Chapter 1 Abnormal Psychology: Definition & The Core Concepts

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology Core Concepts in Defining Abnormality 1. The importance of context in defining and understanding abnormality

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology 2. The continuum between normal and abnormal behavior Intelligence Suicidality

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology 3. Cultural and historical relativism in defining and classifying abnormal behavior No universal definition of abnormality No universal definition of abnormality

Approaches to Defining Abnormal Behavior Does Infrequency Define Abnormality? Does Infrequency Define Abnormality? Does Suffering Define Abnormality? Does Suffering Define Abnormality? Does Strangeness Define Abnormality? Does Strangeness Define Abnormality? Does the Behavior Itself Define Abnormality? Does the Behavior Itself Define Abnormality? Should Normality Serve as a Guide? Should Normality Serve as a Guide?

Commonly Used Criteria for Defining Abnormality (HIDES) Help Seeking Help Seeking Irrationality/Dangerousness Irrationality/Dangerousness Deviance Deviance Emotional Distress Emotional Distress Significant Impairment Significant Impairment

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology “describes behavioral, emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and associated with personal distress or substantial impairment in functioning” (DSM-IV)

Psychopathology Defined A psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning that is not a typical or culturally expected response A psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning that is not a typical or culturally expected response Mental Illness is a less preferred term Mental Illness is a less preferred term Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology Science of Pathology Roles Roles –PhD vs. MD vs. MSW Clinical descriptions Clinical descriptions –Prevalence, onset, prognosis, course

The Science of Psychopathology What Factors Contribute to the Development of Psychopathology? What Factors Contribute to the Development of Psychopathology? –Study of etiology How Can We Best Improve the Lives of People Suffering From Psychopathology? How Can We Best Improve the Lives of People Suffering From Psychopathology? –Study of treatment development –Includes pharmacologic, psychosocial, and/or combined treatment How Do We Know That We Have Alleviated Psychological Suffering? How Do We Know That We Have Alleviated Psychological Suffering? –Study of treatment outcome –Limited in specifying actual causes of disorders

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Major Psychological Disorders Have Existed Major Psychological Disorders Have Existed –In all cultures –Across all time periods Supernatural Theory Supernatural Theory

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Disorders caused by demons and supernatural powers Disorders caused by demons and supernatural powers Treatments include exorcisms Treatments include exorcisms

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Biological Theory Biological Theory –Hippocrates –Syphilis –John Grey –Treatment Options

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Psychoanalytic Theory Psychoanalytic Theory –Freud Structure of the mind Structure of the mind Defense mechanisms Defense mechanisms Stages of development Stages of development Humanistic Theory Humanistic Theory –Jung, Alder, Rogers Self actualization Self actualization

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Behaviorism Behaviorism –Pavlov’s classical conditioning –Watson’s Albert experiment –Skinner’s operant conditioning

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Thomas Szasz Thomas Szasz –Anti-psychiatry movements –Myth of Mental Illness –“if you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you have schizophrenia”