Abnormal Psychology Chapter 3 PDF

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Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 Models of Abnormality  The Biological Model  The Psychodynamic Model  The Behavioral Model  The Cognitive Model  The Humanistic-Existential Model  The Sociocultural Model  Intergration of the Model The Biological Model  Adopts a medical perspective  Main focus is that psychological abnormality is an illness brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism o Typically point to problems in brain anatomy or brain chemistry How Do Biological Theorists Explain Abnormal Behavior?  Brain anatomy o The brain is composed of about 100 billion nerve cells that are called neurons o Information is communicated throughout the brain by electrical impulses o Travels from one neuron to one or more others o An impulse is first received by a neuron’s dendrites o Traveled down the axon and is transmitted through the nerve endings to other neurons A Neuron Communicating Information

Brain Chemistry  Neurons do not actually touch each other  Separated by a space called The Synapse  Electrical impulses stimulate releasing neurotransmitters (NT).  NT travel across the synaptic space to other receptors on neighboring neurons  Some NT’s fire  Some NT’s stop firing

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 How Do Biological Theorists Explain Abnormal Behavior?  Brain chemistry and abnormal behavior o Researchers have identified dozens of NTs  Examples: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine o Studies indicate that abnormal activity in certain NTs can lead to specific mental disorders  For example: depression has been linked to low activity in serotonin and norepinephrine Biological Theorists Explain Abnormal Behavior  Brain chemistry and abnormal behavior o Abnormal chemical activity in the endocrine system o Endocrine glands release hormones which propel body organs into actions  Abnormal secretions have been linked to psychological disorders  Example: Cortisol release is related to anxiety and mood disorders Sources of Biological Abnormalities—Genetics  Genetic inheritance o Genes control the characteristics and traits a person inherits o Studies suggest that inheritance plays a part in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other mental disorders Sources of Biological Abnormalities—Evolution  Evolutionary theory: Genes/human reactions help individuals thrive and adapt o Example: The fear response  In today’s world, however, those genes and reactions may not be so adaptive (prone to anxiety disorders or other related psychological disorders) Cortisol Levels Sources of Biological Abnormalities—Viral Infections  Abnormal brain structure/viral infections o Examples: Schizophrenia and prenatal viral exposure  Interest in viral explanations of psychological disorders has been growing in the past decade o Example: anxiety and mood disorders Biological Treatments  Three types of biological treatment: o Drug therapy o Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) o Psychosurgery Biological Treatments—Drugs Therapy:  Since 1950s = advent of psychotropic medications  Four major drug groups: o Antianxiety drugs (anxiolytics; minor tranquilizers)  Xanax, adivan, klonopin, valium, serax

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 o Antidepressant drugs  Celaxa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft o Antibipolar drugs (mood stabilizers)  Lithium, tegretol, lamictal, Depakote, sycrest o Antipsychotic drugs  Abilify, Clozaril, Latuda, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal Biological Treatments  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): o Used primarily for depression, particularly when drugs and other therapies have failed  Psychosurgery (or neurosurgery) o Historical roots in trephination o 1930s = first lobotomy o Much more precise today than in the past o Considered experimental and used only in extreme cases Assessing the Biological Model  Strengths o Enjoys considerable respect in the field o Constantly produces valuable new information o Treatments bring great relief  Weaknesses o Can limit, rather than enhance, our understanding  Too simplistic o Treatments produce significant undesirable (negative) effects The Psychodynamic Model  Oldest and most famous psychological model  Person’s behavior (whether normal or abnormal) is determined largely by underlying dynamic o Interacting- unconscious psychological forces o Abnormal symptoms are the result of conflict among these forces  Father of psychodynamic theory and psychoanalytic therapy: o Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) How Did Freud Explain Normal and Abnormal Functioning?  Shapes by three UNCONSCIOUS forces o Id- guided by the pleasure principle  Instinctual needs, drives and impulses  Sexual; fueled by libido (sexual energy) o Ego- guided by the reality principle

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 Seeks gratification, but guides us/when we can and cannot express our wishes  Ego defense mechanisms protect us from anxiety o Superego- morality principle  Sense of what is right or wrong  Conscience; unconsciously adopted from our parents The Defense Never Rests: Defense Mechanisms to the Rescue  Repression o Person avoids anxiety by simply not allowing painful or dangerous thoughts to become conscious  An executives desire to run amok and attack his boss and colleagues at a board meeting is denied access to his awareness  Denial o Person simply refuses to acknowledge the existence of an external source of anxiety  You are not prepared for tomorrow’s final exam, but you tells yourself that it’s not actually an important exam and that there’s no good reason not to go to a movie tonight.  Projection o Person attributes own unacceptable impulses, motives, or desires to other individuals  The executive who repressed his destructive desires may project his anger onto his boss and claim that it is actually the boss who is hostile  Rationalization o Person creates a socially acceptable reason for an action that actually reflects unacceptable motives  A student explains away poor grades by citing the importance of the “total experience” of going to college and claiming too much emphasis on grades would actually interfere with a well-rounded education  Displacement o Person displaces hostility away from a dangerous object and onto a safer substitute  After a perfect parking spot is taken by a person who cuts in front of your car, you release your pent-up anger by starting an argument with your roommate  Intellectualization o Person represses emotional reactions in favor of overly logical response to a problem  A woman who has been beaten and raped gives a detached, methodical description of the effects that such an attack may have on victims 

