1. Chapter 2 Causes of Abnormal Behaviour: A Systems Approach Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

2. 2 Thinking About Abnormal Behaviour What causes it? How should we study it? paradigms vs. systems theory

3. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 3 Paradigms four traditional paradigms: – biological – psychodynamic – cognitive behavioural – humanistic assumptions inflexible & sometimes too narrow

4. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 4 Systems Theory integrative approach (biopsychosocial) holism vs. reductionism multifactorial causes can not fully explain causes of most abnormal behaviour

5. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 5 Case Study: Meghan’s Hardships what caused Meghan to attempt suicide? issues to consider: – heredity – inter-uterine problems – early physical abuse and neglect – rejection from peers – failure at school – difficult relationship with her adoptive mother

6. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 6 History of the Paradigms: Pre-20 th Century witchcraft development of the scientific method

7. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 7 History of the Paradigms: Biological cure of “general paresis” – different from other forms of lunacy – linked to the STD syphilis – spirochete responsible for syphilis discovered – penicillin used to treat syphilis – incidence of general paresis virtually eliminated

8. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 8 History of the Paradigms: Psychodynamic Freud’s (1856-1939) psychoanalytic theory abnormal behaviour the result of unconscious mental events mind consists of id, ego, and superego used ideas to treat hysteria

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10. 10 History of the Paradigms: Cognitive Behavioural more concerned with treatment than etiology initially, focus on observable behaviour rather than “mind” Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) → classical conditioning B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) → operant conditioning John B. Watson (1878-1958) → behaviourism  cognition increasingly viewed as an important process in learning

11. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 11 History of the Paradigms: Humanistic  human nature is inherently good  abnormal behaviour is the result of society not the individual  what is the meaning of life?  free will vs. determinism  more of a philosophy than psychology

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13. 13 Systems Theory Revisited Diathesis-stress model – disorders typically have several risk factors – equifinality – multifinality – reciprocal causality Developmental psychopathology – utilizes developmental norms – allows for prognosis

14. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 14 Development of Psychopathology  Biological Factors  Psychological Factors  Social Factors

15. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 15 Biological Factors: Neurons & Neurotransmitters Neurons – smallest anatomic unit within the nervous system – dendrites → soma → axon → terminals → synapse Neurotransmitters – released into the synapse by axon terminals – trigger receptors on dendrites – over or undersupply linked to mental disorder

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17. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 17 Biological Factors: Neural Networks very complicated in the human brain change as a function of experience Donald Hebb (1904-1985)

18. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 18 Biological Factors: Brain Structures hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain limbic system hypothalamus and thalamus

19. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 19 Biological Factors: Cerebral Hemispheres lateralization of function coordination of function – corpus callosum four ventricles cerebral cortex – frontal lobe – parietal lobe – temporal lobe – occipital lobe

20. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 20 Biological Factors: Endocrine System  release hormones into the bloodstream  regulates aspects of normal development

21. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 21 Biological Factors: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulates functions of various organs little or no conscious control Two branches: sympathetic parasympathetic

22. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 22 Biological Factors: Basic Principles of Behaviour Genetics dominant and recessive genes genotype vs. phenotype mental disorders, if inherited, are most likely polygenic

23. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 23 Biological Factors: Researching Behaviour Genetics family incidence studies monozygotic (MZ) vs. dizygotic (DZ) twins adoption studies

24. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 24 Nature/Nurture Debate genes alone do not cause most disorders if crime is “genetic”, where is the “crime” gene? environment can maximize genetic potential  conclusion: nature and nurture are inseparable influences

25. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 25 Psychological Factors 1)Basic human motivations and temperament 2)Emotion 3)Learning and cognition 4)Sense of self 5)Development

26. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 26 1) Basic Human Motivations Evolutionary Psychology – human psychology has evolved based on the principles of natural selection and inclusive fitness Attachment Theory – disorders rooted in insecure or anxious attachments Temperament – individual differences rated on “Big Five”

27. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 27 2) Emotion six basic emotions: – love – joy – surprise – anger – sadness – fear controlled by subcortical brain structures

28. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 28 3) Learning and Cognition Modeling – Albert Bandura (1925-) – behaviour by imitating others Cognition – human brain analogous to a computer – social cognition – attribution errors

29. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 29 4) Sense of Self Erikson’s concept of identity – quest to answer, “Who am I?” George Kelly (1905-1966) – people adhere to various roles throughout life socialization – learn societal rules and develop self-control self-efficacy self-esteem and mental health

30. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 30 5) Development developmental transitions Freud’s psychosexual development Erikson’s psychosocial development Jean Piaget and cognitive development

31. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 31 Social Factors Labeling Theory – abnormal behaviour the product of social expectations – self-fulfilling prophesy Relationships – marital status – social support a protective factor

32. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 32 Social Factors Gender roles Prejudice and poverty – First Nations people living in cities are more than twice as likely to live in poverty (Lee, 2000) – suffer substance abuse, family violence, risk for suicide Societal values