Exam 1: Ch 1, Ch 3 Flashcards
(208 cards)
Def of Stigma
- Destructive beliefs and attitudes held by a society that are ascribed to groups considered different in some way
- Psychological disorders remain the most stigmatized condition in the 21st century
Psychopalogy def
The field concerned with the nature, development, and treatment of psychological disorders
Four Characteristics of Stigma
1) distinguishing label is applied
2) label refers to undesirable attributes
3) people with the label are seen as different
4) people with the label are discriminated against
==> leads to stigma
Ending Stigma
- People’s knowledge has increased, but stigma has not decreased
- Social Media: Websites and blogs serve as a medium to share personal stories, raise awareness, and increase social connectedness
- Public figures speaking about their experiences with mental illness may help to reduce stigma
Defining Psychological Disorders: DSM-5
- The disorder occurs within the individual
- It involves CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving
- It usually involves personal distress of some sort
- It involves dysfunction in psychological, developmental, and/or neurobiological processes that support mental functioning
- It is not a culturally specific reaction to an event
- It is not primarily a result of social deviance or conflict with society
Three Characteristics of a Comprehensive Definition of Psychological Disorder
Personal Distress, Violation of Social Norms, Disability and Dysfunction
Personal Distress
- def
- examples
*A person’s behavior causes significant distress
-Examples of distress:
Difficulty paying attention;
Emotional pain and suffering
-An individual may violate the law without guilt, remorse, or anxiety
-Not all behaviors that causes distress are disordered
E.g., Distress of hunger due to religious fasting
Disability:
*Impairment in an important area (e.g., work, relationships)
Chronic substance abuse resulting in job loss
Rejection by peers due to social anxiety
Dysfunction
- Developmental, psychological, and/or biological systems are not working as they should (impairment)
- These systems are interrelated
Violation of Social Norms
*Social norms are widely held standards
Beliefs and attitudes used to make judgments about behaviors
Behaviors that violate social norms may be classified as disordered
why is “violation of social norms” criticized
- Too broad and too narrow of a definition
- Criminals violate social norms (too broad)
- Highly anxious people typically do not violate social norms (too narrow)
- Social norms vary across cultures and ethnic groups
History of Psychopathology
- Supernatural explanations
- Early biological explanations: Hippocrates (5th Century BC)
- Dark Ages (2nd century AD)
- Lunacy Trials
- Asylums
- Pinel’s Reforms and moral treatments
- Dorothea Dix
Supernatural explanations (history of Psychopathology)
- Displeasure of the gods or possession by demons
- Treatment: Exorcism—Ritualistic casting out of evil spirits
(I belive this was the first thing in the history of psychopathology)
Early biological explanations: Hippocrates (5th Century BC)
Mental disturbances have natural causes (brain pathology)
- Three categories of mental disorders: Mania, melancholia, & phrenitis (brain fever)
- Healthy brain functioning depended on balance of four humors: Blood, black bile, yellow bile, & phlegm
- Treatment: Physicians restored natural balance (e.g., tranquility, sobriety, care in choosing food)
Dark Ages
- when
- treatments
-Dark Ages (2nd century AD)
-Christian monasteries replaced physicians as healers
-Return to the belief of supernatural causes
-Treatments: Cared and prayed for by monks;
Touched with relics; Drank potions in the waning phase of the moon
Lunacy Trials
- after dark ages
- Began in 13th century England
- Trials held to determine a person’s mental health: Orientation, memory, intellect, daily life, habits & - Strange behavior attributed to physical illness or injury
- Municipal authorities assumed responsibility for care of people with psychological disorders in hospitals
- Lunacy attributes insanity to misalignment of moon (“luna”) and stars
Asylums
- when
- example
- treatment
- Asylums (15th century)
- Establishments for the confinement and care of people with psychological disorders
- Treatment non-existent or harmful at asylums
- Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem (founded in 1243)
Pinel’s Reforms
-date
*Philippe Pinel (1745–1826)
Pioneered humane treatment in asylums
People should be approached with compassion and dignity
Humanitarian treatment reserved for upper class
Biological Origins
General paresis and syphilis
-Deterioration of mental and physical abilities, and progressive paralysis (general paresis)
-Some people with general paresis also had syphilis
In 1905, biological cause of syphilis found:
Causal link between infection, damage to the brain, and psychopathology
Biological causes of psychopathology gained credibility
Genetics
Galton’s (1822–1911)
- Originator of genetic research with twins
- Work lead to notion that mental illness can be inherited
- Nature (genetics) and nurture (environment)
- Eugenics
Biological Treatments (3)
- Insulin-coma therapy : Sakel (1930s)
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) : Cerletti and Bini (1938) + Induce epileptic seizures with electric shock
- Prefrontal lobotomy : Moniz (1935)
- Destroys tracts connecting frontal lobes to other areas of brain
- Often used to control violent behaviors
- Led to listlessness, apathy, and loss of cognitive abilities
Psychological approaches
- Mesmer (1734–1815): Hysteria caused by a disruption of a universal magnetic fluid in the body. Used rods and stares to influence the fluid and induce behavioral change. Early practitioner of hypnosis
- Charcot (1825–1893): His support legitimized hypnosis as treatment for hysteria
- Breuer (1842–1925): Used hypnosis to facilitate catharsis in Anna O. Cathartic Method: Release of emotional tension triggered by expressing previously forgotten thoughts about an earlier emotional trauma
Freud
*Psychoanalytic theory
Psychopathology results from unconscious conflicts
*Mind is divided into three principle parts: Id, ego, superego
*Id, ego, and superego continually in conflict
-Conflict generates anxiety
*Defense mechanism: Strategy used by ego to protect itself from anxiety
Freuds Structures of the Mind
- Id: Present at birth. Biological and unconscious. Seeks Immediate gratification.
- When id is not satisfied, tension is produced and id drives a person to get rid of tension (e.g., eat when hungry).
- Ego: Primarily conscious. Mediates between demands of reality and id’s demands for immediate gratification
- Superego: A person’s conscience. Develops as we incorporate parental and society values