1. Psychopathology 2
Models/Perspectives

2. KEY FIGURES

3. Sigmund Freud Originated psychoanalysis From Vienna, Austria
Studied the unconscious mind
Techniques included
Free association: avoid censoring thoughts
Dream analysis: unconscious revealing primitive urges (eat, sleep, etc.)

4. Sir Francis Galton 19th century mathematician and scientist
Suggested that heredity influences a person’s character and behaviour
Traced ancestry and found greatness runs in families
Proponent of Eugenics
Invented mental testing procedures

5. Ivan Pavlov Behaviourism Nobel Prize in 1904
investigate observable behaviour
Nobel Prize in 1904
physiology of digestion
Tuning fork – dog food – salivate
tuning fork – salivate
Stimulus and response

6. B F. Skinner American behavioural psychologist
Conditioning behaviour with rewards and punishments
Novelist
Social visionary

7. Carl Rogers / Abraham Maslow
Humanistic psychology
Backlash against behaviourism
Human nature as active and creative
Maslow’s hierarchy
pyramid of self actualization

8. MODELS

9. Models of Abnormality Definitions Model Must distinguish!
Tell you about abnormality (mentally illness)
Model
Describes the cause of their mental illness
Must distinguish!
Definitions tell you if a person is abnormal (mentally ill) or not.
A model is a way of describing why they are ill, i.e. what is the cause of their mental illness.
You need to ensure that you can distinguish between models and definitions.
Definitions answer “are they or aren’t they?” questions, Models try to answer the “why are they?” question.

10. Psychological Perspectives/Approaches
Models based on approaches (points of view)
Types of psychologist
Each approach give different explanations for the same behaviour
Four approaches we are going to look at
Biological
Behavioural
Psychodynamic
Cognitive
How would each approach explain violent behaviour?
Psychological Perspectives or Approaches refer the different types of psychologists, and how they view things differently from each other
Each approach will give different explanations for the same behaviour.
The four approaches we are going to look at are the Biological, Behavioural, Psychodynamic and Cognitive. Can you remember the differences between these?
For example how would each approach explain violent behaviour differently?

11. Explanations for Violent Behaviour
It is due to your Physiology i.e. your Hormones
Genetics
Evolution
Brain Damage
Biological Approach
Learned from violent parents or peers
Behavioural Approach
Unconscious need to release aggression
Psychodynamic Approach
You have distorted thinking or have reasoned that it will get you what you want
Cognitive Approach

12. KISSING
HOW WOULD THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY EXPLAIN KISSING?
Write down a quick note of your ideas
for how the Biological, Behavioural, Psychodynamic and Cognitive approaches would explain it!

13. Biological (Medical) Model of Abnormality
KEY FEATURES
Assumption 1: The Biological or Medical Model of abnormality assumes that mental abnormality has physiological causes. These abnormalities may be caused by chemical malfunctions in the brain or by genetic disorders. For example, too much dopamine in the brain is linked with the mental illness called schizophrenia. It is also clear that the eating disorder called anorexia nervosa has a genetic component.
Assumption 2: The Medical Model also assumes that mental disorders can be treated in ways similar to physical disorders. In other words, we can cure the patient by using medical treatments. Treatments include medication (drugs), ECT and psychosurgery.

14. Biological Model – Assumptions
Mental disorders have physiological causes
They can be treated similarly to other disorders
Assumption 1: The Biological or Medical Model of abnormality assumes that mental abnormality has physiological causes. These abnormalities may be caused by chemical malfunctions in the brain or by genetic disorders. For example, too much dopamine in the brain is linked with the mental illness called schizophrenia. It is also clear that the eating disorder called anorexia nervosa has a genetic component.
Assumption 2: The Medical Model also assumes that mental disorders can be treated in ways similar to physical disorders. In other words, we can cure the patient by using medical treatments. Treatments include medication (drugs), ECT and psychosurgery.

