...AAIA1EJ2I4 December 1, 2014 Kevin Phillips Behind the Mask of a Serial Killer Throughout hundreds of years, serial killers have reigned terror on many people. Some of the most notorious serial killers include Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy. Many people have pondered and wondered what motivated serial killers to kill multiple people. Many psychologists believe that most serial killers’ problems are more of a form of mental disorder, as other people believe that the problems stemmed from their environment. While there is no definitive test for serial killers, there are some important characteristics that can help law enforcement profile and catch these serial killers. Early Signs Law enforcement should examine the early childhood of possible serial killers by observing children with troubled fantasies. According to Feud he wrote, “The grandiose infantile narcissistic ego is characterized by states of magical or omnipotent thinking (Freud 1914)”. This means the fantasies are an illusion and it becomes powerful enough to fulfill these fantasies that are thriving in the mind. Therefore by monitoring early children’s fantasies then, they could be treated to dissolve and maintain these early warning signs of potentially becoming a serial killer in the future. Psychological abuse has also played a major role into the background of a serial killer. Seventy-two percent also suffered from psychological abuse. Also sexual...
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...Marc McDougal Chapter 15 - #1 Anxiety disorders are a class of disorders marked by feelings of excessive apprehension and anxiety. Studies suggest that anxiety disorders are quite common, and affect roughly 19% of the population. For this assignment I am focusing on a subject with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder involves enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event. My subject is now 38, and lived in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina ravished through the south. His symptoms include re-experiencing the event in the form of nightmares, emotional numbing, alienation, anxiety, anger, and guilt. Research suggests that about 7% of the population has suffered from PTSD at some point in their life, and that prevalence is twice as high among women.¹ The etiology of PTSD, like most psychological disorders, develops out of complicated interactions among a variety of biological and psychological factors. In this case, my subject had witnessed many people die, lose their homes, and devastate his city of New Orleans. There are many factors that play into the role of PTSD; I’ll briefly cover each of them. * Biological factors: In studies that assess the impact of heredity on psychological disorders, investigators look at concordance rates. A concordance rate indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same disorder. The results of these studies...
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...My topic of choice for this assessment is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). I chose four online sources to help me to research it, being Sane Australia (informational site), Psych Central (informational site), YouTube (social platform) and Facebook (social platform). Sane Australia (SA) was a basic but factual site (SA, n.d). It has one page specifically related to BDP, which is clearly laid out with a concise (but very informative) overview of BDP. This assisted me in reading, understanding and assimilating my pre-existing knowledge and accommodating the new knowledge acquired (Atherton J.S., 2013). There was a podcast which was a reading of the facts set out on the page, which helped me to 'over learn' (Chew, S. L., 2011) the facts I had just read. This site is a reliable and credible online source as:- It is a professional organisation that has won a number of awards for its educational publications (SA, 2012); The site is approved by Health Direct Australia (trustworthy source); It complies with Health on Net standards, presenting a link to its HONcode certificate to verify same; It confirms that all information published on the site has been “approved by appropriate qualified medical practitioners” (SA, 2014, para.1); The editor in-Chief of the website’s content is a qualified psychologist whose credentials are listed on the site; and SA also has 7,959 Facebook likes and has a good presence on social media. After actively searching (Swinburne Online, 2013)...
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...Chapter 1 - Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context Abnormal Psychology (PS265) Class Notes Guide Shoshana Sloman DEFINING "PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER" A psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a resonse that is not typical or culturally expected. Each criterion contributes something to the definition. Any one element, alone, would not constitute a psychological disorder. Criteria: (Standard for judging) Psychological Dysfunction: Breakdown of cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. (Examples?) Where do we draw the line? Considered a continuum or dimension, rather than being present or absent. (dys = Greek for bad, abnormal, difficult) (ab = Latin for off, away from; norma = rule -- abnormal = deviating from the norm, from the rule) Personal Distress or Impairment: Distress: The individual is usually extremely upset about the dysfunction. This is not ALWAYS the case, however, as is often true with mania. Impairment: Interferes with normal activities, with achieving things that the person wants to. But not always. Depends on the severity. (Some simple phobias, for example.) Illustrates how most psychological disorders are extreme expressions of otherwise normal behavior. Atypical or Not Culturally Expected: Deviates from the average, the greater the deviation, the more abnormal, but that doesn’t automatically imply a disorder. (Pro athletes, talented artists.) More productive...
