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Anhedonia
Anhedonia refers to the inability to experience pleasure or find joy in activities and experiences that would typically be rewarding for an individual. It is often associated with various mental health conditions, particularly mood disorders like depression and schizophrenia. People experiencing anhedonia may find themselves unable to derive satisfaction from activities they once enjoyed, leading to a sense of emotional flatness and disinterest in life’s pleasures.
The condition is complex with no clearly set treatment procedure, but it usually may include therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments, all aimed at restoring a more positive and rewarding emotional experience for those affected by anhedonia.
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition that involves the partial or complete loss of memory. It can be caused by various factors, such as head injuries, trauma, certain medical conditions, stroke, or even psychological stress. People with amnesia find it challenging to recall memories such as facts, information, and experiences, and make or memorize new information.
- Anterograde Amnesia: the inability to create new memories.
- Retrograde Amnesia: the inability to recall or retrieve past information.
Amnesia is different from Dementia. Dementia is a broader term that includes cognitive disorders with memory loss and other cognitive impairments like difficulties with language, problem-solving, judgment, and attention. On the other hand, amnesia is a specific condition that refers to memory loss without significant involvement of other cognitive functions.
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Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
In DSM–IV–TR, undifferentiated schizophrenia is a subtype of schizophrenia, exhibiting a mixture of various symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia like delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking but does not fit neatly into one of the other specific subtypes of schizophrenia. This subtype has been eliminated from DSM–5 thus the term is no longer in use.
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Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt psychology is a school of psychology that emerged in the early 20th century. It emphasizes the study of perception, problem-solving, and learning as a holistic process. The term “Gestalt” comes from the German word for “form” or “shape,” and the key idea of this approach is that people tend to perceive objects and experiences as organized wholes rather than individual parts. The main figures associated with Gestalt psychology are Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka, who were among the founders of the Gestalt theory.
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
A concept introduced by Hans Selye describes the physiological changes your body goes through as it responds to stress. It comprises three distinct stages:
- Alarm Reaction: the body reacts to the stressor through the “fight or flight” response, involving heightened physiological arousal.
- Resistance: the body uses all its resources to cope with the ongoing stressor, aiming to restore balance.
- Exhaustion: If the stress continues to exist, the body may eventually enter the exhaustion phase, characterized by depleted energy reserves, reduced immunity, and heightened risk of illnesses.
GAS provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how the body reacts to stress, emphasizing the potential consequences of prolonged stress on overall health and well-being.
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Ubiquitous learning
Ubiquitous learning, also known as u-learning is a concept in educational psychology and technology that refers to a learning environment that takes advantage of advancements in technology, particularly mobile devices, and the internet, to provide learners with continuous access to educational resources and materials.
This approach aims to break down traditional barriers to education and create a more flexible and personalized learning experience. However, it also presents challenges, such as the need for reliable internet access, digital literacy, and ensuring the quality and credibility of online educational content. As technology continues to evolve, the concept of ubiquitous learning is likely to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of education.
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Schema
A schema refers to a cognitive framework or mental structure that helps individuals organize, process, and interpret information about the world. Schemas are like mental templates that guide how we perceive and understand new experiences, people, objects, and situations. They are developed through personal experiences, cultural influences, and social interactions. Schemas are not static but can be adapted or changed through new experiences and learning, allowing individuals to refine their understanding of the world around them.
Selective Attention
Selective attention is a fundamental cognitive process that involves focusing on specific stimuli while filtering out irrelevant or less important information. This process is crucial for maintaining concentration on tasks, making decisions, and responding to stimuli in the environment. Selective attention is influenced by both internal factors, such as personal interests and goals, as well as external factors, including the novelty of stimuli. However, selective attention also means that individuals may miss out on certain details or stimuli, which can lead to perceptual blind spots.
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Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a well-known and widely used projective technique. Developed in the 1930s by Henry Murray and Christiana Morgan, the TAT aims to reveal individuals’ underlying thoughts, emotions, and motivations by presenting them with a series of 31 cards of ambiguous images, characters, and scenes. They are then asked to tell a story as they can for each picture presented, including:
- What has led up to the event shown?
- What is happening in the scene?
- The thoughts and feelings of the characters
- The outcome of the story
The stories they generate are thought to reflect their unconscious desires, fears, conflicts, and inner experiences, offering insights into their personality, values, and perspectives.
However, the TAT has also received criticism for its subjective nature, limited standardization, and potential cultural biases in interpretation.
- Transference
In psychoanalysis, Transference is the phenomenon where a patient unconsciously redirects feelings and emotions associated with certain important individuals in their life onto the therapist.
There are three types of transference in therapy:
- Positive transference: projecting positive feelings, such as admiration, love, or trust, onto the therapist. A patient might develop feelings of deep respect and affection for their therapist due to perceiving qualities of a caring figure from their childhood.
- Negative transference: projecting negative emotions or attitudes, such as anger, resentment, or fear, onto the therapist.
- Sexualized transference: an individual experiences romantic or sexual feelings towards their therapist.
Transference can provide valuable insights into a patient’s inner world, unresolved conflicts, and emotional dynamics. By analyzing transference patterns, therapists can better understand the patient’s past experiences and current emotional struggles.
BLOG BY: DEEBHA SITHTA
