Chapter # 14 Psychological disorders

Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

Objectives

  • Defining abnormality

  • Overview of major psychological disorders

  • Misuse of psychiatric labeling

  • General characteristics of psychotic disorders

  • Forms and causes of schizophrenia

  • Understanding mood disorders

  • Definition and examples of personality disorders

Defining Normality and Psychopathology

  • Psychopathology: scientific study of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

  • Statistical Abnormality: scoring very high/low on dimensions like intelligence, anxiety, or depression.

  • Social Nonconformity: disobeying public standards of acceptable conduct; can lead to destructive or illegal behavior (e.g., drug abuse).

  • Cultural Context: perception of normality is influenced by culture; behaviors perceived as normal in one culture may be pathological in another (e.g., agoraphobia in Western cultures vs. housebound behavior in some Muslim cultures).

Classifying Mental Disorders

  • Classification System: Mental disorders are classified using the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

  • Mental Disorder Definition: significant impairment in psychological functioning.

Psychotic Disorders

  • Psychotic Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal. Common features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

  • Organic Mental Disorders: Caused by brain pathology or physical factors (e.g., drug damage, injuries). Most disorders have biological components.

Mood Disorders

  • Defined by intense, long-lasting emotions.

  • Mania: characterized by agitation, elation, and hyperactivity.

  • Depression: mood disorder where low energy or sadness prevails.

  • Bipolar Disorder: Alternating periods of mania and depression may occur, sometimes with psychotic symptoms.

Eating Disorders

  • Feeding and Eating Disorders: Classifications include anorexia nervosa and enuresis.

  • Anorexia Nervosa: Weight loss, difficulties maintaining appropriate body weight, often with distorted body image; may involve compulsive exercise, purging, or binge eating.

Enuresis

  • Definition: Involuntary urination in inappropriate places past age 5, not due to substance use or medical condition.

  • Types: Diurnal (daytime) or nocturnal (nighttime); often linked to poor toilet training or stressful environments.

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders

  • Encompasses difficulties with sexual identity and deviant sexual behaviors.

  • Gender Identity Disorders: Mismatch between physical sex and sexual identity, may seek sex-change operation.

  • Paraphilic Disorders: Include pedophilia, exhibitionism, fetishism, voyeurism, and various sexual dysfunctions.

Fetishism

  • Attraction may involve wearing undergarments, rubber/leather, or interacting with specific objects (e.g., high-heeled shoes).

Voyeurism

  • Sexual gratification from observing unsuspecting individuals; can lead to neglect of life responsibilities.

Risk Factors for Psychological Disorders

Biological/Psychical Factors

  • Genetic defects, poor prenatal care, chronic illness, exposure to toxins, head injuries.

Psychological Factors

  • Stress, low intelligence, learning disorders, lack of control.

Family Factors

  • Immature/insecure parents, severe marital strife, poor discipline, disordered family communication.

Social Conditions

  • Poverty, homelessness, overcrowding, social disorganization.

Anxiety Disorders

  • Marked by intense fear and distorted behavior.

  • Includes panic disorders, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Persistent anxiety for at least six months; symptoms include racing heart, irritability, poor concentration.

Panic Disorder

  • Characterized by sudden, intense panic attacks and physical symptoms like chest pain or dizziness.

Phobias

  • Specific Phobias: Intense irrational fears tied to specific objects/situations.

    • Examples: acrophobia (heights), astraphobia (storms), claustrophobia (closed spaces), agoraphobia (crowds).

Somatic Symptom Disorder

  • Hypochondriasis: Misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness; often involves treatments without physical causes identified.

Personality Disorders

  • Characterized by maladaptive personality traits.

Types of Personality Disorders

  • Paranoid: Suspiciousness and hypersensitivity.

  • Narcissistic: Need for admiration and fantasy of power or brilliance.

  • Dependent: Extremely low self-confidence.

  • Antisocial Personality: Impulsivity, selfishness, lack of remorse; often referred to as psychopaths.

Sociopathic vs. Psychopathic Traits

Sociopathic Traits

  • Breaking laws, physical aggression, manipulation, unpredictability.

Psychopathic Traits

  • Lack of emotions, pathological lying, risk-taking behaviors, and inability to love.

Social Context in Psychology

Social Psychology

  • Study of behavior, thought, and feeling in social situations.

Social Roles

  • Patterns expected in specific social positions (ascribed roles).

Social Status and Power

  • Social Status: Respect and admiration from group members.

  • Social Power: Capacity to control behavior of others.

Attitude Change and Social Influence

Attitude Change

  • Reference Group: Serves as a standard for social comparison.

  • Persuasion: Deliberate attempts to change attitudes/beliefs through information or argument.

Social Influence

  • Changes in behavior induced by others.

    • Conforms to group behaviors, complies with less powerful demands, obeys authority.

    • Coercion involves forced behavior change.

Conclusion

  • Understanding psychological disorders involves looking at definitions, categories, symptoms, causes, and societal impacts. This comprehensive overview will provide a foundation for further study.