Learning Unit 2: Prevention Of Abnormal Behavior Flashcards
What Four theoretical models have been identified in the field of community psychology,
The mental health model is based on the explicit intention of preventing mental illness and its
disruption of usual living patterns.
• The social action model also aims at prevention. It addresses the needs of the poor and attempts to
equalise opportunities for upward social mobility.
• The ecological model sees the community as an ecosystem consisting of relationships which
operate in an environmental context.
• The organisational model focuses on understanding and preventing mental disorders in
organisations. It is seen as a method for facilitating change and development in people.
What is Primary Prevention
Primary prevention is an effort to lower the incidence of new cases of behavioural disorders by
strengthening or adding to resources that promote mental health and by eliminating community
characteristics that threaten mental health.
What is Secondary Prevention
Secondary prevention is an attempt to shorten the duration of mental disorders and to reduce their
impact. If the presence of a disorder can be detected early and an effective treatment can be found, it is
possible to minimise the impact of the disorder or to prevent it from developing into a more serious and
debilitating form. Fo
What is Tertiary Prevention
The goal of tertiary prevention is to facilitate the readjustment of the person to community life after
hospital treatment for a mental disorder. Tertiary prevention focuses on reversing the effects of
institutionalisation and on providing a smooth transition to a productive life in the community.
What is the Multipath Model dimensions
• Dimension one: Biological Factors:Genetics, Epigenetics, Brain
Anatomy, Biochemical Processes,
Central Nervous System Functioning, Autonomic Nervous System
Reactivity, etc.
• Dimension two: Psychological Factors-Personality, Cognition, Emotions,
Learning, Coping Skills,
Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Values,
Early Experiences, etc.
• Dimension three: Social Factors-Family, Interpersonal Relationships,
Social Support, Belonging, Love,
Marital Status, Community, etc.
• Dimension four: Sociocultural Factors-Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation,
Religion, Socioeconomic Status,
Ethnicity, Culture, etc.
Why is classification of mental disorders important
Classification is an integral part of understanding abnormal behaviour. It is a means of establishing order
for dealing with the nature, causes, and treatment of abnormal behaviour. The purpose of a classification
system is to provide distinct categories and indicators for different patterns of behaviour, thought
processes and emotional disturbances
What are some predominant features of Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Delusions • Hallucinations • Disorganised speech • Grossly disorganised/catatonic behaviour • Negative symptoms
Define an obsession
Obsession: recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images that are experienced as
intrusive and unwanted by the individual.
Define compulsion
repetitive behaviours or mental acts that an individual feels driven to
perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
