Lecture 1 - Abnormal Behavior in the historical context

What is the timeline of abnormal Psychology?

biological model — Supernatural theory — Biological model returns — psychoanalytic model emerges — integrative model becomes standard

what are the characteristics of the biological model period

• occurred 400 BC

• Main figures: Hippocrates and Galen

• both of which believed that brain function is linked to bodily function

• BASED ON THREE BILES: black, yellow, and phlegm

what did the three biles represent and what did they indicate?

black bile: the spleen — linked to depression

yellow bile: the liver — linked to anger and anxiety

phlegm: the brain — linked to apathy

what are the characteristics of the supernatural period

• occurred between 1300 - 1800

• considered to be the dark ages of abnormal psychology

• was believed that behavior stemmed from spirits and the supernatural

how were mental health patients treated during this period?

they were often separated from society because it was believed they would “spread their disease to others”. they were also subjected to harsh treatments such as whips and cold shock treatment

Obviously, it didn’t work

what components of the supernatural model endured until today?

• people still feel ostracized and embarrassed when seeking treatment for psychological distress

• media continues to paint mental health inaccurately AND negatively

what are the characteristics of the biological model returns period?

• occurred during 1850

• was caused by syphillis — a bacteria disease

what is the psychoanalytic model?

• created by Freud and Carl Jung

• stated that behavior is caused by underlying psychological forces of which we are not aware of —- the ID, Ego, and Superego

• abnormal behaviors/symptoms result from conflicts of these forces

• the unconscious exists

our internal forces ( ID, ego, superego) are ___

dynamic

what are the characteristics of the psychoanalytic approach influenced by

deterministic assumption: the assumption that all behavior is determined by past experiences (your childhood)

• essentially, if something is wrong with you, its linked to your parents

what were the driving forces Freud specified in this theory between 1895-1900

sexual drive and self preservation

what were the driving forces in 1905

just sexual drive

what was later added to this? why was it added?

agression was added around 1915 due to WWI. the constant aggression and calamity the war had caused led Freud to rethink his theory

what is the Psyche apparatus (1900-1915)

psychoanalytic concept that describes what the mind is and isn’t aware of. based on three things: the unconscious, the preconscious, and the conscious

what is the conscious?

what we are aware of all the time. ex: temperature, sensations

what is the preconscious?

things that we aren’t automatically aware of but CAN be aware of with little effort

ex: someone asking what we had for dinner two days ago. we weren't automatically thinking about it, but we can recall it

what is the unconsciousness

what we are unaware of. has a HUGE impact on behavior. the main principle being that you CANNOT bring things from the unconscious into our consciousness––it was impossible

how was the psyche apparatus modified in 1923?

freud modified the concept of the unconscious and the preconsciousness having a huge barrier in between them. Now he stated that bringing your unconscious problems into your pre/consciousness would cure the abnormal behavior one is experiencing

ALSO now contains ID, ego, and superego

what is ID? what is its sole purpose

“it” our instinctual needs, drives and impulses. our pleasure principle

the sole purpose of the ID is to gain gratification from our main drives:

• sexual drive

• aggression

what is the physical for of the ID

our dreams

what type of processing is ID based on?

primary process thinking

what is the ego

the center of our consciousness––I. forms around age 2.

what principle is the Ego based on? what does this principle do?

the reality principle––the idea that our ID cannot always be in control. helps us achieve our goals in socially acceptable way

what type of thinking process is ego based on?

secondary process thinking: our logical, problem solving mode

what are ego defense mechanisms?

unconscious processes that prevent our knowledge of intolerable thoughts or anxieties'; allows a person to indirectly vent these conflicts in a disguised form

what are the different types of defense mechanisms

denial, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, displacement, regression sublimation, isolation, intellectualism, undoing, repression, identification,

what is the denial defense mechanism

Refusing to acknowledge the existence of an external source of anxiety

ex: “I’m not angry with him!”

what is the projection defense mechanism?

