Abnormal Behavior Abnormal Psychology The scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Goal of course: Learn theories of abnormal behavior. Learn scientific based knowledge about abnormal behavior. Decrease judgment of others.

What is Psychologically Abnormal? The Four D’s Deviance Distress Dysfunction Danger

Four D’s in More Detail I. Deviance Deviance from or violation of a society’s ideas about proper function. Norms- a society’s explicit and implicit rules for proper conduct. Culture- a society’s shared rules that govern the behavior of its members, common history, values, beliefs, habits, skills, technology, and arts. Includes a valuational aspect which varies from culture to culture.

Four D’s in More Detail II. Distress Pain or discomfort Dysfunctional or Maladaptive Behavior It interferes with daily functioning. Danger Behavior that becomes dangerous to self or others. Note: Abnormal behavior is to some degree arbitrary and culturally determined Medical Model vs. Bio-psychosocial Model

DSM DEFINITION: MENTAL DISORDER [A mental disorder] is conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (a painful symptom) or disability (impairment in one or more areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one. Whatever its original cause, it must currently be considered a manifestation of a behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual. Neither deviant behavior (e.g. political, religious, or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society are mental disorders unless the deviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the individual as described above. Syndrome- a group of clinical observations or symptoms that tend to co-occur.

Other Definitions Psychological Disorder – a harmful dysfunction in which behavior is judged to be atypical, disturbing, maladaptive, and unjustifiable. Abnormal Behavior- we define behavior as abnormal, a manifestation of mental disorder, if it is both persistent and in serious degree contrary to the continued well- being of the individual and/or that of the human community of which the individual is a member. (Carson, Butcher, & Mineka)

Classification of Abnormal Behavior A useful classification system must be reliable and valid. Three models of classification 1. Categorical 2. Dimensional 3. Prototypal

Three Models of Classiciation Categorical Approach Human behavior can be divided into two categories (health or unhealthy). The unhealthy category consists of discrete, nonoverlapping, classes or types. Dimensional Approach Bx= product of different dimensions (eg. anxiousness, extroversion) People differ in profile or configuration of these dimensional traits. Normal or abnormal is determined by looking at any particular dimension and making a determination usually based on a normative percentage. Prototypal Approach Assumes the existence of conceptual entities (prototypes) depicting idealized combinations of characteristics, ones that more or less regularly occur together.

DSM Classification of Mental Disorders Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Introduced in 1952 Moving from a subjective to operational definition. Diagnosis is based on signs and symptoms Signs- objective observations of a patients physical or mental disorder by a diagnostician. Symptoms- patient’s subjective description of a physical or mental disorder.

The Five Axes of DSM-IV-TR Axis I - Particular clinical syndromes Axis II - Personality disorders Axis III - General medical conditions Axis IV - Psychosocial/environmental problems Axis V - Global assessment of functioning The DSM is organized into major etiological groupings (see next slide)

DSM Main Categories Axis I & Axis II Disorders Disorders secondary to gross destruction or malfunctioning of brain tissue Substance-use disorders Disorders of psychological or sociological origin having no known brain pathology Disorders usually arising during childhood or adolescence

Mental Disorder’s Qualifying Terms Comorbidity-existence of two or more disorders Acute- describes a disorder of sudden onset, usually with intense symptoms Chronic- describes a long-standing or frequently recurring disorder, often of progressing seriousness Mild/Moderate/Severe- describes a disorder of a low order of severity, intermediate order of severity, and a high degree of seriousness. Episodic Disorder- describes a disorder that tends to abate and to recur Recurrent- describes a disorder pattern that tends to come and go.

Labeling: Positive and Negative Communication Social Label May limit Inquiry Once Applied Self-fulfilling Prophecy Have Pejorative and Stigmatizing Implications Second-Class Citizens Devastate Self-Esteem and Morale

The Extent of Abnormal Behavior Epidemiology- study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population. Prevalence- the proportion of active cases of a disorder that can be identified in a population at a given point in, or during a given period, of time. Incidence- occurrence (onset) rate of a given disorder in a given population. Lifetime Prevalence- the proportion of living persons in a population who have ever had a disorder up to the time of the epidemiological assessment.

The Extent of Abnormal Behavior Any mood disorder (male) Lifetime % = 14.7; 12-month % = 8.5 (female) Lifetime % = 23.9; 12-month % = 14.1 (total) Lifetime % = 19.3; 12-month % = 11.3 Any anxiety disorder Lifetime % = 19.2; 12-month % = 11.8 Lifetime % = 30.5; 12-month % = 22.6 Lifetime % = 24.9; 12-month % = 17.2 Any substance abuse d/o Lifetime % = 35.4; 12-month % = 16.1 Lifetime % = 17.9; 12-month % = 6.6 Lifetime % = 26.6; 12-month % = 11.3

Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior Demonology, Gods, and Magic Cause- possession of evil spirits Tx- exorcism Early Greek and Roman Thought Hippocrates ( B.C) Cause  Mental Disorders have natural causes  Brain Central Organ of Intellectual Activity  Heredity  Four Bodily Humors (blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm) Tx  Tranquil lifestyle, abstinence from excesses, bleeding, exercise  Pleasant surroundings, massage, hydrotherapy, education,  Bleeding, purging, mechanical restraints

Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior II Early Greek and Roman Thought (cont) Galen ( A.D.) Anatomy of Nervous System Causes  Physical and Mental Categories  Head injuries, alcoholic excess, shock, fear, menstruation  Disappointment of love Tx  Contrariis contrarius (opposite by opposite) Middle Ages ( ) Return to Demonology & Superstition and away from Physical Causes Mass Madness (lycanthropy and tarantism)

Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior III Middle Ages ( s) Establishment of Asylums and Shrines Means of removing mentally ill from society  Horrid condition of filth and deprivation including: darkness, starvation, restraints, cold baths, tortures. Beginning of the Modern Era Biological Link between Brain and Mental Disorder General Paresis & Syphilis Classification System (Kraeplin) & Medical Model

Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior IV Establishing the Psychological Basis Mesmerism Nancy School Psychoanalysis (Freud)  Hypnosis and Catharsis  Unconscious and Free Association Establishing An Experimental Research Laboratories Behavioral Perspective  Classical Conditioning  Operant Conditioning

Research in Abnormal Psychology Observation of behavior Forming hypotheses about behavior Sampling Generalization

Research in Abnormal Psychology Control group Criterion group

Correlation versus Causation Potential relationships between two variables: Variable A causes variable B Variable A and variable B are both caused by variable C Variables A and B are both involved in a complex pattern of variables influencing A and B in similar ways

Research in Abnormal Psychology Independent Variable The manipulated factor Dependent Variable Changes as the manipulated factor is changed

Research in Abnormal Psychology Animal research Analogue studies Clinical case studies

Research in Abnormal Psychology Retrospective strategies Looking backward in order to reconstruct the client’s developmental history Prospective strategies Focus on individuals who have a higher-than- average likelihood of becoming psychologically disordered before abnormal behavior shows up