AP Psychology

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

  • Meditation—set of techniques used to focus concentration away from thoughts and
    feelings in order to create calmness, tranquility, and inner peace;

  • Psychoactive drug—a chemical that can pass through the blood/brain barrier to alter
    perception, thinking, behavior, and mood.
    Four categories of psychoactive drugs:



  1. Depressants—reduce activity of CNS and induce sleep

  2. Narcotics—depress the CNS, relieve pain, induce feelings of euphoria

  3. Stimulants—activate motivational centers; reduce activity in inhibitory centers of
    the CNS

  4. Hallucinogens—distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of
    sensory input



  • Psychological dependence—person has intense desire to achieve the drugged state in
    spite of adverse effects

  • Physiological dependence (addiction)—blood chemistry changes from taking a drug
    necessitate taking the drug again to prevent withdrawal symptoms

  • Withdrawal symptoms—typically intense craving for drug and effects opposite to those
    the drug usually induces.


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