Week 1 - Introduction/Different Models

Question 1

According to WHO how many people worldwide deal with a mental illness?

Answer 1

15% of people over 60

20% of children and adolescents

Question 2

What are the 4D’s in abnormal psychology?

Answer 2

1) deviance - thoughts, emotions, behaviour that differ from a society’s ideas
2) distress - need to cause ‘distress’ before can be labeled as abnormal
3) dysfunction - interferes with daily functioning
4) danger - dangerous to oneself or others

Question 3

True or false. Dysfunction is NOT measured according to baseline daily functioning

Answer 3

False

Question 4

What is eccentricity?

Answer 4

Unusual pattern in which no others have a right to interfere

DIFFERENT from abnormal that REQUIRES intervention

Ex) me living with two dozen cats and rarely talks to other people

Question 5

According to clinical theorist Jerome Frank all forms of therapy have what 3 essential features?

Answer 5

1) SUFFERER who seeks help from the healer
2) trained, socially accepted HEALER
3) SERIES OF CONTACTS, b/w healer and sufferer, tries to produce certain changes in their behavioural/emotional state

Question 6

True or false. Much of the risk for danger seems to be associated with other factors besides the illness itself.

Answer 6

True

Can include substance abuse or exposure to violence etc…

Question 7

The “population attribution risk” of violence from mental illness alone is “__%”

Answer 7

4%

95% of violence is due to OTHER factors

Question 8

True to false. Relative risk for suicide is 12:1 greater risk for men compared to women

Answer 8

False

Greater for women

DOES vary by condition

Question 9

True or false. People with mental illness are far more to cause more harm then experience it

Answer 9

False

Far more likely to EXPERIENCE harm

Question 10

History is NOT “_______ and ________,” but rather full of “_______ and _______”

Answer 10

Linear and progressive

Ideas and paradigms

PARADIGMS shift and take over one another

Question 11

How does Kuhn describe paradigms?

Answer 11

Models/paradigms emerge during periods of “crisis,” when something can’t be solved by the EXISTING paradigm

Old one can become absolute or remain useful

Question 12

Science only becomes “_________” when people accept the new paradigm and start working with it

Answer 12

Normal

Question 13

A model is a “_____________” version of reality

Answer 13

Simplified

It’s possible for a model to be too specific - eliminates its utility

Question 14

How do biological theorists explain abnormal behaviour?

Where do they think abnormal problems arise from ?

Answer 14

Medical perspective

Illness brought about by MALFUNCTIONING parts of the organism

Point to problems in the brain (neurons), or endocrine system (hormones)

Cell death, neurotransmitter imbalances, atypical formation of neuronal activity

Question 15

What is the “fear circuit” in terms of the biological perspective?

Answer 15

Involves prefrontal cortex, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, insula

Helps produce FEAR reactions

Question 16

Do genes and evolution play a part in determining abnormality in terms of the biological perspective?

Answer 16

YES

Gene may be a MUTATION (accident/passed down)

Fear = helped save those from danger/war to continue reproducing

^^ may have contribution to anxiety disorders/psychological patterns

Question 17

How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of the biological perspective?

Answer 17

Psychotropic medications (anti-depressive/anxiety0

Electroconvulsive therapy (controversial)

Psychosurgery (lobotomy, trephining)

Question 18

How do psychodynamic theorists explain abnormal behaviour?

Answer 18

Formed by Freud

Persons behaviour is determined by underlying psychological forces, unconscious thoughts, and they interact with each other (dynamic)

Deterministic assumption that ALL behaviour is determined by PAST experiences

Question 19

How did Freud explain normal and abnormal functioning?

Answer 19

ID (unconscious): instinctual drives, pleasure principle, libido fuels this

EGO (unconscious): ego defence mechanisms = controls ID, reality principle

SUPEREGO (unconscious/conscious): morality principle, what is right and wrong = conscious

Question 20

Does Freud think the three parts of personality are in conflict?

Answer 20

OFTEN in some degree of conflict

Excessive = degree of dysfunction

Question 21

What are todays 2 influential psychodynamic views?

