental Problems: A Summary of Therapies and Features Therapies Contents Features/Examples Explanations/Targets Side Effect Examples Psychoanalysis/psychodynamic therapy Free association Catharsis Transference Behavior therapies Classical conditioning-based therapies Exposure therapies Systematic desensitization Flooding Aversion … Continue reading
Psychopathology: A Summary of Types, Disorders, and Concepts
Psychopathology: A Summary of Types, Disorders, and Concepts Concepts/Theories/Sources Categories Categories Components/Disorders Problems Examples/Details Types/Examples Mental disorder features (Holmes) Distress Psychological discomfort Disability Unable to do daily activities Deviance Abnormal mood, … Continue reading
Personality: A Summary of Theories, Concepts, and Stages
Personality: A Summary of Theories, Concepts, and Stages Theories Concepts/Stages Features/Stages Features/Examples The psychoanalytic view (Freud and followers) Early childhood experiences and unconscious forces can shape behaviors The developmental “crisis” (stages with conflicts) Trait theory Essential traits … Continue reading
Social Psychology: A Summary of Theories and Concepts
Social Psychology: A Summary of Theories and Concepts Theories Concepts Features Attribution theory Explanations of behaviors Dispositional Internal attribution Situational External attributions Fundamental attribution error Underestimation of the influence of the situation on actions Self-serving … Continue reading
Emotions, Stress, and Coping: A Summary of Theories and Concepts
Emotions, Stress, and Coping: A Summary of Theories and Concepts Categories/Concepts/Structures Theories Features Features/Contents The autonomic system Cannon-Bard theory 2 messages from the brain area processing sensory information To the autonomic system To the limbic system James-Lange theory … Continue reading
Motivation: A Summary of Theories, Concepts, and Substances
Motivation: A Summary of Theories, Concepts, and Substances Theories Concepts/Structures Substances/Features Features Instinct theory Unconsciously motivated behaviors (Freud) Drive theory Drive-reduction/homeostatic theory Optimum arousal Yerkes-Dodson law/Inverted-U Hypothesis Incentive theory Operant conditioning Overjustification effect Motivation is … Continue reading
Lifespan Development: Concepts, Stages, and Features
Lifespan Development: Concepts, Stages, and Features Areas Theories/Concepts/Stages Features/Stages Explanations/Sub-Stages Associated Concepts/Features/Problems Developmental psychology Cognition Reasoning, thought Psychosocial Personality, behavior in social environments Critical periods Prenatal Developmental milestones Sensitive/optimal periods Gains … Continue reading
Concepts of Cognition, Thinking, Language, and Intelligence
Concepts of Cognition, Thinking, Language, and Intelligence Concepts Contents Related Concepts Cognition Understanding Interpreting Organizing Remembering Problem solving Decision making Creating Mental representations Symbols Language Concepts Images Observational learning Cognitive map Concepts Natural concepts Fuzzy concepts … Continue reading
Memory Stages and Concepts
Memory Stages and Concepts Concepts Explanations Sensory memory The stage that information registers or is “held”, decided by attention. Short-term/working memory The encoding/consolidation process to prepare for storage; the limbic system, esp. the hippocampus is involved, the front lobes … Continue reading
Concepts of Learning: Conditioning, Reinforcement
Concepts of Learning: Conditioning, Reinforcement Classical Conditioning Concepts Responses Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): naturally induces a response Unconditioned response (UCR) Neutral stimulus No specific reactions Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) + Neutral stimulus Association: Neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus (CS)) -> … Continue reading
Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, Hypnosis, and Meditation
Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, Hypnosis, and Meditation Circadian Rhythm Relevant Brain Structures Locations Influences Pineal gland Close to the hypothalamus Rapid eye movement (REM) Melatonin (low in the morning, high in the evening) Reticular activating system (RAS) Brain … Continue reading
Perception: Concepts and Theories
Perception: Concepts and Theories Perception: A complex process begins in the brain Perceptual set: A “frame of mind” that expectations affect the interpretation of inputs. Culture and perception: Nature and experience influence our perception, e.g., the … Continue reading
The Eight Senses: Touch, Pain, Balance and Kinesthesis
The Eight Senses: Touch, Pain, Balance and Kinesthesis Types Physical stimulus Equipment Sub-Structures Roles of the Brain Theories Touch Cutaneous receptors for stimuli: pressure, vibration, heat, cold, etc. Hair follicle ending (in the skin): for hair displacement Ruffini … Continue reading
The Eight Senses: Smell and Taste
The Eight Senses: Smell and Taste Types Physical stimulus Equipment Sub-Structures Role of the Brain Theories Olfaction (smell) Chemical molecules in the air Molecules -> inhaled via the nostrils, mouth -> nasal cavity -> olfactory cilia, olfactory epithelium … Continue reading
The Eight Senses: Hearing
The Eight Senses: Hearing Types Physical Stimulus Equipment The Role of the Brain Theories Hearing Sound waves (air pressure changes in compression and expansion through space) features: frequency of cycles (pitch – high/low sounds from vibration rates; hertz … Continue reading
The Eight Senses: Vision
The Eight Senses: Vision Types Physical stimulus Equipments Sub-Structures Role of the Brain Theories Vision Light waves (the electromagnetic spectrum from red to violet visible to the human eyes) Cornea: protection, light-gathering Light -> sclera (white), aqueous … Continue reading
Concepts about Sensations
Concepts about Sensations Concepts Explanations Sub-concepts/Examples Explanations Sensation Detection and translation of physical stimulus (sound, light, texture, flavor, etc.) into action potentials via receptor cells in the peripheral nervous system Transduction The process the stimuli are turned … Continue reading
Behavioral Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology
Behavioral Genetics Methods Methods Study models Characteristics Research focus Core concepts/notes Twin studies Monozygotic/identical twins Identical genotypes; shared environment Relationships between heredity and experience Hereditability: an index of differences in people that can only be caused by genetic inheritance … Continue reading