Attributing own unacceptable impulses, motives, or desires to others

ex: “That professor hates me.” “My friend Jack really hates that prof.”

what Is the rationalization defense mechanism

Creating socially acceptable reasons for an action that actually reflects unjust motives

ex: “He’s so critical because he’s trying to help us do our best.”

what is the reaction formation defense mechanism

when someone adopts the exact opposite feelings or believes from what they really believe

ex: you saying “he’s a cool coworker” when you really hate him

what is the displacement defense mechanism

You redirect feelings away from a dangerous object onto a safer substitute

ex: “I hate that secretary” (after a class where the professor was particularly critical)

what is the regression defense mechanism

Retreating from an upsetting conflict to an earlier developmental stage at which no one is expected to behave maturely or responsibly

ex: “Let’s shoot spitballs at people!

what is the sublimation defense mechanism

Redirecting the feeling into a socially productive activity.

ex: “I’m going to write a poem about anger.”

what is the isolation/intellectualization defense mechanism

Repressing emotional reactions in favor of overly logical treatments of a problem.

ex: “I guess I’m angry with him, sort of. This situation reminds me of how clavicular said that being angry equals not mogging.”

what is the undoing defense mechanism

Attempts to reverse or undo feelings by doing something that indicates the opposite feeling. It may be an “apology” for the feeling you find unacceptable within yourself.

ex: “I think I’ll talk to the other students about what a smart, yet challenging professor he is.”

what is the repression defense mechanism

Not allowing painful or dangerous thoughts to become conscious.

ex: “I’m going to try to be nice to him.”

what is the identification defense mechanism

when you take on the feelings or thoughts of others when you’re in a similar situation (opposite of projection).

ex: “Everyone else thinks he’s nice, so I think so, too.”

what is the superego?

the “over I”. our moral compass/ethical code. develops around 5-6, allows us to be good humans. moderates conflicts between ID and ego

with all of this in mind, how is abnormal behavior caused?

abnormal behavior is caused by the unresolved conflicts between ID, ego, and superego

what are Parapraxies

Freudian slips. occurs when the unconscious sexual and aggressive drives break through due to the failure of our ego’s defenses

are parapraxies premeditated or are they leaks

parapraxies are leaks

what is wit?

a controlled release of the ID. regression in service of the ego to allow the person to vent their ID impulses

what is the concept of Freud’s developmental stages

each stage of development focuses on a different sexually erogenous (libidinal) zone of the body. again, these stages also reflect that if there is something abnormal about you, they it can be linked back to these childhood stages

what are the order of these stages

oral, anal, phallic/oedipal, latency, genital

what is a possibility when going through each stage?

that fixation or regression can occur. fixation meaning you get stuck at a stage, regression meaning you go back to a previous stage

what is the oral stage?

occurs from 0-18 months. Pleasure centers on the mouth, typically through feeding and sucking.

what are the concerns with the oral stage?

dependency and reliability of caregivers. Unreliable caregiver can result in child’s mistrust and fear of abandonment.

what would happen if you were fixated at this stage?

Fixation at this stage = develop an oral personality - characterized by excessive dependence on others but mistrustful of their love. May see habits that focus on mouth area – smoking, excessive drinking or eating.

what is the anal stage?

occurs 18 months - 3 years old. Pleasure centers on the anus. Child interested in toilet activities, passing and retaining of feces.

what are the concerns with the anal stage

Concerns are control and order depending if parents are too harsh or critical during toilet training,

what would happen if the child got fixated at this stage

the child develops an anal personality – stubborn, over controlling, stingy, focused on orderliness, and tidiness

what is the phallic stage

occurs from 3-6 years old. Pleasure centers on the genitals. Concerns are with sexual feelings toward parents.

what happens to boys at this stage?

Oedipus conflict – boys become sexually attracted to mothers and see their fathers as rivals. Boys fear fathers will retaliate by castrating them, and thus they develop castration anxiety. this motivates boys to put aside desire for mother and aspire to be like father.

what happens at this stage for girls

Girls develop Electra complex – they realize don’t have a penis, are horrified that mom doesn’t have one either.

they develop a disdain females for this deficit (penis envy) and try to seduce their father because he can provide a penis. then they realize their desire to have a penis is futile so identify with mom.

what happens to boys and girls if the phallic stage is resolved successfully/unsuccessfully

Successful resolution: boys identify with fathers and girls identify with mothers.

Unsuccessful resolution: failure to develop appropriate gender roles or healthy superego.

what is the latency stage?

occurs at 6 years - puberty. Sexual desire for parents diminishes and attention turns to development of talents and skills. Play with same sex peers and avoid opposite sex peers.

what is the genital stage

occurs from puberty to adulthood.

what are the concerns for the genital stage?

Concerns are with maturation of adult sexual interests. Sexual desires remerge.

what happens if the genital stage is successful?

If successfully resolved, sexual interests turn to heterosexual relationships. Also see maturity in a broad sense: “loving and working,” Freud’s hallmarks of healthy functioning