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3

Regression o Person retreats from an upsetting conflict to an early developmental stage at which no one is expected to behave maturely or responsibly  A boy who cannot cope with the anger he feels toward his rejecting mother regresses to infantile behavior, soiling his clothes and no longer taking care of his basic needs. Psychodynamic Therapies  Utilize various techniques: o Free association  Resistance  Transference/countertransference  Dream interpretation o Catharsis o Talking Cure Assessing the Psychodynamic Model  Strengths o First to recognize importance of psychological theories and treatment o Saw abnormal functioning as rooted in the same processes as normal functioning o First to apply theory and techniques systematically to treatment—monumental impact on the field  Weaknesses o Unsupported ideas; difficult to research o Non-observable o Inaccessible to human subject (unconscious) The Behavioral Model  Behavioral Model: Actions are determined largely by our experiences in life  Concentrates wholly on behaviors and environmental factors  Bases explanations and treatments on principle of learning  The model began in laboratories where conditioning studies were conducted o Several forms of conditioning  Operant  Modeling  Classical o All may produce normal or abnormal behavior How Do Behaviorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?  Operant conditioning o Humans and animals learn to behave in a certain way as a result of receiving rewards whenever they do so 

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 Modeling o Individuals learn responses by observing and repeating behavior  Classical conditioning o Learning by association  When two events repeatedly occur close together in time, they become fused in a person’s mind, before long, the person responds in the same way to both events o Father of classical conditioning: Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)  Classic study using dogs and meat powder o Explains many familiar behaviors (both normal and abnormal) Behavior Therapies  Aim to identify the behaviors that are causing problems and replace them with more appropriate ones  Therapist is “teacher” rather than healer  Classical conditioning treatments may be used to change abnormal reactions to particular stimuli o Example: systematic desensitization for phobia  Step-by-step procedure  Learn relaxation skills  Confront feared situations Assessing the Behavioral Model  Strengths o Can be tested in the laboratory o Significant research support for behavioral therapies  Weaknesses o No evidence that symptoms are ordinarily acquired through conditioning o Behavior therapy is limited o Too simplistic  New focus on self-efficacy, social cognition, and cognitive-behavioral theories The Cognitive Model  Look cognitive processes—the center of thoughts, behaviors and emotions  Questions about assumptions, attitudes, and thoughts of a client  Abnormal functioning can result from several kinds of cognitive problems o Faulty assumptions and attitudes o Illogical thinking processes  Example: overgeneralization Cognitive Therapies  Person can overcome their problems by developing new ways of thinking  Main model: Beck’s cognitive therapy 

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 o The goal of therapy is to help clients recognize and restructure their thinking  Therapists also guide clients to challenge their dysfunctional thoughts, try out new interpretations, and apply new ways of thinking in their daily lives  Widely used in treating depression Assessing the Cognitive Model  Strengths o Very broad appeal o Clinically useful and effective o Focuses on a uniquely human process o Theories lend themselves to research o Therapies effective in treating several disorders  Weaknesses o Precise role of cognition in abnormality has yet to be determined o Therapies do not help everyone o Some changes may not be possible to achieve  In response, a new wave of therapies has emerged, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness-based techniques The Humanistic-Existential Model  Combination model o The humanistic view  Emphasis on people as friendly, cooperative, and constructive; focus on drive to self-actualize through honest recognition of strengths and weaknesses o The existentialist view  Emphasis on self-determination, choice, and individual responsibility; focus on authenticity Rogers’ Humanistic Theory and Therapy  Believes in the basic human need for unconditional positive regard o If received; leads to unconditional self-regard o If not, leads to “conditions of worth”  Incapable of self-actualization because of distortion—do not know what they really need, etc.  Roger’s “client-centered” therapy o Therapist creates a supportive climate  Unconditional positive regard  Accurate empathy  Genuineness o Little research support but positive impact on clinical practice

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3

Assessing the Humanistic Model  Strengths o Taps into domains missing from other theories o Emphasizes the individual o Optimistic o Emphasizes health  Weaknesses o Focuses on abstract issues  Difficult to research o Weakened by disapproval of scientific approach  Changing somewhat The Sociocultural Models  Argue that abnormal behavior is best understood in light of the social and cultural forces that influence an individual o Address norms and roles in society  Comprised of two major perspectives o Family-social perspective o Multicultural perspective How Do Family-Social Theorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?  Concentrate on forces that operate directly on an individual o Social labels and roles  Diagnostic labels (example: Rosenhan study) o Social connections and supports  Focus on: o Family structure and communication  Family systems theory argues that abnormal functioning within a family leads to abnormal behavior (insane behavior becomes sane in an insane environment)  Examples: enmeshed, disengaged structures Family-Social Treatments  This perspective has helped spur the growth of several treatment approaches, including: o Group therapy o Family therapy o Couple therapy o Community treatment  Includes prevention work Cybertherapy: Surfing for help

Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 3 Cybertherapy has come to complement or even replace face-to-face therapy o Computer software therapy o E-mail therapy o Visual e-therapy o Virtual support groups How Do Multicultural Theorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?  Culture refers to the set of values, attitudes, beliefs, history and behaviors shared by a group of people  Communicated from one generation to the next o Try to understand how culture, race, ethnicity, gender and similar factors affect behavior and thought o How people of different cultures, races, and genders differ psychologically  Behavior is best understood when examined in the light of that individual’s unique cultural context  Notice: prejudice and discrimination faced by many minority groups may contribute to certain forms of mental illnesses Assessing the Sociocultural Models  Strengths o Added greatly to the clinical understanding and treatment of abnormality  Increased awareness of clinical and social roles o Clinically successful when other treatments have failed  Weaknesses o Research is difficult to interpret  Correlation does not equal causation o Model unable to predict abnormality in specific individuals Integration of the Models  Integration/Eclectic: Abnormal behavior has more than one cause at a time and takes strength from all models or best that suits clinician o Biopsychosocial theories  Abnormality results from the interaction of genetic, biological, developmental, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social and societal influences  Diathesis-stress approach o Diathesis = predisposition (bio, psycho, or social) ...