Unit 5.3 Explaining and Classifying psychological disorders

Psychological disorder

Any condition characterized by cognitive and emotional disturbances, abnormal behaviors, impacted functioning, or any combination of these

Level of Dysfunction

Refers to how well or poorly a person can carry out day-yo-day activities and complete their daily responsibilities

Perception of Distress

Involves subjective experiences of negative emotions, pain, or stress related to an individual’s behaviors or mental processes

Deviation from social norms

Behavior is judged against social and cultural standards, if an individual’s mental processes or behaviors significantly deviate from what is considered normal for society

Self-Fulfilling prophecy

Some individuals internalizing negative stereotypes about their disorder than limiting themselves or assuming that they are somehow broken

DSM

A comprehensive classification of mental disorders, listing not only the symptoms and criteria for diagnosis but also providing statistical data on them as well

ICD

Creates a global standard for classifying all health conditions, including mental and behavioral disorders

Eclectic Approach

Means that they combine different techniques, theories, and ideas from different psychological perspectives

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on how mental disorders come from maladaptive learned associations between responses and stimuli

Maladaptive learned associations

When an individual creates connections between stimuli and responses that are harmful, irrational, or counterproductive

Psychodynamic Perspective

Highlights how psychological disorders can originate form unconscious conflicts, that often come from a person’s childhood experiences

Humanistic Perspective

Focuses on how psychological disorders develop due to a person lacking social support, failing to achieve their potential, or having an incongruent self-concept

Incongruent self-concept

When there is differences between a person’s actual self, who they believe they are, and their ideal self, who they want to be

Cognitive Perspective

Proposes that mental disorders come from maladaptive thought patterns, including distorted beliefs and attitudes

Evolutionary perspective

Focuses on how mental disorders that cause abnormal behaviors and tendencies often originate in an individual’s genetics

Sociocultural Perspective

Mental disorders are influenced by social and cultural factors, including group dynamics, cultural norms, and interpersonal relationships

Biological Perspective

States that psychological disorders are primarily driven by physiological and genetic factors

Biopsychosocial Model

Proposes that development of any psychological issue is influenced by multiple interconnected factors

Diathesis-stress Model

Focuses on how psychological disorders come from the interaction between genetic or biological vulnerabilities and stressful life events

Diathesis

Focus on how genetic predispositions or underlying biological factors impact an individual

Genetic Predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing a particular trait, condition, or disorder due to inherited genetic factors

Stress

Focus on how an individuals environment can cause significant life changes