Behavior7

Multidisciplinary Approach to Abnormal Behavior

• Holism suggests that understanding behavior requires examining multiple interactions rather than isolated factors.

• Gestalt psychology exemplifies this idea with the phrase "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

  • When analyzing abnormal behavior, the various contributing factors combine to create a more complex understanding than examining each factor independently.

Reductionism vs. Holism

• Reductionism focuses on smaller, individual factors to identify the simplest cause of behavior, which can be overly simplistic.

• Systems theory argues against reductionism, advocating for a comprehensive view that considers the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Key Concepts in Understanding Abnormal Behavior

Causality Terms

• Equifinality: Many different routes can lead to the same mental disorder.

  • Example: Development of a phobia toward spiders can stem from:

    • Classical conditioning (e.g., traumatic spider encounter).

    • Observational learning (e.g., witnessing a parental fear of spiders).

    • Hearing peer negative experiences about spiders.

• Multifinality: The same event can yield multiple psychological outcomes.

  • Example: Four siblings raised in an abusive household may:

    • Develop anxiety disorders.

    • Struggle with substance abuse.

    • Experience depression.

    • Show no adverse effects at all.

• Diathesis-Stress Model: A predisposition toward a disorder (diathesis) interacts with life stressors to precipitate the development of the disorder.

  • Example: Not every individual exposed to trauma will develop PTSD; it often requires the presence of a pre-existing vulnerability.

• Reciprocal Causality: The relationship between feelings and behaviors is often bidirectional, challenging simplistic cause-and-effect interpretations.

  • Example: Feelings of hopelessness may lead to major depression, but depression can also exacerbate feelings of hopelessness.

Developmental Psychopathology

• Recognizes age-related norms in understanding abnormal behavior.

  • Contextual examples:

    • A "meltdown" in preschoolers is typically seen as normal, while the same behavior in a fourth grader is considered abnormal.

Biopsychosocial Model

• This model posits that abnormal behavior arises from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

  • These factors overlap and interact to influence an individual’s mental health and potential for mental disorders.

  • Factors contributing to behavioral health include:

    • Biological: Genetics, brain chemistry.

    • Psychological: Coping skills, personality traits.

    • Social: Peer relationships, family dynamics, trauma experiences.

• Strong social support systems correlate with better mental health outcomes.

Complexity of Abnormal Behavior

• Understanding abnormal behavior requires acknowledging the intricate interactions among various contributing factors.

• Individual responses to similar environmental stressors can differ significantly; a factor may contribute to disorder in one person but not another.

• Systems theory promotes an integrative approach,

• unifying these various influences into a cohesive understanding.