Chapter 1 - Introduction to Abnormal Behaviour (Topic 4) Flashcards
what is the fraction of Canadians that suffer from a mental disorder
1 in 5
what is the fraction of hospitalized individuals because of a psychiatric disorder
1 in 5
what are the different names for Abnormal Psychology in Everyday Language
Psychosis/Psychotic
Insanity
Nervous Breakdown
Delusional
Panic Attack
Schizophrenic
What is Abnormal Psychology?
The application of psychological science to the study of mental disorders - most directly concerned with understanding the nature of individual pathologies of mind, mood, and behaviour
what is the Discontinuity hypothesis in abnormal psychology
Only strong terms can accurately portray true nature of abnormal behavior
Do or Don’t
what is the Continuity hypothesis in abnormal psychology
Insanity and mental illness terms should not be used
Mental disorder best viewed as continuum that varies between mental health to mental illness
Optimal Mental Health ←→ Minimal Mental Health
what is considered abnormal
Distress or disability (social, cognitive, occupation) level of subjective distress
Statistical rarity
Violation of moral and ideal standards
Personal discomfort
what is the Problem With Distress as a criteria for abnormal psychology
Not all distressed individuals are mentally ill (they live functional lives) & some mentally ill individuals do not show distress (psychopaths)
what is the Problem With Statistical Deviation fo abnormal psychology
No all deviations are described the same
“Positive” deviations are not distinguished from “negative” deviations
We do not want to call all “negative deviations a disorder
2 SD below a norm = mental retardation
2 SD above a norm = elite intellectual ability
what is the Problem With Norms as a criteria for abnormal psychology
Societal norms may change which behaviours are deemed abnormal.
Such a criteria can seem too arbitrary and open to abuse
what is Wakefield’s Requirement of “Harmful Dysfunction”
hybrid model - understand continuity vs discontinuity
1) inability of a mental capacity to perform its natural (evolutionary) function
2) harm to the person as judged by the standards of the person’s culture
what are the Supernatural Theories
Early views linked psychological disorders with evil
Resulted in more harmful treatments to drive the spirits out
what is the Historical Perspective
Spiritual/religious tradition
Exorcisms
Trephining
Blood letting
what is the Biological Theories/Somatogenic Perspective
Hippocrates- argued that deviant behavior was result of physical causes
Ancient Greece: four humors of body (blood, phlegm, bile) – excess black bile leads to depression, excess yellow bile leads to irratibility
Thought cognitive functioning could be restored by balancing the four humors in body
what happened in the 1300s regarding Witchcraft
Hallucinations & delusions–evidence of witchcraft.
Most accused were not mentally ill, but forced to confess crimes they didn’t commit.
Treatment: beatings/death by hanging or burning.
what did Philippe Pinel (1792) do
removed chains from mental patients
what did Dorothea Dix do
movement towards treatment in US and Canada
Creation of rural asylums (overcrowding problems)
Movement towards deinstitutionalization
If someone exhibited abnormal behaviour the were institutional
what are the 5 types of therapists
Clinical social worker (M.S.W)
Clinical psychologist (Ph.D., C.Psych)
Counselling psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D.)
Psychiatrist (M.D.)
Marriage & Family Therapist (M.F.T.)
what is Etiology
The factors that cause or contribute to the development of psychological
what is the biological etiology approach to disorders
Biological approaches assume structural abnormalities, biochemical processes, and genetic influences
what is the Psychological etiology approach to disorders
Psychological approaches focus on personal experiences, traumas, conflicts, and environmental factors as roots of disorders
should mental health judgements be subjective or objective
Important for mental health judgments to be objective
what did David Rosehan do
given diagnoses – bipolar, schizophrenia (even upon discharge)
Rosenhan’s associates were Malingering (pretending) symptoms of hearing voices.
They were ALL admitted for schizophrenia.
None were exposed as imposters.
They all left diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission.
how does Values, beliefs, and practices of a group affect how behaviour is viewed as normal or abnormal
Culture is a dynamic process – it changes continuously as a result of actions of individuals and the group
How cultures/societies respond to mental illness and can very greatly
what are the current trends revolving psychology
Positive Psychology – mental disorder vs. mental well-being, happiness, optimism, coping, resilience
Cyber Therapy – greater access
Mental Health & Technology
Privacy/Confidentiality