15. Physiological Causes Genetic factors Biochemistry Neuroanatomy
Inherited predispositions to certain mental illnesses (anorexia nervosa, Tourette's syndrome, Down’s syndrome)
Biochemistry
Excess/lack of certain chemicals in brain e.g.,
too much dopamine - schizophrenia
too little serotonin - depression
Neuroanatomy
brain damage or inherited structural/ organisational defects (autism)
BIOLOGICAL CAUSES OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Genetic factors
inherited predispositions to certain mental illnesses (Anorexia Nervosa, Tourettes & Down’s Syndrome)
Biochemistry
excessive or low amounts of certain biochemicals in the brain (Dopamine – Schizophrenia, Serotonin - Depression)
Neuroanatomy
brain damage or inherited structural/organisational defects (Autism)
Treatment (acts on physiology)
Drugs (chemotherapy)
Genetic counselling / gene therapy possibly to come
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Psychosurgery

16. Treatments Drugs (chemotherapy) Genetic counselling
Maybe gene therapy?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Psychosurgery

17. Best Explanations …
Decide which would be the best biological explanation/s for the following disorders. Justify your thoughts.
Anorexia
Tourette’s Syndrome
Dementia
Depression
Schizophrenia
Phobic Disorders
OCD

18. EVALUATION - MEDICAL MODEL
Strengths
Scientific: results of treatment can be measured and treatment altered until we have a satisfactory outcome
Patient is seen as being ‘ill’, therefore not to blame for their behaviour
Limitations
May be more effective at treating symptoms of mental illness than underlying causes.
Medical intervention may have undesirable side effects
Strength 1: The main strength of the Medical Model is that it is scientific. The results of treatment can be measured and manipulated until we have a satisfactory outcome. For example, we can vary the dosage of Prozac until the depressed patient is able to function adequately.
Strength 2: A second strength is that the patient is seen as being ‘ill’ and therefore not responsible (to blame) for their behaviour. Although the label of mental illness still carries a stigma in our society. It is reassuring to most people to learn that their behaviour has an organic/medical cause that can be corrected by medical treatment.
Limitation 1: The main limitation of the Medical Model is that it may be useful in dealing with the symptoms of mental illness but it may not be effective in resolving the underlying causes. Mental illness may have multiple causes, including cognitive and behavioural causes. The MM does not take these into consideration. It is always dangerous to reduce a complex phenomenon to a single explanation (reductionism).
Limitation 2: A second limitation is that medical intervention may have undesirable side effects. Very few drugs can be used without negative side effects. For example, prolonged use of Prozac is associated with suicidal thoughts. Drugs may also encourage addiction and dependency similar to nicotine addiction. In addition, techniques such as ECT and psychosurgery are invasive, unpredictable and often irreversible.

19. Defining Abnormality: Tourettes Syndrome
Watch the video and give examples of behaviours that match:
Each of the four definitions of abnormality.
Each of Rosenhan & Seligman’s seven elements of abnormality (see notes).
Discuss the limitations of each definition and your explanations.
Give the main evidence to support the conclusion that Tourette’s Syndrome is a biological illness.
The four definitions of abnormality
Statistical Infrequency
Deviation from Social Norms
Deviation from ideal mental health
Failure to function adequately
Rosenhan & Seligman’s seven elements of abnormality
suffering - most abnormal individuals report that they are suffering.
"People do not come to clinics because they have met some abstract definition of abnormality. For the most part, they come because their feelings or behaviour cause them distress." (Edgar Miller & Stephen Morley, 1986)
maladaptiveness - behaviour which prevents people from achieving major life goals such as enjoying good relationships with other people or working effectively
vivid/unconventional behaviour - ways in which abnormal individuals tend to behave often differs substantially from most people
"Generally, people recognise as acceptable and conventional those actions that they themselves are willing to do.... If we do it, it's conventional and normal. If we don't, it stands out vividly as unconventional and abnormal." (Rosenhan & Seligman)
unpredictability/loss of control - the behaviour of abnormal people is often very variable and uncontrolled and inappropriate
"We expect people to be consistent from time to time, from one occasion to the next, and very much in control of themselves." (Rosenhan & Seligman)
irrationality/incomprehensibility - others cannot understand why anyone would choose to behave in this way
observer discomfort - observers to the behaviour are made uncomfortable by it
violation of moral/ideal standards - behaviour may be judged 'abnormal' when it violates established moral standards
Rosenhan & Seligman argued that each might not be significant on its own but, when several were present, they are indicative of abnormality.