ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Flashcards
is something deviating from the normal or differing from the typical, is a subjectively defined behavioral characteristic, assigned to those with rare or dysfunctional conditions It may be abnormal when it is unusual, socially unacceptable, self. defeating, dangerous, or suggestive of faulty interpretation of reality or of personal distress.
Abnormal Behavior
is behavior that is deviant, maladaptive, or personally distressful over a long period of time
Abnormal Behavior
defines abnormal behavior in medical terms as a mental illness that affects or is manifested in a person’s brain and can affect the way a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with people
American Psychiatric Association
is the scientific study of mental disorders, including efforts to understand their genetic, biological, psychological, and social causes; effective classification schemes (nosology); course across all stages of development; manifestations; and treatment. It is also defined as the origin of mental disorders, how they develop, and the symptoms they might produce in a person.
Psychopathology
This term involves maladaptive behavior that impairs the individual’s ability to perform normal daily functions, such as getting ready for work in the morning, or driving a car. Such maladaptive behaviors prevent the individual from living a normal, healthy lifestyle. However, dysfunctional behavior is not always caused by a disorder; it may be voluntary, such as engaging in a hunger strike
Dysfunction
This term involves dangerous or violent behavior directed at the individual, or others in the environment. An example of dangerous behavior that may suggest a psychological disorder is engaging in suicidal activity
Danger
This term describes the idea that specific thoughts, behaviors and emotions are considered deviant when they are unacceptable or not common in society. Clinicians must, however, remember that minority groups are not always deemed deviant just because they may not have anything in common with other groups. Therefore, we define an individual’s actions as deviant or abnormal when his or her behavior is deemed unacceptable by the culture he or she belongs to
Deviance
This term accounts for negative feelings by the individual with the disorder. He or she may feel deeply troubled and affected by their illness
Distress
Behaviorists believe that our actions are determined largely by the experiences we have in life, rather than by underlying pathology of unconscious forces. Abnormality is therefore seen as the development of behavior patterns that are considered maladaptive (harmful) for the individual. Behaviorism states that all behavior (including abnormal) is learned from the environment (nurture) and that all behavior that has been learnt can also be ‘unlearnt’ (which is how abnormal behavior is treated). The emphasis of the behavioral approach is on the environment and how abnormal behavior is acquired, through classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning
Behavioral
The _________ approach assumes that a person’s thoughts are responsible for their behavior. The model deals with how information is processed in the brain and the impact of this on behavior. The basic assumptions are:
A. Maladaptive behavior is caused by faulty and irrational cognitions.
B. It is the way you think about a problem, rather than the problem itself that causes mental disorders.
C. Individuals can overcome mental disorders by learning to use more appropriate cognitions.
The individual is an active processor of information. D. How person, perceives, anticipates and evaluates a events rather than the events themselves, which will have an impact on behavior. This is generally believed to be an automatic process, in other words we do not really think about it.
Cognitive
The _______ model of psychopathology believes that disorders have an organic or physical cause. The focus of this approach is on genetics, neurotransmitters, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, biochemistry etc. For example, in terms of biochemistry the dopamine hypothesis argues that elevated levels of dopamine are related to symptoms of schizophrenia. The approach argues that mental disorders are related to the physical structure and functioning of the brain. For example, differences in brain structure (abnormalities in the frontal and pre-frontal cortex, enlarged ventricles) have been identified in people with schizophrenia.
Medical / Biological
The main assumptions include Freud’s belief that abnormality came from the psychological causes rather than the physical causes that unresolved conflicts between the id, ego and superego can all contribute to abnormality, for example:
A. Weak Ego - Well-adjusted people have a strong ego that is able to cope with the demands of both the id and the superego by allowing each to express itself at appropriate times. If, however, the ego is weakened, then either the id or the superego, whichever is stronger, may dominate the personality Unchecked Id B. Impulses - If id impulses are unchecked they may be expressed in self-destructive and immoral behavior. This may lead to disorders such as conduct disorders in childhood and psychopathic [dangerously abnormal] behavior in adulthood.
C. Too Powerful Superego - A superego that is too powerful, and therefore too harsh and inflexible in its moral values, will restrict the id to such an extent that the person will be deprived of even socially acceptable pleasures. According to Freud this would create neurosis, which could be expressed in the symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as phobias and obsessions.
Freud also believed that early childhood experiences and unconscious motivation were responsible for disorders.
Psychodynamic
