1.7 Explaining & Classifying Psychological Disorders

AP Psych

psychological disorder

is a syndrome(collection of symptoms) marked by a “clinically significant disturbance in an person’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior”

what makes behavior “abnormal”?

deviant, distressing, and dysfunctional (maladaptive)

deviant

statistically rare, violates the norms of the society where it occurs, consider the context and cultural differences

distressing

causes significant emotional pain or suffering, can be subjective, varies from person to person, may not be visible, but felt internally

dysfunctional (maladaptive)

-interferes with daily life and responsibilities,

-affects work, relationships, self-care, or decision-making

-often linked with maladaptive coping strategies

-can cause a noticable decrease in overall functioning

trephination

holes drilled into skulls to release “evil spirits”

“the medical model”

is the concept that psychological disorders have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and sometimes cured

Diagnostic and Statisical Manual of Mental Disorders (The DSM-U)

is the most common tool in the US for diagnosing psychological disorders

-published by APA

-most recent in 5th edition (2013)

International Classification of Diseases (The ICD-11)

is used globally to classify diseases, including mental health disorders; helps standardize diagnoses across countries for research, treatment, and insurance

-published by World Health Organization(WHO)

-latest was released in 2018, implemented in 2022

the psychodynamic perspective on abnormality

negative psychological disorders stem from traumatic experiences, especially during childhood, or the influence of unconscious thoughts/urges

the behavioral perspective on abnormality

abnormal behaviors are learned and reinforced

ex. phobias

the cognitive perspective on abnormality

maladaptive thoughts/beliefs are root of psychological problems

the humanistic perspective on abnormality

psychological disorders stem from issues involving low self-esteem, not having one’s needs net, and/or the inability to be one’s authentic slef

the sociocultural perspective on abnormality

abnormal behavior is shaped by our family, society, and culture

the biological perspective on abnormality

brain structures, neurotransmitters, genetics

the evolutionary perspective on abnormality

fears that affect survival and reproduction

epigenetics

is the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

-nature vs. nurture

eletic approach biological influences

evolution, individual genes, brain structure & chemistry

eletic approach psychological influences

stress, trauma, learned happiness, and mood-related perception & memories

eletic approach social-cultural influences

roles, expectation, definitions of normality & disorder

Diathesis-Stress Model

are individual characteristics combine with environmental stressors to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder

pros of labeling psychological disorders

-provides relief to people by naming their symptoms

-guide appropriate treatment and intervention

-simplifies communication among healthcare providers, family, and support systems

-supports research and helps build shared understanding

-helps predict and identify related or co-occurring conditions (comorbitity)

cons of labeling psychological disorders

-can contribute to stigma and negative attitudes towards mental illness

-may decrease self-esteem/create shame in diagnosed people

-can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies or limit people’s beliefs about their abilities

-diagnostic accuracy can be affected by reliance on self-reports

-stigma and fear of labeling can discourage people from seeking help

David’s Rosenhan’s Experiment (1973)

-he and 7 others acted as pseudo-patients and were admitted to psychiatric hospitals

-all were admitted and diagnoses with schizophrenia

-their experiences revealed the biasing power of labels

Individualistic Cultures

-view mental illness as common, natural

-encourage seeking professional help

-more open discussions, less sitgma

Collectivist Cultures

-more likely to see mental illness as a personal or family weakness

-pressure to hide symptoms to protect group harmony

-less likely to seek help, risk of social isolation

stigma

is negative stereotypes that label people with mental illness as “weak” , “dangerous”

prejudice

is unfair judgment or assumptions based on those stereotypes

discrimination

is unjust treatment based on those beliefs