Week 1 - Introduction/Different Models Flashcards
(42 cards)
According to WHO how many people worldwide deal with a mental illness?
15% of people over 60
20% of children and adolescents
What are the 4D’s in abnormal psychology?
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
True or false. Dysfunction is NOT measured according to baseline daily functioning
False
What is eccentricity?
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
According to clinical theorist Jerome Frank all forms of therapy have what 3 essential features?
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
True or false. Much of the risk for danger seems to be associated with other factors besides the illness itself.
True
Can include substance abuse or exposure to violence etc…
The “population attribution risk” of violence from mental illness alone is “__%”
4%
95% of violence is due to OTHER factors
True to false. Relative risk for suicide is 12:1 greater risk for men compared to women
False
Greater for women
DOES vary by condition
True or false. People with mental illness are far more to cause more harm then experience it
False
Far more likely to EXPERIENCE harm
History is NOT “_______ and ________,” but rather full of “_______ and _______”
Linear and progressive
Ideas and paradigms
PARADIGMS shift and take over one another
How does Kuhn describe paradigms?
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
Science only becomes “_________” when people accept the new paradigm and start working with it
Normal
A model is a “_____________” version of reality
Simplified
It’s possible for a model to be too specific - eliminates its utility
How do biological theorists explain abnormal behaviour?
Where do they think abnormal problems arise from ?
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
What is the “fear circuit” in terms of the biological perspective?
Involves prefrontal cortex, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, insula
Helps produce FEAR reactions
Do genes and evolution play a part in determining abnormality in terms of the biological perspective?
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
How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of the biological perspective?
Psychotropic medications (anti-depressive/anxiety0
Electroconvulsive therapy (controversial)
Psychosurgery (lobotomy, trephining)
How do psychodynamic theorists explain abnormal behaviour?
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
How did Freud explain normal and abnormal functioning?
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
Does Freud think the three parts of personality are in conflict?
OFTEN in some degree of conflict
Excessive = degree of dysfunction
What are todays 2 influential psychodynamic views?
1) Self-theorists: EMPATHIZE the role of self
2) Object relations theorists: people are motivated by their RELATIONSHIPS with others
How would abnormal patients get treated in terms of a psychodynamic perspective? (4)
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)
What is catharsis in the psychodynamic perspective?
Must experience this in therapy
Reliving PAST REPRESSED feelings to settle conflict and problems
How would cognitive-behaviour theorists explain abnormal behaviour?
Focuses on behaviours people display and the thoughts they have
Also interested on the INTERPLAY between them
