Classification Part 1 Flashcards

Question

biological paradigm: behaviour genetics

Answer 1

- study of individual differences in behaviour that are attributable to differences in genetics - genotype is fixed at birth, phenotype changes - predisposition to disorders (diathesis) may be inherited (genotype), but the expression of the disorder (phenotype) depends on environmental factors too - includes family method (taking people with disorders "index cases/probands" and looking at their relatives to see if they have them too), twin method (if 1 twin has disorder, greater concordance should be found with MZ than DZ twins), adoptees method (if child of panic disorder parent raised by someone else and still has panic disorder, we can assume it's more genetic), and linkage analysis

Answer 2

- trying to specify the particular gene involved in disorders - uses linkage analysis (studying families with many cases of a disorder to look for genetic markers)

Answer 3

- temperament is largely genetically determined - 3 categories: difficult, easy, and slow-to-warm-up - 3 categories of US boys: resilient, overcontrolling (shy/lonely), undercontrolling (delinquency, low IQ)

Answer 4

- study of brain and neurotransmitters - some theories propose that disorders are caused by too much or too little of a neurotransmitter (ex. mania is to much norepinephrine, ADHD due to lack of dopamine)

Answer 5

the view that whatever is being studied can and should be reduced to its most basic elements -> should be avoided

Answer 6

- a type of action/behavioural therapy (changes person's actions) - behavioural/learning perspective: abnormal behaviour is a learned response; focus on observable behaviour (ex. classical conditioning, operant conditioning, modelling, cognitive behaviour therapy) - - behaviour modification/therapy: changing abnormal behaviour using the above methods (ex. counterconditioning, systematic desensitization, aversive conditioning, etc.) - cognitive perspective: how people structure and make sense of expectations (ie. schemas) - - ex. Beck's cognitive therapy persuades depressed clients to alter negative schemas of themselves; Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy (eliminating self-defeating beliefs) - CBT restructures patterns of thought that cause disturbed emotions/behaviours - based on abstract concepts, doesn't necessarily tell us WHY/HOW people have negative thoughts

Answer 7

- psychopathology results from unconscious conflicts in the individual - a type of insight therapy (helping people gain insight to why they think/behave the way they do) - developed by Freud - includes neurotic anxiety (fear not connected to true threat) and moral anxiety ("perfection principle"); defence mechanisms, free association, dream analysis, etc. - evolved into ego analysis (greater emphasis on person'a bility to control environment and select how to satisfy drives) - contemporary includes structural theory, self-psychology, object-relations theory, interpersonal-relational (between client and environment/others), and attachment theory - anecdotal, not always scientific - BUT childhood experiences do shape adult personality, unconscious influences on behaviour exist, and people use defence mechanisms to control anxiety/stress

Answer 8

- abnormal behaviour can be treated by increasing one's awareness of motivations and needs; based more in free will than psychoanalytic - insight-focused - ex. Rogers' Client-Centered therapy (client directs course of therapy session) -> unconditional positive regard; empathetic therapies (which are very useful)

Answer 9

- employing ideas and therapeutic techniques from a variety of schools - very common, esp. for treating things like eating disorders

Answer 10

- Familial factors (ex. parenting styles, marital discord, parental mental illness) - - ex. privileged parents who have high expectations but aren't involved have kids more likely to have mental health issues ("affluenza") - Peers (ex. peer status, peer victimization) - Cultural Context (ex. cultural diversity, minority groups) - - ex. no differences between Anglo- and French-Canadians, but major differences between Aboriginal people and other Canadians - ex. PTSD, depression, etc. with the exception of Cree people); Hutterites have lowest rates of schizophrenia; immigrants have lower depression and alcohol dependence, but higher mood disorders) - Individual factors (ex. temperament, prematurity, brain damage) - Life Events (ex. abuse, homelessness) - School context (ex. school failure)

Answer 11

- integrative approach - says mental illness is due to genetic predisposition AND stressful life event that triggers it - ex. BPD triggered by a personal childhood vulnerability and the stressful life event of moving away to college)

Answer 12

- An integrative paradigm that suggests that all normal and abnormal behaviour is caused by an interaction of biological (ex. genes, hormones), psychological (ex. personality, social skills), and social factors (ex. poverty, marital conflict) - ex. person with genetic predisposition, low social skills, and living in poverty would have higher likelihood of mental illness