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...examine at least two mental disorders from the perspective of psychology. Next the paper will examine two mental illnesses from the perspective of psychology. Finally the paper will discuss the similarities and difference among two different therapies in the schools of thought in psychology for treating mental disorders. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal vs. Abnormal Psychology The study of "normal" psychology is simply the study of someone who is in good health both mentally and physically. Said person adheres to and is responsive to social norms, and engages in activities that are socially acceptable and do not stray from the norm. Normal psychology is the study of the mind and the study of behavior. When unusual patterns of behavior, thought and emotion are studied, it falls under the branch of psychology called Abnormal psychology. The control and understanding of behavior that is considered to be deviant or aberrant either statistically or morally, has been the subject of much research and debate. Psychologists who focus on abnormal psychology identify the different causes of various conditions all while employing and discovering diverse theories that derive from general psychology theories and research. However this is still much debate and controversy over what is meant by the label of "abnormal". There has always been a split between biological explanations and psychological explanations when it comes to classifying mental disorders and the...
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...Psychological Assessment of Nina Sayer, The Black Swan Lisa Pinkerton PSY-215-Q3847 Southern New Hampshire University CASE STUDY Name: Nina Sayer Date of Evaluation: 02/01/2015 Date of Birth: 01/01/1992 Age: 23 years, 1 month PURPOSE FOR EVALUATION: Nina Sayer is a 23 year old, single, white female. She is the lead ballerina in a prestigious New York Ballet Company. She has been under an intense amount of stress due to the pressures of her job and her demands from her ballet director. She suffers from hallucinations and paranoid delusions. She describes her delusions and hallucinations as bizarre and sometimes violent. She has trouble recognizing what is real and what are her delusions and hallucinations. After struggling to get the role as the white swan in Swan lake, she is extremely paranoid and afraid that someone is trying to take her lead role in the ballet. She focuses this paranoia on a particular ballerina named Lily. She is extremely thin and shows signs of an eating disorder. She uses purging as a way to control her weight. Nina also has scars on her shoulders from self- mutilation. She seems very shy, reserved and almost childlike, but has moments of being very dark and reckless. This dichotomy in her personality causes her great distress. She feels she is under extreme pressure to be perfect for her mother and others. This obsession with perfection and her...
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...Psychology 1001 Chapter 1: history of psychology How we use psychology in everyday life 1. Cultural Norms 2. First Impressions 3. Memory 4. Motivation: how to set up goals, increase motivation 5. Leadership Skills: how to be an effective leader 6. Communication: body language 7. Understanding behaviour of others: bullies, bi-polar, empathy 8. Decision making: making a logical decision, some are better than others 9. Memory: basic learning, skill to learn 10. Healthy lifestyle: what is the personality of someone living a healthy lifestyle 11. Productivity: multi-tasking is considered not good, where as time management is more effective. 12. Grades: attendance is correlated with your grade, cramming doesn’t work. How did psychology developed? * is it a combination of 2 Greek words * psych * logy * The study of your soul, then changed to the study of your mind * Comes rom philosophy and physiology (how the mind influences the body) * 1870 = more focus on the mind (eg. How do the mind and bosy interact?) (need to know dates for exams) * psychology was a sub discipline of these areas William Wundt * Professor od physiology * 1879 created first experimental psych lab in Germany * The father of psych * 1879 = psych date of birth * Focused on consciousness * He taught many students, and they began teaching once they graduated and it began...
