Chapter 12 Abnormal Psychology

Chapter 12: Abnormal Psychology

Overview of Abnormal Psychology

• The study of psychological disorders that impair individual functioning.

• Areas of focus include:

  • Depression

  • Substance abuse

  • Learning difficulties

  • Various mental disorders

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Criteria for Defining Abnormality

• Maladaptive Behavior: Distressing or harmful to the individual.

• Disturbance to Others: Behavior that causes discomfort or distress in others.

• Cultural Deviance: Actions that are uncommon or not accepted by the majority of society.

• Irrationality: Behavior that does not make sense to an average person.

Insanity as a Legal Concept

• Legal Insanity Definition: A person found insane cannot be held fully responsible for their actions due to a psychological disorder impairing judgement.

DSM: The Diagnostic Tool

• DSM V: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, utilized for diagnosing psychological disorders.

• Goes through revisions, currently in its 5th edition.

• Historical reclassification of disorders, including the past depiction of homosexuality.

• Sexual Deviations: A categorized diagnosis encompassing various sexual behaviors that are considered pathological.

Psychological Perspectives on Disorders

Etiology of Disorders

• Psychoanalytic Perspective: Focus on unconscious drives.

• Humanistic Perspective: Lack of personal fulfillment.

• Behavioral Perspective: Learned behaviors and reinforcement history.

• Cognitive Perspective: Dysfunctional thoughts leading to disorders.

• Biomedical Perspective: Focus on organic problems and genetic influences.

Anxiety Disorders

• Phobias: Intense, unwarranted fears (e.g., claustrophobia, agoraphobia).

• Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of public embarrassment.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent, low-level anxiety.

• Panic Disorder: Acute episodes of anxiety without obvious cause.

Theories of Anxiety

• Psychoanalytic View: Conflicts between the ID, ego, and superego create anxiety.

• Behavioral View: Phobias develop from reinforcement.

• Cognitive View: Anxiety stems from unrealistic self-expectations.

Somatoform Disorders

• Concept: Psychological problems manifesting as physical symptoms.

• Conversion Disorder: Severe physical problems (e.g., paralysis) without biological causes.

• Hypochondriasis: Preoccupation with fears of serious illness despite lack of evidence.

Dissociative Disorders

Types of Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Amnesia: Memory loss without physiological causes.

• Dissociative Fugue: Identity loss and unplanned travel, sometimes creating a new identity.

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Multiple personalities within a single individual.

Mood Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder: Persistent low mood, lacking a clear cause. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression in specific seasons, typically winter.

Theories of Mood Disorders

• Psychoanalytic Explanation: Depression is rooted in internalized anger and early losses.

• Cognitive Explanation: Negative thought patterns shape personal perspectives.

• Attributional Style: Internal vs. external, stable vs. unstable, global vs. specific explanations for events affect susceptibility to depression.

Bipolar Disorder

• Definition: Involves alternating episodes of mania and depression.

• Manic State: High energy, confidence, and possible irritability; can lead to risky behavior.

Schizophrenia

• Symptoms: Distorted thinking, delusions, hallucinations, disorganized language, abnormal motor behavior.

• Types of Symptoms:

  • Positive Symptoms: Excesses in behavior (e.g., hallucinations).

  • Negative Symptoms: Absences of normal behaviors (e.g., flat affect).

Biological Explanations for Schizophrenia

• Dopamine Hypothesis: High dopamine levels are associated with schizophrenia.

• Genetic Factors: Family history increases risk of developing the disorder.

Environmental Factors

• Double Bind Theory: Conflicting messages from caregivers could increase schizophrenia risk.

• Diathesis-Stress Model: Interaction between biological predispositions and environmental stressors can trigger the disorder.

Personality Disorders

• General Concept: Long-standing patterns of maladaptive behavior.

• Common Types:

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder: Lack of regard for others.

  • Dependent Personality Disorder: Over-reliance on others.

  • Paranoid Personality Disorder: Constant feelings of persecution.

  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Oversized sense of self-importance.

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia: Significantly low weight, fear of gaining weight, distorted body image.

• Bulimia: Binge-purge cycles involving food.

Substance-Related Disorders

• Definition: Diagnosed when substance use (e.g., drugs, gambling) harms individual functioning.

ADHD and Alzheimer’s Disease

• ADHD: Developmental disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity, more common in boys.

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Progressive cognitive decline associated with memory loss.

The Rosenhan Study

• Importance: Critique of psychiatric diagnosis highlighting the impact of labeling on individual perception and treatment.