PSYC 101 Week 13

Psychological Disorders Topics: What is normal? The major psychological disorders Social and cultural elements

What is Normal? What would you define as “normal”? What behaviors are considered normal? Which of these things would you consider normal? Discuss Being married more than once Being married five times Exercising 7 days a week Exercising 3 to 5 days a week Living in a segregated community, such as Amish people do Not using birth control Using birth control Praying daily Praying three times daily

What is Normal? continued Who decides what is normal and why? Where is the line between normal and abnormal? What, then, is “abnormal”? Deviation from average Average based on statistics of behaviors Deviation from ideal Based on cultural and/or societal standards Many people within a culture and/or society do not agree on standards, however, making this difficult to judge

What is Normal? Continued 2 Personal discomfort Individually based, also includes bringing harm to others Ineffective or non- functioning Are persons who do not function in main society, with the same responsibilities such as providing for one’s self and family, having a job, paying bills, etc. abnormal? What about persons who are not able to function effectively? What about persons who cannot function effectively? Legal perspective = insanity Is there such thing as “temporary insanity”? How do you define insanity? If insanity is a real occurrence, should that lead to or allow for different consequences than those who are considered sane or competent?

Abnormal Behavior Typically defined as behaviors that cause enough distress to inhibit proper, effective everyday functioning of the individual Medical perspective Searches to find answers for abnormal behaviors due to physical or biological factors that can be medically determined Psychoanalytic perspective Focuses on prior life experiences to explain current abnormal behaviors Freudian; “abused as a child”, or “parents died early”, etc.

Abnormal Behavior continued Behavioral perspective Sees behavior as the issue rather than the result of some other cause Responses to stimuli, focuses on learned behaviors and past consequences of the displayed abnormal behaviors Cognitive perspective Believes that abnormal behaviors occur and are based off of an individual’s personal thoughts and feelings (cognitions)

Abnormal Behavior continued 2 Humanistic perspective Self-determinism is key here, where individuals can and should regulate, be responsible for, and determine what is acceptable and appropriate for him or her self Sociocultural perspective Abnormal is determined by societal and cultural standards Think about differing cultures. What is abnormal there but not here (where we are currently living) and vice versa? Discuss

DSM Classification system for determining abnormal behaviors Current edition: DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision Used to describe, not find or determine underlying causes for behaviors Some issues and problems with this system, including the non-fluid categories and physician overreliance

Psychological Disorders Anxiety Disorders Anxiety felt without just external causes Must disrupt and/or inhibit proper daily functioning Types of anxiety disorders Phobic disorders Includes a phobia (intense, irrational fear) Generalized Anxiety disorders Long-term suffering, uncontrollable by individual Obsessive-Compulsive disorders Includes obsessions (unwanted, uncontrollable, persistent thoughts or ideas) Long-lasting May include compulsions (unwanted, uncontrollable, intense urges to repeat a certain action)

Psychological Disorders continued Somatoform Disorders Disorders that seem to manifest physically though no biological and/or medical cause can be found Types of somatoform disorders Hypochondriasis Characterized by a fear of illness, being in poor health; obsession with one’s health Sensations are felt but misinterpreted and misunderstood; it is the reaction to the feelings that causes issues rather than the feelings themselves Conversion disorders Characterized by actual physical symptoms Cause of symptoms are psychological, not physical

Psychological Disorders continued 2 Dissociative Disorders Different elements of personality are separated rather than combined Types of disorders Dissociative Identity disorder Used to be called multiple personality disorder Each personality has its own functions, almost like a separate individual Dissociative Amnesia Memory loss is selective and significant May include “repressed memories” Information is still retained but cannot be recalled Dissociative Fugue An individual enters a “fugue” state where travel may occur and the person may assume a new identity, only to later return to the former identity, without much of a choice, like an involuntary switch

Psychological Disorders continued 3 Mood Disorders Extreme changes in mood that interfere with everyday living and efficient functioning Types of mood disorders: Major Depression Severe depression Interference in functioning to a debilitating level Mania The “high”, manic state Euphoria, extreme elation Bipolar disorder Once known as manic-depressive Extreme mood swings from manic states to extreme depressive states

Psychological Disorders continued 4 Schizophrenia Distortion of reality Much less likely to recover from, though can be kept in check with medication Two types: Type I = (referred to as positive symptoms) hallucinations, delusions, emotional extremes Type II = (referred to as negative symptoms) social withdrawal, lessened or non-experienced emotional states

Psychological Disorders continued 5 Childhood Disorders Affecting children Most common ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Often overdiagnosed Autism Typically characterized by extreme social difficulties

Psychological Disorders continued 6 Personality Disorders Maladaptive behavioral patterns that do not allow an individual to properly function in society Types of Disorders Antisocial personality disorder Maladaptive behaviors that can be logically understood as harmful though the person with the disorder often has no remorse or other emotion toward his or her “victims” Narcissistic personality disorder Extreme sense of self-worth and/or self-importance; others are less important Empathy for others not an emotion that is experienced Borderline personality disorder Inappropriate attachment to others as a way to form an identity

Psychological Disorders continued 7 Other Includes but not limited to: Alcohol use disorder Substance use disorder Psychoactive substance use disorder Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia) Sexual disorders Organic mental disorders (ex: Alzheimer’s)

Causes for Psychological Disorders Nature Biological factors Genetic factors Both factors can create a predisposition for disorders Nurture Environmental elements Can create a fostering environment, when combined with genetic and/or biological factors, may allow for expression of a disorder

Societal and Cultural Considerations DSM is based on Western culture (typical culture prevalant in USA) In a study conducted (see textbook page 419) 48% of those interviewed have, at one time or another, experienced a psychological disorder Most common = depression Second most common = alcohol use disorder **Discussion: what do you think? Do these statistics seem reliable? Are they representative? Why or why not? Are they personally relevant?

Societal and Cultural Considerations continued Only four disorders that are cross-cultural: Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder Major depression Anxiety disorders Other disorders we may not be familiar with due to culture: Koro = fear of penis retracting into abdomen (Southeast Asia) Amok = a typically calm, quiet, withdrawn individual randomly killing or severely hurting another

Discussion If time: Refer to page 425 in textbook Read described situation aloud Discuss the questions listed