Models of abnormality

Question 1

Abnormal psychology - 4 D’s

Answer 1

Distress
Dysfunction
Deviance (statistical deviance)
Danger (health may be affected)

Question 2

DSM 5 - abnormality

Answer 2

“A behaviour or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in a person and that is associated with significant distress or disability (impairment in 1+ important areas of functioning)”

Question 3

Biological Model of abnormal behaviour - general assumption?

Answer 3

Illness brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism (anatomy/brain chemistry).

Question 4

Sources of biological abnormality

Answer 4

• Genetic inheritance - 23 pairs of chromosomes. Human genome project helped mapped various genes to disorders.
• Evolution – could be a result of a mutation OR genes which influence abnormality have stemmed from normal evolutionary principles (Siphahi et al. 2014). They have survived the course of time bc they once helped us survive (still are useful) but now leave us prone to disorders (capacity to feel fear –> anxiety disorders)
• Viral infections – E.G SZ proneness is thought to stem from exposure to certain viruses before birth (Liu et al. 2014). Viruses might damage the fetus

Question 5

Biological treatments; some examples

Answer 5

1) Psychotropic medications - drugs that affect the brain + reduce symptoms
2) Electroconvulsive therapy - electric current passing through forehead
3) Psychosurgery - surgery for mental disorders
4) Dietary supplements (neutracuticals) - non pharmaceutical food substance that someone can add to their diet to help prevent or treat disorders.

Question 6

assessment of bio model overall

Answer 6

• earnt respect
  BUT
• not all behaviour can be explained in bio temrs
• drugs = side effects

Question 7

Psychodynamic model

Answer 7

• id, ego, superego

- Psychopathology arises from unconscious conflicts

Question 8

Psychodynamic therapies (recent ones) (2)

Answer 8

1) Short term: choosing one thing to focus +work upon and look at psychodynamic issues that affect it. Can be quite helpful for patients (Knekt et al. 2015)
2) Relational psychodynamic therapy - therapists disclose info about themsleves + establish more of an equal relationship with patients

Question 9

Assessment of psychodynamic model

Answer 9

• Can help to understand abnormal functioning
• Introduce therapy lead by theory
• Hard to research

Question 10

Behavioural model

Answer 10

• Focus on the responses an organism makes to an environment (internal or external)
• Abnormal behaviours can be learnt
• Operant (rewards) + classical conditioning ( associations)

Question 11

Behavioural therapies

Answer 11

• identification of abnormal behaviours and replacing them with more appropriate ones by using conditioning principles
• classical conditioning - patients learn to react calmly instead of fearfully to object

Question 12

assessment of behavioural model

Answer 12

• Useful insight
• Treatments
• No talk of thoughts/ feelings or biology

Question 13

Cognitive model

Answer 13

• assumes that a persons’s thoughts are responsible for their behaviour.
• The model deals with how information is processed in the brain + the impact of this on behaviour
• • maladaptive behaviour is caused by faulty cognitions
• • the way you think that’s the problem
• • can overcome by changing thought patterns

Question 14

Cognitive therapies

Answer 14

Beck’s cognitive therapy

CBT

Question 15

Assessing the cognitive model

Answer 15

• focus on human thought
• led to research
  BUT
• thoughts could be a result rather than cause of abnoramilites

Question 16

Humanistic model

Answer 16

• by establishing values to live by and accepting their strengths and weaknesses –> self actualisation and ability to be friendly and cooperative
• Existentialists - humans must have an accurate awareness of themselves + live meaningful lives to be well adjusted (don’t agree that people are born positive like ^) – those who hide from responsibility may be dysfunctional as a result.

Question 17

Humanistic therapies

Answer 17

1) Roger’s client centered therapy we need positive regard. Those who receive it at infancy are more likely to develop it later on. Clinical environment allows people to accept themselves
2) Gestalt - skillful role playing
3) Existential therapy - accept responsibility in their lives and gain understanding of freedom

Question 18

Assessment of the humanistic model

Answer 18

• qualities they focus on are lacking in those with abnormalities
• Difficult to research

Question 19

Sociocultural model (family-social perspective) (3)

Answer 19

• abnormal behaviour is best understood in light of the broad forces that influence the individual.
• forces that act directly on the individual are the most important
  a) social labels - i.e. when they stray from norms = mentally ill. Self fulfilling prophecy
  b) social communications + support = ties between deficiencies in social network and a person’s functioning.
  c) family structure and communication = influence of family behaviours

Question 20

family - social treatments

Answer 20

1) Group therapy - bunch of people meet and talk about their problems
2) Family therapy - therapist meets with all members and points out problems + aids in changing dynamics
3) couple therapy -
4) Community treatment - prevention focus

Question 21

Sociocultural model (Multicultural perspective)

Answer 21

• individuals behaviour is best understood when examined in light of the individuals unique cultural context
• social pressures may impact functioning

Question 22

Multicultural model treatments

Answer 22

• minority groups make less use of services + respond less well to treatment
• culture sensitive therapies
• gender sensitive therapies

Question 23

Assessing the sociocultural model

Answer 23

• greatly added to our understanding + treatment of abnormal functioning.
• hard to interpret findings
• inability to predict abnormality in certain individuals