Answer 21

1) Self-theorists: EMPATHIZE the role of self

2) Object relations theorists: people are motivated by their RELATIONSHIPS with others

Question 22

How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of a psychodynamic perspective? (4)

Answer 22

1) Free association (patient responsible for starting and leading the conversation)

2) Resistance (resisting certain aspects of therapy)

3) Transference (acting towards the therapist like they would someone in their life)

4) Dreams (repression/defence mechanisms operate less when asleep)

Question 23

What is catharsis in the psychodynamic perspective?

Answer 23

Must experience this in therapy

Reliving PAST REPRESSED feelings to settle conflict and problems

Question 24

How would cognitive-behaviour theorists explain abnormal behaviour?

Answer 24

Focuses on behaviours people display and the thoughts they have

Also interested on the INTERPLAY between them

Question 25

How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of a cognitive-behavioural perspective?

Answer 25

Classical conditioning

Modelling

Operant conditioning

Question 26

What can exposure therapy be used for?

Answer 26

Society anxiety disorder

Question 27

Nearly “______” of todays clinical psychologists report that their approach is “_____________ and or ___________”

Answer 27

Half

Cognitive

Behavioural

Question 28

What are some drawbacks of the cognitive-behavioural perspective?

Answer 28

Narrow in certain ways, there’s more aspects of human functioning

Problems could be a RESULT rather than a CAUSE of their difficulties

Question 29

How would a humanistic-existential theorists explain abnormal behaviour?

Answer 29

Believe that human beings are born with a NATURAL tendency to be friendly, cooperative and constructive

Driven to SELF-ACTUALIZE

Need to accept weaknesses and strengths

Question 30

“________ __________” is known as the pioneer of the humanistic perspective

Answer 30

Carl Rogers

Unconditional positive regard

Unconditional self regard

Conditions of worth

Question 31

How would an abnormal patient get treated in terms of a humanistic-existential perspective?

Answer 31

Client-centered therapy

Gestalt therapy

Existential therapy - encouraged to accept responsibility for their lives and for their problems

Question 32

How would family-social theorists explain abnormal behaviour?

Answer 32

Should concentrate on BROAD forces that operate DIRECTLY on individuals as they move through life (family relationships, social interactions, community events)

Question 33

Family-social theorists focus on what 3 factors?

Answer 33

1) Social labels/roles
2) Social networks
3) Family structure and communication

Question 34

How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of the family-social theorists perspective?

Answer 34

Group therapy (support group)

Family therapy

Couple therapy

Community treatment

Cultural-sensitive therapies/gender-sensitive therapies

Question 35

What are some drawbacks of the sociocultural model?

Answer 35

Research findings are often difficult to interpret

Inability to predict abnormality in SPECIFIC individuals

Question 36

What are biopsychosocial theories?

Answer 36

Integrated model of everything

Abnormality results from INTERACTION of genetic, biological, emotional, behavioural, cognitive, social, cultural and societal differences

Question 37

What was the developmental psychopathy perspective?

Answer 37

Uses developmental framework to understand how variables collectively account for human functioning (adaptive and maladaptive)

EQUIFINALITY- # different disorders can lead to one disorder

MULTIFINALITY - person who has experienced multiple similar developmental variables, may have different clinical outcomes

Question 38

What are some drawbacks of the existentialist model?

Answer 38

Problems arise when people engage in SELF-DECEPTION

Lack of authenticity leads to ALIENATION

Question 39

What is the somatogenic perspective?

Answer 39

View that abnormal psychology functioning has PHYSICAL causes

Question 40

What is the psychogenic perspective?

Answer 40

View that the cause of abnormal functioning is PSYCHOLOGICAL

Question 41

What is positive psychology?

Answer 41

Study of (+) feelings, traits and abilities

To better understand and promote psychological wellness

Question 42

What are managed care programs?

Answer 42

Programs in which the insurance company determines key issues, as which therapists the clients choose, cost of sessions, and the # of sessions for which a client may be REINBURSED