Models of Abnormality

Chapter 3

Paradigm

A set of assumptions and concepts that help scientists explain and interpret observations.

Biopsychosocial approach

An approach that includes biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding behavior.

Biological approach

An approach focusing on the biological basis of thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Psychopathology

Psychological disorder resulting from malfunctioning parts of the organism.

Neurons

Brain cells; there are approximately 86 billion neurons in the human brain.

Glia

Support cells in the brain that assist neurons.

Synapse

The space between the nerve ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical released by one neuron that crosses the synapse to bind to receptor sites on neighboring neurons.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal and alertness.

Gene

A segment of a chromosome that controls inherited characteristics and traits.

Psychotropic medications

Drugs that affect emotions and thoughts.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A biological treatment involving electrical stimulation of the brain.

Psychosurgery

A treatment involving surgical procedures on the brain to alleviate psychological disorders.

Psychodynamic model

The psychological perspective that emphasizes unconscious forces influencing behavior.

Unconscious

The part of the mind that contains thoughts and feelings that are not currently in conscious awareness.

Free association

A therapeutic technique where a patient describes any thought or feeling that comes to mind.

Catharsis

The reliving of past repressed feelings in therapy.

Transference

The patient's response to the therapist, reflecting attitudes or behaviors from their past.

Countertransference

The therapist’s emotional response to the patient, influenced by the therapist's own history.

Id, ego, superego

Freud's three components of personality, where id is primal desires, ego is the rational part, and superego is the moral conscience.

Uncovering

Making unconscious thoughts conscious through therapy.

Support

Helping the patient without necessarily uncovering unconscious material.

Therapist interpretation

The therapist’s process of sharing insights about the patient's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Working through

The process of continually examining and interpreting a patient's patterns over time.

Contemporary psychodynamic ideas

Modern approaches to psychodynamic therapy that integrate past influences with current relationships.

Mental functioning

The processes that contribute to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Psychodynamic perspective

A viewpoint stressing the influence of the unconscious on conscious experience.

Supportive therapy

A therapeutic approach aimed at supporting mental functioning rather than uncovering unconscious material.

Underlying psychological forces

The unconscious motivations and conflicts that influence behavior.

Dynamic interaction

The interaction of different forces within the psyche that affect behavior.