Ch 1-4 Flashcards
What are the four Ds?
Deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger; common features across definitions of psychopathology
Describe deviance.
Abnormal behavior in a cultural context
Describe distress.
The presence of distress in behaviors, ideas, and/or emotions, causing them to be deemed abnormal
Describe dysfunction.
Abnormal behavior that causes interference with day-to-day responsibilities
Describe danger.
Behavior that is dangerous to oneself or others; least common of the four Ds in psychopathology
What was Thomas Szasz’s opinion on psychopathology?
The concept of mental illness was created to control those who do not subscribe to the social order. Psychological abnormality is only problems of the living
How has Thomas Szasz’s opinion influenced modern psychology?
When defining psychopathology, a portion of modern clinical theorists de-emphasize the role of illness and disorder, instead focusing on circumstance and coping challenges
Eccentrics
Someone who engages in deviant behavior without the presence of the other three Ds. David Weeks research in 2015 found that only 1/5000 people are true eccentrics
15 characteristics common in eccentrics
nonconformity, creativity, strong curiosity, idealism, extreme interests and hobbies, lifelong awareness of being different, high intelligence, outspokenness, non-competitiveness, unusual eating and living habits, disinterest in others’ opinions or company, mischievous sense of humor, nonmarriage, eldest or only child, and poor spelling skills.
Psychopathology instead of abnormal psychology
Abnormality is vague, subjective, and often in flux
Psychopathology and modernity
Despite 30% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents in the U.S. today displaying a need for treatment, psychopathology has always existed in every society especially in times of war, famine, and plague
Explanation for abnormal Bx and Tx in ancient times
Evil spirits, a belief dating back to the Stone Age. Popular treatment was either exorcism (making the body uncomfortable so E spirits leave) or Trephination (carving out holes in the skull through which spirits can escape)
Greek and Roman views and treatment of psychopathology.
Hippocrates popularized the belief that illnesses had natural internal/physical causes. He believed these causes lead to an imbalance in the four humors, yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm. Tx dependent on the humor imbalance, but quiet life, veg, temperance, exercise, celibacy, and bleeding were common.
European Middle Age views and Tx of psychopathology.
Church rejects science, controls education so the belief was that illness had demonic causes. Treatment was exorcism or torture then gradually hospitalization. Stresses of the time led to increased abnormal bx e.i. mass madness (tarantism, lacanthropy)
Renaissance views and Tx of psychopathology
With emerging scientific knowledge, demonology decreased and Weyer, the first mental illness physician and founder of modern psychopathology, popularized the belief that the mind could get sick like the body. Treatment included early community health programs in the form of care at religious shrines and by the mid 16th century, asylums
Rise of asylums in the mid 16th century
The number of patients exceeded the number of residences for them to be housed and treated leading to the creation of asylums. These asylums eventually became overcrowded leading to the maltreatment of patients and inhumane living conditions
William Tuke
English Quaker associated with the 19th century reform of asylums/mental Tx in England. Advocated for humane and respectful techniques. Founded the York Retreat, an estate for patients to live quietly. Tx at York Retreat included rest, talk, prayer, and manual work.
19th century reform of asylums
Care of people improved with a focus on moral Tx and humane techniques including better housing and kinder Tx
Philippe Pinel
French physician associated with the 19th century reform of asylums/mental Tx in France. Argued for human and respectful Tx as well as sympathy and kindness. Responsible for prison atmosphere changing to sunny, ventilated rooms and providing patients with interactive support.
Benjamin Rush
“Father of American Psychiatry.” Most responsible for moral Tx in the United States. Developed humane approach to Tx; hospitals required to hire educated, sensitive attendants.
Dorothea Dix
Boston teacher speaking state to state on the horrors she witnessed in asylums. Responsible for widespread moral Tx. Lead to laws and funding for Tx of patients. States responsible for effective mental hospitals/state hospitals; similar model adopted in Europe
Decline in moral Tx at the turn of the 20th century
Staff and money shortages, declining recovery rates (associated w poor conditions), overcrowding, assumption pts couldn’t be cured if moral Tx wasn’t always effective, emerging prejudice as pts were often poor immigrants. Early 20th century halted moral Tx, long term hospitals popular again.
20th century somatogenic (body) perspective
Abnormal function has physical cause. Reminiscent of Hippocrates
Cause for rebirth of somatogenic perspective
Physical factors - German researcher Kraepelin textbook argues physical factors (e.g. fatigue) cause mental dysfunction. Developed 1st modern system for classifying abnormal bx
New Biological Discoveries - syphilis; organic disease lead to paresis which includes irreversible mental and physical symptoms
Richard von Krafft-Ebing
Discovered syphilis was responsible for general paresis, supporting somatogenic beliefs in early/mid 20th century. Study would not be ethical today lmao
Problems with biological discoveries bolstering a somatogenic view in the early/mid 20th century
Most studies yielded disappointing results (e.g. tooth extraction, hydrotherapy, lobotomies, etc.). Lead to eugenic practices (e.g. Carrie Buck sterilized in Virginia)
20th century psychogenic perspective
Abnormal functioning has psychological causes
Causes for rise in psychogenic perspective
Mesmer and Freud’s work with hypnotism
