Past and Present Understandings of Mental Disorders Chapter 2 Past and Present Understandings of Mental Disorders © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Historical Ideas about Abnormality Three Dominant Traditions Supernatural – outside of ourselves Biological – deals with body Psychological – deals with mind © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

The Supernatural Tradition Deviant Behavior as a Battle of “Good” vs. Evil Caused by demonic possession, witchcraft, sorcery Treatments included exorcism, torture, and crude surgeries (i.e. trephining) Enlightened view – natural and treatable The Moon and the Stars Paracelsus and lunacy © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Key Historical Figures Hippocrates and Galen Physicians of ancient Greece and Rome who developed treatments derived from medical knowledge Avicenna Islamic physician in the Middle Ages who helped preserve Greek and Roman learning Pinel French physician and leader of the moral treatment movement Freud Developed the first purely psychological model of abnormal behavior © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Table 2.1 The Mental Health Professions (p. 51) © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

The Biological Model The nervous system controls all thought and behavior, whether normal or abnormal Any event or substance that affects the nervous system also affects thinking and behavior Biological treatments for mental disorders aim to change a client’s physical condition in order to change thinking and behavior Medical model of abnormal behavior © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Psychodynamic Theories Normal and abnormal behaviors are influenced by unconscious forces Based on the work of Sigmund Freud The focus of therapy depends on the type of psychodynamic approach Gain insight into unconscious origins of behavior Help clients understand their heavy reliance on defense mechanisms Use the therapeutic relationship to repair early relationships © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Interpersonal Theories Explain abnormal behavior as the result of interaction styles that become too rigid and extreme Emerged from psychodynamic ideas Based on the work of Harry Stack Sullivan Aim to help people develop more flexible ways of adapting to others and to life circumstances © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Behavioral Theories Explain abnormal behavior in terms of the laws of learning Operant Conditioning Watson, Skinner Classical Conditioning Pavlov Therapy aims to help clients decrease specific maladaptive behaviors and increase adaptive behaviors © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Cognitive Theories Explain abnormal behavior via maladaptive information processing – what we pay attention to, perceive, think about, and remember Appraisals, attributions, irrational beliefs -Aaron Beck & Albert Ellis Therapy aims to modify maladaptive behavior by encouraging clients to consider new information and change the way they think about themselves, other people, and the world in general © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Humanistic and Positive Psychology Theories Believe that human behavior is determined by each person’s unique perception of the world Such perceptions can allow a person to flourish or to falter Based on the work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow Therapy aims to help clients discover how they have become restricted by the expectations of others and how they can explore their potential and thrive © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Psychological and Sociocultural Models Sociocultural Theories Explain abnormality in terms of external factors Harmful environments Adverse social policies Powerlessness Cultural traditions Treatment involves changing the broader social, environmental, and cultural climate to promote health © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

The Diathesis-Stress Model Abnormal behavior results from the interaction of particular people within specific environments A mental disorder results from the combined effects of: A predisposition or vulnerability for a disorder (diathesis) A stressor An example of a biopsychosocial model © 2016 Academic Media Solutions

Table 2.4 Major Psychosocial Theories of Abnormal Behavior (p. 74) © 2016 Academic Media Solutions