Adult Psychopathology Week One

Rationalization 

• Explaining away behavior or feelings with seemingly logical reasons, even if they're not the true reasons.  

• Justifying failure 

• Example: A student fails an exam and says, "The teacher doesn't like me anyway," instead of admitting they didn't study enough.  

 

Repression  

• Unconsciously blocking out painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and memories.  

• Blocking traumatic memory 

• Example: An adult who was bitten by a dog as a child may have no memory of the event but feels intense anxiety around dogs.  

 

Reaction Formation  

Behaving in the opposite way of one's true feelings, often exaggerated.  

• Acting opposite to feelings 

• Example: A person who feels hostility toward their sibling goes out of their way to be overly kind and generous to them.  

Denial  

• Refusing to accept reality or facts because they're too distressing.  

• Refusing to accept the truth  

• Example: A smoker insists, "Cigarettes don't cause cancer, I'm perfectly healthy," despite medical evidence.  

Projection 

• Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else.     

• Attributing feelings to others 

• Example: A jealous partner accuses their spouse of being unfaithful when they themselves are having thoughts of cheating.  

Regression 

• Reverting to behavior from an earlier developmental stage when faced with stress.   

• Returning to childlike behavior. 

• Example: A stressed college student starts sleeping with a childhood stuffed animal or stomps their feet when frustrated. 

Sublimation  

• Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or even productive behaviors. 

• Channeling anger into a healthy outlet 

• Example: Someone with aggressive tendencies becomes a surgeon or a professional boxer, using those impulses in constructive ways. 

ID 

• The instinct-driven 

• pleasure-seeking part of the mind 

• immediate gratification. 

Ego

• Balance between the ID and the Superego 

Superego

The moral conscience represents societal and parental standards, striving for ideal behavior

Name a defense mechanism 

1. Rationalization 

2. Repression 

3. Reaction formation 

4. Denial 

5. Projection 

6. Regression  

7. Sublimation 

What is the purpose of the defense mechanisms?

1. Protect the mind and the body 

What is the reason for diagnosis? 

1. Insurance 

2. Correct treatment 

What are the different presentations of distress? 

1. Appearance 

2. Physiological/biological 

3. Perceptions 

4. Neurological 

5. Emotions 

6. Cognitive distortions 

7. Memory, focus, concentration  

8. Behavioral 

9. Relational 

10. Personality structure 

What does it mean if something is egosyntonic? 

It is in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image. It feels good for the person. (Mania, euphoria, drug use, etc) 

Which of these is an example of memory distress? 

Forgetting important dates 

A recent immigrant, 18-year-old Anya, from a collectivist culture in East Asia, is referred to the university's mental health services by her professor. In the American classroom, Anya consistently avoids eye contact with her instructors, speaks only when directly asked, and responds with brief, soft-spoken answers. Her professor is concerned that she may have Social Anxiety Disorder, noting her withdrawn demeanor and what they perceive as a "fear of judgment."  

 

Would social anxiety disorder be appropriate for Anya? 

 

No, the behavior is culturally appropriate  

Mark, a 42-year-old high-performing architect, is typically known for his calm, decisive demeanor and meticulous attention to detail. However, his firm recently merged with a larger company, and the transition has been fraught with tension, increased demands, and an uncertain future. His long-time mentor and boss was also forced into retirement, leaving Mark without his main source of guidance and reassurance. The stress has been mounting for weeks. One evening, after a particularly grueling day of meetings, Mark arrives home, throws his briefcase on the floor, and goes straight to his bedroom. His wife, concerned, finds him curled up in a fetal position under the covers, clutching his childhood teddy bear, "Barnaby." When she tries to talk to him, he begins to speak in a soft, halting voice, using much simpler sentences than usual and referring to himself in the third person. 

What defense mechanism is this? 

Regression 

Chelsea is a 25-year-old college student. Recently, she has allowed her clothing to become disheveled and she has stopped combing her hair.  

What sign of distress is this? 

Appearance