Abnormal Psychology Models (Bio and Psycho) Flashcards
Biological Model
Look at biological factors to explain abnormal behaviour to problematic brain chemistry or circuitry.
-Abnormalities result of inheritance or evolution
-Physical and chemical methods of treatment
Neurotransmitters
A chemical that released by one neuron, crosses the synaptic space to be received at receptors on the dendrites of neighbouring neurone.
-Abnormal activity by NT’s sometimes tied to mental disorders
Endocrine glands
Work along neurone to control vital activities such as growth, reproduction, sexual activity, heart rate, body temperature, response to stress, etc.
Releases hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemicals released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream.
brain circuit
network of particular brain structures that work together, triggering each other into action to produce a distinct kind of behavioural, cognitive, or emotional reaction.
Fear circuit
Include the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insult, and amygdala
-May have a flawed interconnectivity or be dysfunctional in some other way that cause anxiety disorders.
Genes
chromosome segments that control characteristics and traits we inherit
-Several or more genes combine to help produce our actions and reactions both functional and dysfunctional
Evolutionary theorists
Human reactions and the genes responsible for them have survived over the course of time because they have helped individuals thrive or adapt.
Cons of Biological Method
-Expectation that all human behaviour can be explained in biological terms
-Can limit understanding of abnormal function
-A great number of undesirable effects from drugs
Forms of treatment
-Drug therapy
-Brain stimulation
-Psychosurgery
Psychodynamic Model
A person’s behaviour, normal or abnormal is determined by underlying psychological forces the individual is not aware of. Abnormal behaviour is a conflict between these forces.
-Internal forces are dynamic
-Conflicts are tied to early relationships and childhood
Psychoanalysis Theory - Freud
Three central forces shape the personality: instinctual needs(id), rational thinking(ego), moral standards(super ego).
-Forces operate at the unconscious level
-three forces are often in some degree of conflict
-healthy personality is one which an effective working relationship has formed a compromise.
-If in conflict, may show signs of dysfunction.
id
Instinctual needs, drives, and impulses. Id always seeks gratification and tend to be sexual. Libido fuels the id
-Child’s pleasure obtained from nursing, defecating, masturbating.
Ego
The psychological force that employs reason and operates in accordance with the reality principle.
-Seeks gratification unconsciously but guides us to know when we can and cannot express impulses of the id
ego defence mechanisms
controls unacceptable id impulses and avoid/reduce the anxiety they arouse.
repression
person avoids anxiety by simply not allowing painful or dangerous thoughts to become conscious
denial
person simply refuses to acknowledge the existence of an external source of anxiety
projection
person attributes their own unacceptable impulses, motives, or desires to other individuals
rationalization
person creates a socially acceptable reason for an action that actually reflects unacceptable motives
displacement
person displaces hostility away from a dangerous object and onto a safer substitute
intellectualization
person represses emotional reactions in favour of overly responses to a problem
regression
person retreats from an upsetting conflict to an early developmental stage in which no is expected to behave maturely or responsibly
superego
psychological force that represents a person’s values and ideals. unconsciously adopted from our parents’ values. ‘conscience’
fixation
condition in which the id, ego, or superego do not mature properly and are frozen at an early stage of development
6 developmental stages
-Oral Stage (first 18 months)
-Anal stage (18 months-3 years)
-Phallic stage (3-5 years)
-Latency (5-12 years)
-Genital (12 years-adulthood)
Self Theory
Emphasizes the role of self, the basic human motive is to strengthen the wholeness of the self
Object relations theory
The psychodynamic theory that views the desire for relationships as the key motivating force in human behaviour. Severe problems in the relationships between children and their caregivers may lead to abnormal development.
Psychodynamic therapies
-Free Association
-Therapist Interpretation
-Catharsis
-Working through
