Abnormal behavior

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Defining psychological disorders Psychological disorder: syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. Disturbed or dysfunctional , behaviors are maladaptive (they interfere with normal, day to day life) Definitions for disturbances have varied throughout the years Homosexuality (December 10, 1973)

Understanding psychological disorders Olden days…THE DEVIL, caged within bars like animals, “therapies”, beating, burning, castration, pulling teeth, removing lengths of intestines, cauterizing the clitoris, or giving transfusions of animal blood

The medical model Reformers: Philippe Pinel Madness is not a demon possession but a sickness of the mind caused by severe stresses and inhumane conditions “moral treatment”… unchaining people, talking to them, activity, clean air and sunshine Medical Model- concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital

Bio-psychosocial approach All behavior, normal and disordered, arises from the interaction of nature (genetic and physiological factors) and nurture (past and present experiences) Sickness, but also environmental factors (person’s current interpretation of event, or the person’s bad habits and social skills may also be factors

Cultural disorders Cultures differ in their levels and produce different methods of coping Anorexia and bulimia have occurred mainly in Western culture Amok- Malaysia- a sudden outburst of behavior Susto- Latin America- a condition marked by severe anxiety, restlessness, and a fear of black magic Taijin-kyofusho- Japan- social anxiety about one’s appearance combined with a readiness to blush and a fear of contact Koro- fear of penis shrinkage and retraction into the body, accompanied by panic and fear of dying **Beserker- (Norse) blindly flying into a rage

Hikikimori phenomenon of reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement. Isolation for a period exceeding 6 months https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr5y1iP9TfU

Biological Influences: evolution, individual genes, brain structure, and chemistry Psychological Influences: stress, trauma, learned helplessness, mood-related perceptions and memories Social-Cultural influences: roles, expectations, definitions of normality and disorder

Classifying Psychological Disorders DSM-5- the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) –widely used for classifying psychological disorders Diagnostic classification aims not only to describe a disorder but also to predict its future course, imply appropriate treatment, and stimulate research into its causes

Labeling psychological disorders Labels create perceptions that guide our perceptions and our interpretations David Rosenhan (1973) biasing power of labels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bmZ8cVB4o Langer- interviews Page- stigmatizing power of labels (jobs, rent, etc) People express greater sympathy for people who have disorders that are atypical (depression for men/alcoholism for women)

Rates of Psychological disorders U.S. National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 26% of adult Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder Highest mental disorder om 20 countries – US comes out on top Immigrants to the US average better mental health than non-immigrants (immigrant paradox)

Anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (that’s a mouthful)

Anxiety disorders Psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety Generalized anxiety disorder Panic disorder Phobias

Generalized anxiety disorder An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal Marked by pathological worry Lasts more than 6 months 2/3 are women Jittery, sleep deprived, twitching, trembling, perspiration, fidgeting, and concentration issues Difficult to pinpoint a source of its cause Often accompanied by depressed mood, even high blood pressure

Panic disorder Like an anxiety tornado- panic strikes suddenly, wrecks havoc, and disappears 1/75 people Panic-attacks- minutes-long episode of intense fear that something horrible is about to happen. Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, choking sensations, trembling, or dizziness typically accompany the panic

Phobias Anxiety disorders in which an irrational fear causes the person to avoid some object, activity, or situation (some can manage, others are incapacitated) Specific phobias (bugs, alligators, dogs, blood, heights, enclosed spaces) (classical conditioning)

Social anxiety disorder Shyness to an extreme Intense fear of social situations, leading to the avoidance of such (formerly social phobia) Intense fear of being scrutinized by others, avoid things like speaking up and parties

Agoraphobia People with panic attacks may come to avoid situations where panic struck Agoraphobia- fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one has felt loss of control and panic