Abnormal Psychology A.K.A. Psychological Disorders A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be atypical, disturbing, maladaptive and unjustifiable.

Psychological Disorder A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be: atypical--be unusual to the vast majority of people in that culture disturbing--varies with time and culture maladaptive--harmful unjustifiable--be irrational; not make sense to the average person

Early Theories of Psychological Disorders Afflicted people were possessed by evil spirits. Movements of sun or moon *lunacy = full moon

Early Theories In some cases trephening was used: Music or singing was often used to chase away spirits. In some cases trephening was used: Cutting a hole in the head of the afflicted to let out the evil spirit

Ancient Treatments Another theory was to make the body extremely uncomfortable Ancient treatments included: exorcism, caged like animals, beaten, burned, castrated, mutilated, blood replaced with animal’s blood

History of Mental Disorders In the 1800’s, disturbed people were no longer thought of as madmen, but as mentally ill. They were first put in hospitals. Did this mean better treatment?

Early Mental Hospitals They were nothing more than barbaric prisons. The patients were chained and locked away. Some hospitals even charged admission for the public to see the “crazies”, just like a zoo.

Philippe Pinel French doctor who was the first to take the chains off and declare that these people are sick and “a cure must be found!!!”

Perspectives and Disorders Psychological School/Perspective Cause of the Disorder Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Internal, unconscious drives Humanistic Failure to strive to one’s potential or being out of touch with one’s feelings. Behavioral Reinforcement history, the environment. Cognitive Irrational, dysfunctional thoughts or ways of thinking. Sociocultural Dysfunctional Society Biomedical/Neuroscience Organic problems, biochemical imbalances, genetic predispositions. ***Most psychologists do not pick just one perspective for their practice but pick a combination of them; this is called being eclectic.

Current Perspectives Medical Perspective: psychological disorders are sicknesses and can be diagnosed, treated and cured. concept that diseases have physical causes assumes that these “mental” illnesses can be diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms and cured through therapy, which may include treatment in a psychiatric hospital

Current Perspectives Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective: assumes biological, psychological and sociocultural factors combine and interact causing psychological disorders Used to be called Diathesis-Stress Model: diathesis meaning predisposition; stress meaning environment

Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective:

Sane or Insane? Insane is a legal term to benchmark whether or not a person is capable of committing a crime.  Psychologists almost never use that term (unless they are getting paid a lot of money to testify in court).

DSM V Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders. DSM will classify disorders and describe the symptoms. DSM will NOT explain the causes or possible cures.

Two Major Classifications in the DSM Neurotic Disorders Psychotic Disorders Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally. Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions. John Wayne Gacy

Anxiety Disorders a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. the patient fears something awful will happen to them. They are in a state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD An anxiety disorder in which a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal. The patient is constantly tense and worried, feels inadequate, is oversensitive, can’t concentrate and suffers from insomnia.

Panic Disorder An anxiety disorder marked by a minutes-long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations. Can cause secondary disorders, such as agoraphobia.

Phobias A person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread Persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation

Phobias Common and uncommon fears

Some Unusual Phobias Ailurophobia - fear of cats Algobphobia - fear of pain Anthropophobia - fear of men Monophobia - fear of being alone Pyrophobia - fear of fire

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder An anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions).

Common Examples of OCD Common Compulsions: Common Obsessions: Contamination fears of germs, dirt, etc. Washing Imagining having harmed self or others Repeating Imagining losing control of aggressive urges Checking Intrusive sexual thoughts or urges Touching Excessive religious or moral doubt Counting Forbidden thoughts Ordering/arranging A need to have things "just so" Hoarding or saving A need to tell, ask, confess Praying

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Explanations for Anxiety Disorders 1st – You learn them through conditioning (and reinforcement helps maintain them) 2nd – Evolution/Natural Selection Theory – We are biologically prepared to fear threats 3rd – Genes – Some people seem genetically predisposed to fears and anxiety (separated identical twin study – they both developed claustrophobia) 4th – Physiology: The brain – Fear learning experiences can traumatize the brain by developing fear circuits within the amygdala (some antidepressant drugs can dampen this fear-circuit activity)