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...Psychological Disorders By: Jennifer PSY / 240 Psychiatric disorders are disorders of psychological function suffiently severe that they require treatment. Psychiatric disorder can be difficult to diagnose because they psychiatrist or clinical psychologist must first decide whether the problem is pathological, or if it is in fact an extreme of normal human variation. Currently there is no way to identify a specific brain pathology associated with different disorders; diagnosis usually relies on the patients symptoms. This paper will discuss four psychiatric disorders: Schizophrenia, Depression Mania, Anxiety, and Tourette syndrome. Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world’s population. Over 2-3% of the population shows symptoms. Some people only ever experience one, maybe two episode and get better, while others go through periods of being healthy, which is also known as remission. There are other cases where patients suffer long-term and are usually severe impairments. Schizophrenia literally means “split mind.” Many people often confuse schizophrenia with the meaning split personality-which is something entirely different. Split personality is a disorder known as multiple personality disorder or syndrome. Symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two categories, negative and positive. Positive symptoms include thought disorders, hallucinations, and delusions. Thought disorders is disorganized and irrational thinking, and is one of the most important symptoms. For...
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...participating in prison programs ("Dyslexia and the adult learner," 1994). 60% and more of those in adult literacy programs ("Dyslexia and the adult learner," 1994). 40% to 60% of those in basic adult education programs Mark Waluk Eckert AP Psych/Per 1 6 November 2012 Mark Waluk Eckert AP Psych/Per 1 6 November 2012 DYSLEXIA DYSLEXIA Effect On Society Effect On Society Diagnosis Before diagnosing Dyslexia, the health care provider will: Perform a complete medical exam, including a neurological exam Ask questions about the person's developmental, social, and school performance Ask if anyone else in the family has had dyslexia Psychoeducational testing and psychological assessment may be done. AGE AT ONSET: Usually apparent by age 7 (2nd grade), sometimes age 6 (1st grade) DSM-III, 1987). Sometimes up to age 9 if a Developmental Reading Disorder is compensated for in school (DS-III-R, 1987). Diagnosis Before diagnosing Dyslexia, the health care provider will: Perform a complete medical exam, including a neurological exam Ask questions about the person's developmental, social, and school performance Ask if anyone else in the family has had dyslexia Psychoeducational testing and psychological assessment may be done. AGE AT ONSET: Usually apparent by age 7 (2nd grade), sometimes age 6 (1st grade) DSM-III, 1987)....
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...Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens Crystal Revis HCS 245 June 10, 2013 Joan Ralph Webber Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens Bipolar disorder is a very common disorder in adults all across the country, with more than 10 million confirmed cases (Webmd, 2013), and even worldwide. For many years, it was thought that only adults could develop the disorder, but now, with new research, studies have shown that the disorder is showing up more and more in teens and children alike. But with anti-depressant medications being made for adults only, the real question is going to be how to treat these teens and children. “Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood and energy. It can also make it hard for someone to carry out day-to-day tasks, such as going to school or hanging out with friends. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. They can result in damaged relationships, poor school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years, but some people have their first symptoms during childhood. At least half of all cases start before age 25 (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2012).” Being diagnosed with ADHD as a child can ultimately...
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...Social Psychology * How people influence one another * We have a bio need for social interaction * Social isolation activates areas of cingulate cortex (also associated w/ physical pain) * We seek to conform to a group (evolutionarily) Social Facilitation: The presence of others enhances our performance 1897 – 1st social psych experiment – bicyclist’s bike faster when racing others rather than the clock Social Disruption: Presence of others worsens performance (usually when task is difficult Attribution Assigning a cause to someone’s behavior (Why you are acting the way you are) Internal Attribution Saying that the cause of a behavior is because of an internal personality (This person acts this way because that’s the way she is) External Attribution Attribute cause of behavior to something external (The person is acting this way because of an external reason- life problems) Fundamental Attribution Error Lee Ross (1977) Tendency to overuse the internal attribution for other behavior, but underused it for yourself (for ourselves, we use the external attribution) Social Comparison theory Leon Festinger (1954) We evaluate our own beliefs, reactions, behaviors by comparing them to others. Can lead to mass hysteria When entire group behaves irrationally Most likely when situation is ambiguous “Collective delusions” entire group is convinced of something false Conformity Tendency to conform behavior as a result of...
