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PSY240 > Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Abnormal Behaviour > Flashcards

Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Abnormal Behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

What are examples of the biological, social, and psychological approaches to abnormality?

A

BIOLOGICAL
- underlying biological factor (e.g. genetic vulnerability to depression inherited from parents, acquired head trauma)

PSYCHOLOGICAL
- irrational beliefs, unconscious conflicts, childhood trauma

SOCIAL
- relationships with classmates, poverty, family dynamics

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2
Q

What are biological, social, and psychological examples of VULNERABILITIES in the stress-diathesis model?

A

BIOLOGICAL
- genes, disordered biochemistry, brain abnormalities

SOCIAL
- maladaptive upbringing, chronic stress

PSYCHOLOGICAL
- unconscious conflicts, poor skills, maladaptive cognitions

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3
Q

What are biological, social, and psychological examples of TRIGGERS in the stress-diathesis model?

A

BIOLOGICAL
- onset of disease, exposure to toxins

SOCIAL
- traumatic event, major losss

PSYCHOLOGICAL
- perceived loss of control, violation of trust

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4
Q

What are three different theories for development of mental disorder that fall under the biological approach to abnormality?

A

STRUCTURAL
- disorder results from damage to structural integrity of the brain (either from trauma or deterioration/atrophy)

BIOCHEMICAL
- problems/imbalances with neurotransmitters or of the endocrine system

GENETIC
- malformation or transmission of specific gene or genes but most often via polygenic transsmission

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5
Q

Who is Phineas Gage and what theory supports the onset of his mental disorder?

A
  • Phineas Gage was a construction worker who got a post driven into his skull and suffered damage to the cerebral cortex i.e. the higher thinky part of the brain
  • more specifically the frontal cortex which affected his personality in a major way
  • lost inhibitions, control of his emotions, and modulation of his social behaviour
  • his injury supports structural theories of mental disorder
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6
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A
  • region of brain responsible for regulatory behaviours (i.e. eating, drinking, sex) and certain aspects of emotion
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7
Q

What is the limbic system?

A
  • set of brain structures located on both sides of thalamus
  • closely linked to hypothalamic functions
  • important for experience and expression of certain emotions, especially rage
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8
Q

What is neurotransmission?

A
  • release of neurotransmitters and the transmission of electrical impulses from one neuron to another
  • brain’s means of communication
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9
Q

What is a synapse?

A
  • gap between two neurons
  • point of communication;
    neurotransmitter released into synapse and binds to receptor of receiving neuron
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10
Q

What determines whether a receiving neuron fires when neurotransmitters are released into the synapse?

A
  • nature of neurotransmitter
  • available amount of neurotransmitter
  • length of time neurotransmitter sits in sunapse
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11
Q

What affects the amount of neurotransmitter left in the synapse?

A
  • reuptake
    i. e. how much and how quickly it is taken up by the sending neuron
  • degradation
    i. e. how quickly the neurotransmitter is broken down by certain enzymes
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12
Q

What are biologically-based drug therapies designed to do?

A
  • affect amount of neurotransmitter available by influencing the processes of reuptake, degradation, and the quality and availability of neurotransmitter-receptor sites
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13
Q

What are the four common neurotransmitters?

A
  • Serotonin (5-HT)
  • Norepinephrine (aka Noradrenaline)
  • Dopamine
  • Gamma-aminpbutyric acid (GABA)
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14
Q

What is the function of serotonin and which disorders is it generally associated with?

A
  • major role in regulation of emotions

- implicated in depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders

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15
Q

What is the function of norepinephrine and which disorders is it generally associated with?

A
  • too much can be overstimulating
  • too little leads to depression
  • implicated in mood disorders
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16
Q

What is the function of dopamine and which disorders is it generally associated with?

A
  • important for functioning of muscle symptoms
  • important for affecting reward systems in the brain
  • implicated in psychosis and Parkinson’s disease
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17
Q

What is the function of GABA and which disorders is it generally associated with?

A
  • typically has an inhibitory, tranquilizing effect

- implicated in anxiety disorders

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18
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A
  • glandular system producing hormones
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19
Q

What is the function of hormones?

A
  • carry messages through blood to affect mood, energy levels, and stress levels
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20
Q

Where is the pituitary gland?

A
  • just below hypothalamus at the point of connection between nervous and endocrine systems
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21
Q

What is an example of a disorder transmitted directly by a gene/genes?

A
  • Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome when a third chromosome attaches itself to the 21st pair
22
Q

What is important to note in the relationship between polygenic transmission and disorders?

A
  • polygenic transmission does not cause the disorder directly but causes the predisposition
23
Q

How are adoption studies conducted?

