Define Abnormal Behavior
Psych dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning that is not a typical or culturally expected response
Define Insanity
NOT a psych term; it is a legal term denoting a state of mental incapacitation during the time a crime was committed
Define Mental Illness
By law; severe emotional or thought disturbances that negatively affect and individuals health and/or safety
Define Disease
a departure from normal bodily structure and function.
What are the 4 D's?
Deviance, Dysfunction, Danger, Distress
What is Deviance?
Behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that differ from society's ideas about the proper functioning and proper conduct;
Examples:
- Int. Disability
- Auditory Hallucinations
- Drinking
- Hoarding Objects
What is Dysfunction?
Breakdown of cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning; interferes with important areas of life
Does NOT ALONE indicate psychological abnormality
Examples:
- Panic disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Schizophrenia
What is Danger?
Behaviors may be consistently careless or hostile or confused towards oneself or others:
Examples:
- Addiction
What is Distress?
Thoughts, emotions, or behaviors usually cause an individual to be extremely upset or bothered
Examples;
- Mania
- PTSD
- Phobias
- Depression
What are some professions in Abnormal Psychology?
Clinical Scientists, Clinical Practitioners, Scientist-Practitioners, etc.
What is the DSM-5?
The current U.S. list of categories, disorders, and symptom descriptions for abnormal behaviors.
- It is has utility but questionable validity
How do we diagnose mental disorders?
Identify the nature of the illness by examining the symptoms
Explain the historical conceptions of supernatural psychopathology:
It was the battle of "good" vs "evil" , they blamed the unexplained on supernatural elements like witches, gods, demons, etc.
Explain the historical conceptions of biological psychopathology:
Hippocrates came up with 4 key body fluids: blood, phlem, black and yellow biles
Mental disorders were usually linked to brain chemistry, brain structure, brain functioning, genetics, etc.
Typically had strong "physical" roots in terms of research
Explain the historical conceptions of psychological psychopathology:
Various models of treatment began to arise. This is what gave way to the rise of "moral therapy" and asylums (mental hospitals)
What is deinstitutionalization?
the practice of releasing hundreds of thousands of patients from mental hospitals (began in 1960)
What is the Psychoanalytic theory?
attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior
What are the defense mechanisms?
Repression, Projection, Rationalization, Regression, Sublimation, Displacement, and Denial ...
Explain ID/Ego/Superego:
ID - system from which the libido emerges, drives impulses to seek immediate release
Ego - force that seek sto gratify our wishes and needs in ways that remain within the rules of society for their appropriate expression
Superego - develops from ego later
What is the Humanistic theory?
assumption that humans have an innate capacity for goodness and for living a full life
Describe the therapy associated with the Humanistic theory:
The goal is to help clients discover their greatest potential through self-exploration
Explain Rogerian/Client-centered therapy:
the therapist communicates a genuineness in his or her role as helper to the client acting as an authentic person rather than an authority figure. (Basic "therapy")
Who is Maslow?
He came up with the "Hierarchy of Needs"
Physiological Needs --> Safety Needs --> Belongingness and Love --> Esteem --> Self-actualization
Who is Carl Rogers?
His version of the humanistic theory stated that humans move towards personal growth, self acceptance, and self actualization.
What are some learning and behavioral therapies?
Classical, Operant, and Modeling
Explain Classical Conditioning; Examples:
process by which a neutral stimulus acquires the power to elicit a response
- UCS and UCR
- CS and CR
Explain Operant Conditioning: Examples
Behavior is modified by it's consequences
- positive/negative reinforcement
-positive/negative punishment
Explain Modeling; Examples
...
Explain Prepared Learning; Examples
Type of behavioral conditioning (operant and classical);
Example: We're more afraid of spiders than cars but we're more likely to die from a car wreck.
What is the Cognitive theory? Therapy?
Theory: people's cognitions influence the behaviors and emotions with which they react to situations
Therapy: focus on changing the way a client thinks about important situations
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT Triangle; Thoughts, Behaviors, Feelings.
By changing one aspect of the triangle we can change the other two and vice versa
How can we prevent some abnormalities?
There are various prevention programs such as primary (environmental), secondary (early stages), and tertiary (relapse) preventions
What is the Third Wave Assumption and it's treatments?
The assumption that individuals are ineffectively responding to thoughts and feelings --> emotional regulation
Treatments combine C&B approaches that help regulate thoughts and emotions.
How do we assess Psychological Disorders?
We usually observe and pay attention to culture, ask questions, and establish a basis of normal and abnormal
What are some assessment tools?
Assessment tools must be valid, reliable, and standardized
Examples: Clinical Interviews, Questionares, Personality Inventories, Behavioral Observations
What are some types of tests and ways to assess and individual?
Intelligence tests, Neuropsychological tests (memory), Brain Imaging techniques, Psychophysiological tests (EEG), Projective tests (interpretations of stimuli)
Give examples of the categories of assessment:
Interviews, Tests, Assessments, and Observations.
What are some advantages of diagnosing?
- Enhances communication
- facilitates study of causes and treatments
- helps treatment planning
- necessary for insurance reimbursement
-
What are some disadvantages of diagnosing?
- Adds little to our understanding of the problem
- suggests presence of a disease state
- many diagnosis have poor reliability
- stigmatizes patients and invites discrimination
What are some hypotheses?
...
What are some methodologies?
...
Explain Epidemiological studies:
population based; frequency and distribution of disorder
Explain Meta-Analysis:
statistical technique for summarizing results across several studies. Analysis of analysis
What are control groups in treatment studies?
consists of people who are similar in most ways to the primary group of interest but who do NOT experience the variable the theory hypothesizes.
What is a single case experimental design?
involve the intensive investigation of single individuals or small groups of individuals before and after a manipulation or intervention.
Explain the difference between statistical and clinical significance:
A result is "statistically significant" if it is unlikely or past a certain point of happening my chance.
What is "Science"?
the primary goal is to achieve a more complete and unified understanding of the physical world
What is "Pseudoscience?
Starts with conclusions and then works backwards; basically "inaccurate science
What are the costs and harms of pseudoscience?
they make patients worse, they can deprive patients of time and money and opportunity, they eat away at scientific foundations and credibility of our profession.
Explain the differences between Science and Pseudoscience:
Science differs from Pseudoscience in degree rather than kind.
What are some features of Pseudoscience (Lilienfeld article):
suppresses and distorts unfavorable data, does not admit need for more research, sees self as authority uses obscure language, stagnant theories
What are some features of Science?
We use science to understand how and why mental disorders develop and persist over time, use science to test and develop effective treatments
Explain Civil Commitment:
involuntary commitment; protection of society vs. the individual.
Person has mental illness and needs treatment, dangerous to self or others, person is unable to care for self
Explain Insanity Defense:
person has a mental illness and cannot distinguish between right and wrong, they have a "diminished capacity" (absence of criminal intent)