Glossary

Adolescence

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood. Adolescence is commonly associated with the teenage years.

Behaviourist viewpoint

Behaviourism describes a psychological approach to understanding human behaviour and other animals. It assumes that behaviour is either a reflex provoked by particular stimuli within the environment or as a consequence of that individual’s history, including their upbringing and learning within their environment.

Bio-medical perspective

Biomedicine and the biomedical approach is a branch of medical science that draws upon biology to explain and understand health and ill health.

Psychological perspective

Also termed the psychological model of mental illness focuses on how the mind works and the effect of this on a young person’s thoughts, feelings, and subsequent behaviour.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited health condition that causes mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system.

Emotional disorders

Describes the difficulties experienced with mood and emotions such as feelings of anxiety or depression.

Mental disorders

Mental disorders are generally characterised by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behaviour and relationships with other people. Mental disorders are varied and include depression and anxiety as well as conditions such as schizophrenia, OCD and psychoses.

OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Psychodynamics

Describes an approach to psychology that emphasises systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behaviour, feelings, and emotions and how they might relate to early experience.

Social perspective

Also termed the social model of mental illness focuses on the social environment and the roles people play and views mental illness as being a consequence of how young people are viewed and treated in society, rather than determined by biology.

Stigma

Stigma is a term used to describe the disapproval of, or discrimination against, an individual or group of individuals based on their appearance or behaviour that distinguishes them from other members of a society.

Adolescence

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood. Adolescence is commonly associated with the teenage years.

CT scans

CT (computerised tomography) scans use X-rays to form images inside the body.

MRI scans

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to produce detailed pictures of organs and internal body structures.

Psychologist G. Stanley Hall

G. Stanley Hall was a leading American psychologist with an expertise in child development and had a particular interest in adolescence.

Resilience

Rather than being fixed during the early years of life, neuroplasticity describes the brains capacity to adapt in response to environmental influences.

Storm and stress

Storm and stress is a phrase used by G. Stanley Hall to describe the turbulence of adolescent development.

Antidepressants

Medication prescribed by a medical practitioner. Often used to treat depression and anxiety.

Behavioural sciences

Behavioural sciences explore how animals and humans think and behave. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behaviour through observation and controlled scientific experimentation.

Biological psychiatry

Biological psychiatry is an approach to psychiatry that seeks to understand mental illness in terms of the biological function of the nervous system.

Biomedicine

Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that draws upon biology to explain and understand health and ill health.

Dyslexia

A common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.

Dyspraxia

A developmental disorder of the brain in childhood causing difficulty in activities requiring coordination and movement.

Evidence-based model

A model based on evidence.

Evidence-based narrative

Defined as stories with an identifiable beginning, middle, and end that provide information about circumstances, individuals, and conflict; raise unanswered questions or unresolved conflict; and provide solutions. They provide a way of communicating clinical assessments.

Formulation

A particular expression of an idea, thought, or theory.

Hypotheses

A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

IQ

An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence.

Learning difficulties

A difficulty with learning. Examples might include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia and autism for instance.

Multi-disciplinary team

Professionals and practitioners form a number of different disciplines such as health, psychology and social care for instance.

Neuro-developmental

Development of the nervous system, including the brain and neurological responses.

Psychotherapeutic colleagues

Psychotherapy is a type of therapeutic approach used by psychologists.

Qualitative

Relating to the measurement of something based on its qualities rather than its quantity. In psychological research terms, qualitative assessment relies on unstructured and non-numerical data such as those derived through observations, field notes and interviews.

Sensory integration

How our brain receives and processes sensory information so that we can do the things we need to do in our everyday life.

Theory

A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something.

Therapeutic approaches

Therapeutic approaches refer to the different approaches taken by psychologists for example in treating particular conditions.

adversity

A difficult and challenging situation.

resilience

Rather than being fixed during the early years of life, neuroplasticity describes the brains capacity to adapt in response to environmental influences.