A
  • identifies probands (person with disorder) who were adopted shortly after birth and then look for rates of disorder in biological relatives and adoptive relatives
  • often used in conjunction with twin studies (identical and fraternal twins raised together or apart)
24
Q

What are three approaches to gene studies in abnormality?

A
  • linkage analysis
  • association studies
  • epigenetics
25
What have been the results of twin and adoption studies?
- genetics serve as strong predictor for various disorders and personality styles - genetic links for more mundane or specific behaviours e. g. identical twins reared apart with shared value systems, shared idiosyncrasies
26
What is the linkage analysis approach to gene study?
- examine inheritance patterns in DNA segments lying close to each other on a chromosome
27
What is the association studies approach to gene study?
- examine genetic markers across large numbers of people with a disorder as compared to large numbers of people who do not - e.g. is a certain marker overrepresented in those who have the disorder?
28
What is the epigenetics approach to gene study?
- moves beyond traditional studies that focus on separating genes from environments - examine the inherited and acquired mechanisms that regulate gene functioning - study of phenotype (the expression of our genetic make-up) as opposed to our genotype (our actual genetic make-up) - role of hormones and psychosocial factors
29
What is the upside of biological theories of abnormality?
- rapidly increasing our understanding and, in turn, our ability to more successfully treat disorders - has done much to remove the stigma and blame associated with psychological disorders
30
What is the downside of biological theories of abnormality?
- tend to be reductionist and tempt us to disregard important environmental and social factors
31
What do psychodynamic theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- unconscious conflicts between primitive desires and constraints on those desires give rise to mental illness
32
What do cognitive theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- people's way of interpreting situations, their assumptions about the world, and self-concepts can cause negative feelings/behaviours
33
What do humanist/existential theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- disorders arise when conforming to demands of others instead of pursuing own values & potentials - causes existential anxiety
34
What is objective relations theory?
- early in life we create representations of ourselves
35
What are criticisms of psychoanalysis theories?
- did not consider female development; "male as prototype" approach and emphasis on sexual drives - unfalsifiable (that is to say not amenable to scientific testing) - Freud considered personality to be fixed in childhood and did not consider further development
36
How was classical conditioning used to explain abnormality?
- maladaptive learning by associating previously neutral stimuli with unconditioned stimulus and response pairings - particularly useful in explaining acquired fears
37
What is operant conditioning?
- shaping behaviours by rewarding those that are desired and punishing those that are undesired - reinforcement schedules, extinction, etc.
38
What is observational learning/modelling?
- copying/modelling behaviours of others because they are important to us or because we have seen them be rewarded or punished
39
What are the advantages and disadvantages of behavioural theories of abnormality?
PRO + amenable to scientific testing CONS - findings can be limited when extrapolated to real-life environments
40
How do cognitive theorists suggest mental disorders be treated?
- thoughts and beliefs shape our experience - dysfunctional or irrational thoughts and beliefs underscore abnormality - replace thoughts with functional, realistic thoughts
41
What are some examples of cognition patterns that underlie dysfunction?
- casual attributions e.g., "It's all my fault" even when it isn't - control theory e.g., "Bad things keep happening to me and I have no control" - dysfunctional assumptions e.g., "It is necessary that I be liked all of the time"
42
What was Rogers's humanist theory?
- humans strive to fulfill their potential and to self-actualize - develops client-centered therapy
43
What was Maslow's humanist theory?
- people have a hierarchy of needs | - each need must be fulfilled in order
44
What is the disadvantage of humanist theories?
- unfalsifiable (not possible to test scientifically)
45
What are the three theories of social and interpersonal approaches to abnormality?
- Interpersonal - Family Systems - Social Structural
46
What do interpersonal theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- mental disorders are a result of long-standing patterns of negative relationships that have roots in early caregivers
47
What do family systems theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- families create and maintain mental disorders in individual family members to maintain homeostasis
48
What do social structural theories propose about the cause of abnormality?
- societies create mental disorders in individuals by putting them under unbearable stress and by sanctioning abnormal behaviour
49
What was Jerry Wiggins's contribution to interpersonal theory?
- interpersonal circumplex model of personality | > interpersonal styles are related to interpersonal conflicts
50
What was John Bolby's contribution to interpersonal theory?
- attachment theory: argued quality of attachment to caregivers determines expectations for ourselves and others
51
What is the McMaster model of family functioning?
- assumes all aspects of the family are interrelated and the structure and organization of the family strongly influence individual family members - one part cannot be understood in isolation - family functioning can be assessed using the McMaster structured interview

PSY240 (16 decks)

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