WK 1 PSY124 Flashcards
the models used to explain mental illness change as the ………. and
………… about what it means to be ………… change.
the models used to explain mental illness change as the values and
beliefs about what it means to
be human change.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this module, you should be able to:
Understand the the ………. of defining mental illness or ……………..
Describe models currently used to explain the ……… of mental health problems.
Identify issues and ………. around mental illness and its ……………..
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this module, you should be able to:
Understand the the complexity of defining mental illness or abnormality.
Describe models currently used to explain the causes of mental health problems.
Identify issues and misconceptions around mental illness and its diagnosis.
WK1 Required readings
Access the following reading from the Readings list.
Bernstein et al. (2021). Psychology: Australian & New Zealand Edition (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning Australia.
Chapter ……. .
Required readings
Chapter 13
Practicals
Beginning in ………… you will have the opportunity for reflective practice based on the material covered in the modules.
It is important that you complete these ……… …….. .
Practicals
Beginning in Week 2 you will have the opportunity for reflective practice based on the material covered in the modules.
It is important that you complete these interactive tasks.
Mental health;
The ……… of an individual to behave in a way that promotes their ………..
and social well being.
Mental health;
The capacity of an individual to behave in a way that promotes their emotional and social well being.
Mental health problems;
wide range of ………… and behavioural …………. that affect people throughout their lives.
Mental health problems;
wide range of emotional and behavioral
abnormalities that affect people throughout their lives.
Mental disorder;
a ………….. recognisable set of
………… and …………… that cause distress to the individual and impairs their ability to function.
Mental disorder;
a clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours that cause
distress to the individual and impairs their ability to function.
There are many causes for mental disorders, and different individuals may develop the same …………
for different ………..
Two models which help explain a number of disorders:.
- ………… Model
- …………… ………….. Model.
There are many causes for mental disorders,
and different individuals may develop the same condition
for different reasons.
Two models which help explain a number of disorders:.
- Biopsychosocial Model
- Diathesis Stress Model.
Why do people develop mental disorders?
1. Biopsychosocial Model.
Mental health and its disorders are influenced by
several interlinking factors.
Biological factors
………….. ,
hormone imbalance
…………….. imbalance
Psychological factors
............. ............. ,
coping skills,
..................... thought patterns (or lack thereof),
............. .
trauma,
...............
Sociological.
……………… ,
………… …………. …………..
Why do people develop mental disorders?
- Biopsychosocial Model.
Mental health and its disorders are influenced by
several interlinking factors.Biological factors
genetics,
hormone imbalance
neurotransmitter imbalance
Psychological factors
cognitive biases,
coping skills,
maladaptive thought patterns (or lack thereof),
experience.
trauma
stress.
Sociological.
Relationships,
Social Support Dynamics.
Why do people develop mental disorders?
2. Diathesis-Stress Model.
Disorders are triggered when people with ………… ……….. experience some sort of …… or ……… stressor.
These work in a cumulative fashion the greater the …….., the ……. stressors needed to trigger an event (ie a threshold is breached).
Diathesis
- individuals possess some sort of internal factor (ie genetics , cognitive), which predisposes.
Stress
- an …………… cue which triggers mental illness.
Why do people develop mental disorders?
2. Diathesis-Stress Model.
Disorders are triggered when people with pre-existing vulnerabilities experience some sort of acute or chronic stressor.
These work in a cumulative fashion the greater the diathesis, the less stressors needed to trigger an event (ie a threshold is breached).
Diathesis
- individuals possess some sort of internal factor (ie genetic, cognitive), which predisposes.
Stress
- an environmental cue which triggers mental illness.
In lecture video for wk1
What are the five dimensions used in what would be considered abnormal decision making process?
................. of norms ................. ............... dysfunction ................. infrequency Personal ...........
In lecture video for wk1
What are the five dimensions used in what would be considered abnormal decision making process?
Violations of normso Impairment Biological dysfunction Statistical infrequency Personal distress
What is the limitations of considering Statistical infrequency as a dimension of abnormal decision making process?
Not all rare behaviours are psychological disorders
and not all psychological disorders are rare
What is the limitations of considering Impairment as a dimension of abnormal decision making process?
Non-psychological disorders and personality traits can cause impairement.
What is the limitations of considering Violation of norms as a dimension of abnormal decision making process?
Not all socially inappropriate behaviour is reflective of mental illness.
What is the overall message from the chapter?
The models used to explain mental illness change as the values and beliefs about what it means to be human change.
What is Abnormal?
- Personal Distress
The person is experiencing relatively high levels of personal distress.
Limitation: not all distressed people are demonstrating abnormal behaviour (e.g. grief).
X
What is abnormal?
- Impairment
There is reduced capacity to perform typical everyday functions.
Can be evidenced by relationship, social and/or occupational dysfunction.
Limitation: Other non-psychological disorders, and general personality traits (e.g. laziness) can cause impairment
X
What is abnormal?
- Violation of Norms
The person’s behaviour is not socially appropriate
Limitations:
Not all socially inappropriate behaviour is reflective of mental illness.
Can be used as social control, (political dissidents in Russia diagnosed as having “philosophical intoxication“ or “delusion of reformism” and involuntarily admitted to psychiatric hospitals),
or foster prejudice (eg homosexuality was classified as a disorder in earlier versions of the DSM).
X
What is abnormal?
- Biological Dysfunction
There is empirical evidence of neurological impairment
Limitation: some psychological disorders (e.g. specific phobias) are learnt
X
Diagnostic Issues
Social context
Labelling behaviour as psychopathological when socially inconvenient.
eg ‘drapetomania’ – repeated escape attempts by slaves. ‘Treatment’ was whipping and amputation of toes
Labelling vs Diagnosing
Creation of terms that allegedly describe a disorder, but have no or limited empirical support, and provide no explanation of cause of ‘disorder’
e.g. compulsive shopping disorder
C
Diagnostic Issues
Cultural Differences
Some disorders are specific to certain cultures:
Windigo - In Native American’s, a morbid fear of becoming a cannibal.
Bulimia Nervosa – Binging and purging to maintain weight. In cultures exposed to Western media. vs Anorexia Nervosa – Occurs throughout world. Note: Majority of disorders are universal.
X
Diagnostic Issues
Common
Misconceptions / Controversies:
- Diagnosis reduces the individual to their disorder.
- Diagnoses are too unreliable to be useful.
- Diagnosis is only descriptive and therefore meaningless.
- Diagnosesstigmatisepeople.
X
