Chapter 1 - What is Abnormality?

Question 1

Defining Abnormality

Answer 1

Statistical concept – behaviour considered abnormal if occurs infrequently in population

Personal distress – people considered to have psychological disorder if they report distress

Personal dysfunction – maladaptive behaviour interfering with functioning

Violation of norms – behaviour contrary to socially acceptable ideas

Question 2

Markers of Abnormality

Answer 2

Behaviour
Feelings
Thoughts/cognitive processes
Physiological responses

Question 3

Definition of Abnormal Behaviour

Answer 3

Definition: Psychological dysfunction within individual associated with distress/impairment in functioning and response not typical or culturally accepted

To identify person as abnormal, no single criterion necessary/sufficient

Question 4

Clinical Psychologist

Answer 4

General understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders

Research methods

Treatment with psychological interventions

Question 5

Psychiatrists

Answer 5

Medical doctors

Focus on diagnosis and medical treatment (pharmacology)

Question 6

Roles of Psychologist

Answer 6

Consumer in science – enhance practices

Evaluator of science – determine effectiveness of practices

Creator of science – conduct research leading to new practices

Question 7

Prehistoric Evidence of Abnormality

Answer 7

Abnormal behaviour = demonic possession

Trephination – stone tool used to cut holes in skull

Question 8

Greek and Roman Thought on Abnormality

Answer 8

Abnormal behaviour = naturalistic causes

Hippocrates
Stress impacts mental functioning
Humors -- psychological functioning resulting from disturbances in bodily fluids
          Cheerfulness: excess blood
          Ill-temper: excess yellow bile
          Gloom: excess black bile
          Listlessness: excess phlegm

Plato
Dreams satisfy desires that are inhibited when awake
Not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder
Conversational therapy

Galen
Causes of abnormality
Physical: head injuries, alcohol abuse, menstrual disturbances
Psychological: stress, loss of love, fear
Treatment: care and comfort, talk with sympathetic other

Question 9

Arab World on Abnormality

Answer 9

Abnormal behaviour = naturalistic causes

Humane treatment of mentally ill while Dark Ages began in Europe

Asylums – care, support, compassion

Avicenna
Environmental and psychological factors of abnormality
Treatment: care and compassion
Prince who believed self to be cow

Question 10

Europe in the Middle Ages

Answer 10

Abnormal behaviour = supernatural

Dark Ages
Witches possessed by devil
Treatment: exorcism

Renaissance

Parcacelsus
Rejected humors theory
Disturbances of spiritual vitae (breath of life)
Hypnotism

Johannes Weyer
Rejected exorcism
Natural and physical treatments
More scientific attitude on mental disorders

Question 11

Beginnings of Scientific Approach

Answer 11

Notable advocates
Teresa of Avila (Spain)
St. Vincent de Paul

Asylums
Bethlem Royal Hospital
Insufficient funds – invited public to tease patients for small fee
Bedlam – noise and disruption
Gheel, Belgium
13th century – legendary tale
Care for mentally ill in homes

Question 12

Enlightenment

Answer 12

Philippe Pinel
La Bicetre (French asylum)
Role of psychological and social factors in development of mental illness
Mental hygiene movement – protect and provide humane treatment

Question 13

Heredity of Abnormality

Answer 13

Benedict Morel
Deviations from normal functioning transmitted by hereditary processes
Degenerate through generations

Phrenology – criminality can be inherited and identified by shape of skull (debunked)

Question 14

Syndromes and Classifications

Answer 14

Emil Kraepelin
Syndromes – groups of symptoms
Distinct features of disorders
Biological causes of mental disorders

Question 15

Mental Disorders caused by Infection

Answer 15

General paresis of the insane (GPI) – acquired due to infection
Initial sore genitals and swollen glands of groin
Untreated = enters bloodstream and meningeal lining of brain/spinal cord
After decade… mania, dementia, paralysis

Somatogenesis – discovery of cause for GPI led to view that all disorders from infection

Question 16

Shock Therapy

Answer 16

Insulin injections
Induce comas
Seemed to improve symptoms of schizophrenia
Convulsions (active feature)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) -- shock to patient's skull
          Used for schizophrenia and major depression

Question 17

Psychopharmacology

Answer 17

Developed following discovery of neurotransmitters

Henri Laborit
Found certain antihistamines calmed patients
Convinces psychiatrist friends to try (effective)

1950s – deinstitutionalization of patients due to success of medications

Question 18

Hypnotism and Psychoanalysis

Answer 18

Anton Mesmer
Power of suggestion

Jean Charcot
Hypnotism to treat hysteria

Joseph Breuer and Sigmund Freud
Hypnosis
Cathartic method and psychoanalysis
Patients talked freely about unpleasant events

Question 19

Behaviourism

Answer 19

John B. Watson
Observable features (behaviours)
Abnormal functioning learned – can be unlearned
Classical conditioning

Question 20

Mental Health Commissions of Canada (MHCC)

Answer 20

Catalyst for reform of mental health policies
Improvements in service delivery
National approach

Diminish stigma/discrimination of mental disorders
Public/social stigma – negative attitudes towards others (discrimination)
Self-stigma – internalized negative attitudes
Structural stigma – institutional/organizational rules against mentally ill

Disseminate evidence-based research
To… government, stakeholders, public