Abnormal Behavior Flashcards
Behavior may be abnormal if it involves excessive…
Personal distress, Obvious deviance in thoughts or behaviors, Danger,
Dysfunction
Personal distress
Feeling very upset or uncomfortable (psychological or physical)
Obvious deviance in thoughts or behaviors
Very unusual or atypical for person’s age, gender, etc.
CULTURAL NORMS play an important role here!
Danger
Risking or causing harm to self or others
Dysfunction
Impairment in fulfilling expected, everyday roles
The Four D’s are Useful….BUT….
There is a lot of “gray area” when using these to understand abnormal behavior. Haven’t we all been distressed, acted odd or done unusual things, behaved in a risky manner at some point or struggled with meeting the demands of everyday life?
The question becomes “how much is too much” when it comes to these Four Ds?
It’s a very tough question and clinical judgment. The DSM cites that “clinically significant distress or dysfunction” indicates a disorder. You also see deviance and danger reflected in the majority of disorders as well
Mental (Psychological) Disorder Definition
A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individuals cognition, emotion regulation, ir behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental process underlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities. An expected or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss, such as death of a loved one is not a mental disorder. Socially deviant behavior and conflicts that are primarily btw the individual and society are not mental disorders unless the deviance or conflict results from aa dysfunction in the individual.
Psychopathology
Another term for abnormal behavior and the scientific study of it
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
DSM-5 (May, 2013); Contains all “diagnostic criteria”; not the only available diagnostic manual! It is the most popular, and used around the world.
Prevalence
How many people in a given population have the disorder at that time
Onset of a Disorder
At what age(s) does the disorder commonly manifest itself?; Acute vs. insidious onset
Acute
Abrupt, unexpected
Insidious
Gradual
Course of a Disorder
What does the disorder look like over time? What pattern does it usually follow?; Examples: episodic, time-limited, or chronic course
Prognosis
What can the person expect in the future?
Abnormal behavior has existed in all cultures across all time periods, however…
Views regarding the causes and treatments of abnormal behavior have varied widely across cultures and across time!
Prehistoric and ancient beliefs
Spirits and possession explain abnormal experiences
Greco-Roman explanations
A focus on brain dysfunction, heredity, or bodily “humors,”
Middle Ages
A return to the supernatural; Evil, possession, and witchcraft all become predominant explanations for abnormal behavior due to the influence of religion at that time; “Lunacy”
Lunacy
Introduced during the 1500’s (Paracelsus); Luna= moon, belief that a full moon made individuals have abnormal experiences
Trephining
Ancient practice in which a hole was made in an individuals skull in order to “release their demons”
Salem Witch Trials
Most likely would not have occurred if what we know now was known; 20 killed on American soil, .10,000 in Europe
The Renaissance and Reform Movement
Focus on humanism, compassion, “moral therapy”
The 20th century
Continued reform and use of science to explore the origins of abnormal behavior; Clinical psychology and Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology
Psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism, the “cognitive revolution”
Psychiatry
Use of psychopharmacology, therapy
Contemporary Trends in Abnormal Psychology
A focus on the influence of multiculturalism, The rise of positive psychology, Changes in the therapeutic landscape; A more sophisticated, integrative approach to understanding risk for and resilience from psychopathology
Changes in the therapeutic landscape
The drug revolution of the 1950’s forward, The influence of managed care, Increased appreciation for research
An Integrative Approach to Risk: Multipath Model
Biological Dimension, Psychological Dimension, Social Dimension, Sociocultural Dimension
Biological Dimension
Genetics, Brain Anatomy, Biochemical Imbalance, CNS Functioning, Autonomic Nervous System Reactivity, etc
Psychological Dimension
Personality, Cognition, Emotions, Learning, Stress-Coping, Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Values, Early Experiences, etched
Social Dimension
Family, Relationships, Social, Support, Belonging, Love, Marital Status, Community, etc.
Sociocultural Dimension
Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Socioeconomic Status, Ethnicity, Culture, etc
Multipath Model Explanation of Resiliance
Maintaining emotional equilibrium, Coping with stress and hardship, Facing adversity with strength, Recovering from trauma
The Resilience Model
Strengths, assets, and protective factors that help maximize mental health and allow individuals to bounce back from trauma and stressful life events
