Chapter 44: Psychological Disorders Flashcards
What is the criterion for abnormality
When behaviour is different from what we consider to be typical behaviour called the norm. In Latin ab meaning away so abnormal means being away from normal.
Abnormal behaviour expressed in inaccurate ways of thinking, emotional instability difficulties in interpersonal behaviour and poor impulse control. Behaviour is regarded as abnormal when deviates from culturally accepted standards. We have to look at the context in which behaviour occur before deciding it’s abnormal and symptomatic of psychology disorder.
What is the criterion for maladaptiveness
Mal means bad or wrong and maladaptive refers to wrong adapting. If unable to adapt well life becomes distressing and you can’t function properly. This implies that psychological disorders is present if behaviour seriously desrupts one’s life.
One of the features is when a person’s behaviour is inflexible irrespective of situation. If behaviour is inflexible it would interfere with ability to adjust successfully to changing demands and situations.
What is the criterion for personal distress
Refers to subjective feelings of anxiety, depression or other unpleasant emotions.
What is the biological viewpoint of psychological disorders
Interest is in role of heredity brain structure brain activity and brain chemistry in development of psychological disorders. Support for biological theory of abnormal behaviour has come from successful treatment of psychological disorders with psychotropic drugs.
What is the psychoanalytic viewpoint of psychological disorders
Emphasis on unconscious causes for psychological disorders where Freud emphasizes the continual conflicts between the demand to express innate biological drives( sex, aggression) and norms of society that inhibits expression of demand
Psychoanalysis believe that if drives aren’t expressed conflict is pushed out of awareness into unconscious mind leading to feelings of anxiety caused by stored up sexual or aggressive energy. Freud emphasized important contribution of anxiety provoking childhood experience in development of psychological disorders.
Psychoanalysis oriented therapy based on identifying unconscious thoughts and emotions and bringing them to conscious awareness in order to help understand thought and action.
What is the behaviourist viewpoint of psychological disorders
They look at environments and learning of maladaptive behaviour as cause of psychological disorders. Social behaviourist like Albert bandura suggest psychological disorders may be developed by observing others behaviour.
In behaviour therapy behavioural goals are set and then attempts are made to achieve goals through learning
What is the cognitive viewpoint of psychological disorders
Arise from maladaptive ways of thinking about oneself and the world. It focuses on thoughts and beliefs that underlie emotional reaction. Cognitive theorists are concerned about what people think in present moment more than Early experience that led to those thoughts.
Cognitive therapy is aimed at improving people psychological well-being by changing thoughts and beliefs.
What is the humanistic viewpoint of psychological disorders
Emphasis on importance of self actualization which is fulfilment of one’s potential. According to this viewpoint psychological disorders occur when people fail to reach potential because others discourage them from expressing true desires thoughts and interest. Distress caused by failure to do this leads to development of psychological disorders. Distress caused by mismatch between self concept and ideal self
Humanists believe that people solve their own problems once they’re Freed from inhibiting influence of other people who reject them.
What is the community perspective of psychological disorders
Emphasis on importance of social political and cultural context in understanding identifying and treating psychological disorders. In order to understand people behaviour we need to consider social factors like socio economic environment availability of resources and social interaction in community that impact on mental health. The way people experience distress or psychological disorders also depends on cultural beliefs and practices.
What is the African perspective of psychological disorders
World view of holism in which wholeness and intergrated experience plays role where the mind and body form a unit. Psychological experience aren’t different from bodily experience. Physiological symptoms equated to corresponding psychological feelings. The mind is never experienced as seperate from the body.
Healthy people experience harmony within and in relation to the world but can be disrupted by ancestors sorcerer or Evil spirit affecting whole body and the resulting pathological behaviour seen as disharmony between person and ancestors.
