Models of Abnormal Psychology Flashcards
Psychological explanations- several conflicting ideas
- Due to disordered thinking?
- Related to maladaptive behaviour?
- Unconscious motives responsible?
- Human desire for self-fulfilment?
All contrast with biological explanation- “abnormality is a physical condition.”
Likely both factors are implicated.
Psychodynamic model- Freud
Id: instinctual drives- life (libido) and death instincts.
Ego: develops to keep id in check- mediates between unrealistic, selfish id and reality. Seeks pleasure and avoids pain.
Superego: conscience and ideal self- based on morals learned from parents.
Psychological disorders due to internal unconscious conflict (linked to early experiences).
Unconscious mind used defence mechanisms (eg. repression, projection, regression, denial).
Repressed conflicts emerge in dreams, careless talk etc leading to irrational thoughts, painful emotions, maladaptive behaviour.
Psychoanalysis
Therapy aims to locate events and via psychoanalysis bring repressed thoughts/conflicts into conscious awareness.
Remit symptoms and change personality.
Uses free association, dream analyses, interpretation by therapist etc.
Psychoanalysis = original therapy. More recently developed group therapies.
Psychodynamic model-critique
Strengths: Comprehensive account of personality; Freud developed ‘talking cures’; some evidence of effective treatment.
Weaknesses: Limited and poor quality evidence (Tarrier, 2002); difficult to test theory based on unconscious dynamics; “psychoanalysis explains everything but predicts nothing” (Eyesenck); psychoanalysis is not economically viable in the NHS.
Contemporary Psychodynamic Therapy
Traditional theory and therapy often criticised and have been sidelined by other models.
Now contemporary psychodynamic therapies: based on Freud, Jung, Adler etc.
- Briefer, fewer less frequent sessions, more support.
Behavioural model- behaviourists (eg. Eysenck, 1960) were critical of psychodynamic approach, thus developed alternative behavioural interventions
Human behaviour (including maladaptive) is learned.
Environmental conditions and experiences shape and maintain behaviour.
Mainly through classical (Pavlov) and operant (Skinner) conditioning.
Classical- associated neutral stimuli with fear response.
Operant- reinforcement.
Behavioural interventions
Wide range of techniques aiming to help change behaviour.
Tend to be gradual (eg. graded exposure) rather than flooding techniques.
Repeated exposure to CS without CR can ‘extinguish’ fear.
Changes in behaviours can lead to changed in feelings and thoughts.
Behavioural model: critical analysis
Strengths: explains onset, maintenance and extinction; therapies can change most entrenched behaviour; good evidence of successful treatment; used with variety of diagnoses; behaviourism easily tested empirically.
Weaknesses: some argue therapy only focuses on symptoms (although evidence of overall impact QoL); oversimplified (unable to explain more complex behaviour- Mineka & Zinbarg); viewed as giving inadequate account of cognition and emotion; cognitive therapy out performs behavioural for some diagnoses and vice versa.
Cognitive model- challenged and supplemented behavioural models
1960s via Albert Ellis & Aaron Beck.
Thoughts and emotions govern behaviour; abnormal behaviour resulting from inaccurate, maladaptive thoughts.
Unhelpful cognitions apparent in many disorders (esp. anxiety and depression).
Cognitive therapy
Treats difficulties by helping individuals change unhelpful and unrealistic thoughts.
Clients often asked to keep thought diary.
Helped to identify, challenge ad change cognitions.
Cognitive model: analysis
Strengths: good empirical support, cognitive therapy popular too, readily testable therapy and model.
Weaknesses: precise role of cognition still unclear; faulty cognition may be because of disorder rather than explain them; although therapies work for many they don’t for all.
Cognitive-behavioural model
CBT is far more commonly used than CT alone.
Logical combination of two models- both aspects to mental health.
Social phobia is good example- behavioural avoidance significance maintenance factor, unhelpful thoughts also help maintain. Treatment addresses both.
Evidence for CBT: outcome studies
Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer & Fang (2012): review 106 meta-analyses, range of diagnoses.
- Strongest support for anxiety disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress.
- Evidence for efficacy for depression, dysthymia, and bipolar.
- Evidence varied for addiction- small effect for alcohol, to medium for cannabis/nicotine.
CBT: critical analysis
Strengths: range of disorders successfully treated; most commonly offered psychotherapy; more comprehensive than BT or CT; largest evidence base supporting of psychotherapies.
Weaknesses: still unclear if all aspects of therapy are necessary; some regard therapies as superficial (treats symptoms); some lack long term effect (although more resilient than drugs alone); argued to be less effective in complex conditions (such as schiz).
Biological models
Emphasis disorders as ‘illness’ and usually use drug treatment.
Focus on genetics, neuroscience, brain structure.