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...well-being. Depression is about twice as common in women as in men, with about 1 in 4 women suffering from depression at some point during her lifetime. (Psych Central p. 4). Trying to keep up with the simplest of tasks can be the hardest of struggles when distractions are among them. The inability to focus can affect the skills needed to accomplish everyday tasks. Many other stresses can consume ones thoughts and ability to pay attention. Ruta Nonacs, M.D., Ph.D. says depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors affecting women more often during child bearing years. As a person ages it’s only natural to have more responsibilities in life. By the age of fifteen, females are twice as likely to suffer from depression then males due to the different types of hormones in females (Psyc Central, 2006, p. 8). Meeting new people, diving into a career, and starting a family are just a few major changes women embrace within a lifetime. This can add additional pressure to keep up with society or keep our families happy by going above and beyond the call of duty. Women tend to be the caretaker of the family and in general want to please everyone especially their children. The daily routine of a mother is often unappreciated and misunderstood. This added stress, whether it be at home or at work, can trigger different reactions such as eating disorders, anxiety, and drug and alcohol addiction. There are different levels and types...
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... In explaining & treating psycho disordersBehavioralism particuarlly effective against phobias. Present spider to subj. paired w/ positive stim.Eventually, see spider and cognate the positive stim. Humanistic, Maslow & RogersPersonal growth, interpersonal relationships, mental health field emphasisCROSS CULTURAL PERSP.Emerged in 1980sEmphasizes diversity of behavior across cultures and the fact that many earlier findings were not universalSocial loafing (given example) – 1 slacker will make all slackIMPORTANT CULTURAL TERMSEthnocentrism- Belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to all others (DEFAULT)Individualistic Cultures- Emphasize the needs & goals of individals vs. group (USA)Collectivistic culture-Needs and goals of group over individual (Mexico, Japan)Culture refers to the attitude, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by a group of people AND **communicated from one generation to another.EVOLUTIONARY PERSPEC.Applies princip. Of exolution to explain psychological processesMost adaptive characteristics are perpetuated through natural...
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...Alcoholism in Adult Magoha Mayagila Research Paper, Psych 2301 Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a non-curable mental disorder that’s affects millions of people worldwide. According to national institute on alcohol and alcoholism, 1 in 12 adults in U.S is suffering from AUD. If not diagnosed early, AUD can effects a person life psychologically, socially and economically. Despite affecting the general population, studies have shown men are two to three times more likely to develop AUD than women due to generic differences (Mettmann D 2014). The androgen receptor (AR) gene, located on X chromosome contains a common polymorphism involving cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats, which impacts disease and could contribute the unequal sex ratio in alcoholism (Mettman D 2014). Even though men are more susceptible to AUD, the effects of AUD on women health is enormous compared to men. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a psychological tool that have been used to collect mental disorder statistics since 1840. By 1952 American Psychiatric Association developed DMS-I to diagnose mental disorders. Prior to 2013, DMS-IV was the tool of choice for clinical diagnosis for alcoholism. DMS-IV categorized alcoholism into two distinct disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency; and two distinct criteria, abuse and dependency based on 11 symptoms. Alcohol abuse is defined as a behavior at which a person drinking pattern leads to undesirable acts and behavior...
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...Antisocial Personality Disorder By Psych Central Staff Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of a disregard for other people's rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights. It usually begins in childhood or as a teen and continues into their adult lives. Antisocial personality disorder is often referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy in popular culture. Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently lack empathy and tend to be callous, cynical, and contemptuous of the feelings, rights, and sufferings of others. They may have an inflated and arrogant self-appraisal (e.g., feel that ordinary work is beneath them or lack a realistic concern about their current problems or their future) and may be excessively opinionated, self-assured, or cocky. They may display a glib, superficial charm and can be quite voluble and verbally facile (e.g., using technical terms or jargon that might impress someone who is unfamiliar with the topic). Lack of empathy, inflated self-appraisal, and superficial charm are features that have been commonly included in traditional conceptions of psychopathy and may be particularly distinguishing of Antisocial Personality Disorder in prison or forensic settings where criminal, delinquent, or aggressive acts are likely to be nonspecific. These individuals may also be irresponsible and exploitative in their sexual relationships. Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder Antisocial personality...
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