1. FUNDAMENTALS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY RONALD J. COMER
Chapter 1
Abnormal Psychology:
Past and Present
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2. What Do We Mean by Abnormality?
There is no consensus definition
There are some clear elements of abnormality
ABNORMALITY
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3. The Elements of Abnormality
Elements of abnormality include:
Deviance
Distress
Dysfunction
Danger
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4. The Elements of Abnormality
Points to remember!
No one element is sufficient to define or determine abnormality
Definition of deviant changes as society changes
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5. The DSM-5 Definition MENTAL DISORDER
Clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotional regulation, or cognitive function
Associated with distress or disability
Biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunction in individual
MENTAL
DISORDER
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6. Treatment Inpatient hospitalization typically in psychiatric units
Not all people receive treatment
Vast majority of treatment is done on outpatient basis
Inpatient hospitalization typically in psychiatric units
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7. What Is Treatment?
Jerome Frank claims that all forms of therapy have three essential features:
A sufferer who seeks relief from the healer
A trained healer
A series of contacts through which the healer tries to produce certain changes in the sufferer’s emotional state, attitudes, and behavior
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

8. Ancient skull with holes from trephination

9. Greek and Roman Views and Treatments
500 B.C.E.
Hippocrates believed and taught that illnesses had natural causes
He looked to an unbalance of the four fluids, or humors
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

10. A.D. – Middle Ages
LO 14.1 How has mental illness been explained? How is abnormality defined?
mentally ill labeled witches connected to satan
Lycanthropy – people were possessed by wolves

11. The Nineteenth Century: Reform and Moral Treatment
Pinel (France) and Tuke (England) advocated moral treatment – care that emphasized moral guidance and humane techniques
State hospitals created
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

12. The Nineteenth Century: Reform and Moral Treatment
reversal of the moral treatment movement due to:
Money and staff shortages
Declining recovery rates
Overcrowding
Emergence of prejudice
long-term hospitalization
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

13. The Early Twentieth Century:
The Somatogenic Perspective
Abnormal functioning has physical causes
The Psychogenic Perspective
Abnormal functioning has psychological causes
Emil Kraepelin
( )
Sigmund Freud
Franz Mesmer ( )
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

14. Current Trends
43% believe that people bring mental health disorders upon themselves
35% consider mental health disorders to be caused by sinful behavior
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

15. In the 1950s, researchers discovered psychotropic medications:
Antipsychotic drugs
Antidepressant drugs
Antianxiety drugs
led to deinstitutionalization and a rise in outpatient care
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

16. The growing influence of managed care program (HMOs) determines key care issues
reimbursements for mental disorders tend to be lower than those for medical disorders
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

17. How Are People with Less Severe Disturbances Treated?
1 in 6 adults in the US receives treatment for psychological disorders in the course of a year, the majority for fewer than 5 sessions
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

18. What Are Today’s Leading Theories and Professions?
abnormal psychology has numerous theoretical perspectives, including:
Psychoanalytic
Biological
Behavioral
Cognitive
Humanistic-existential
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

19. Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

20. Research Approaches in Abnormal Psychology
A scientific attitude and approach to the study of abnormal behavior
Helps understand etiology and nature of disorder
Reduces error
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21. Case Studies Specific individual observed and described in detail
Subject to bias of author of case study
Low generalizability
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22. Self-Report Data
Participants asked to provide information about themselves
Interviews and Questionnaires
May be inaccurate l
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23. Observational Approaches
Collecting information without asking participants directly for it
Outward behavior can be observed directly
Biological variables can be observed via technologically advanced methods
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24. Correlation – how variables are related
Strength or magnitude = 0 to 1.0
Direction of relationship = + or -
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25. Figure 1.2: Measuring Correlation
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26. Correlations and Causality
If two variables are correlated, there are multiple possible reasons for this.
How many reasons can you identify?
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27. Correlations and Causality
Correlation does NOT mean causation!
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28. Epidemiology
Study of distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population
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29. Prevalence Typically expressed as percentages
Number of active cases in population during any given period of time
Typically expressed as percentages
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30. Incidence
Number of new cases in population over given period of time
Incidence figures are typically lower than prevalence figures
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31. Manipulating Variables: The Experimental Method in Abnormal Psychology
Experimental research involves:
Independent variable
Dependent variable
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32. Manipulating Variables: The Experimental Method in Abnormal Psychology
Experimental research CAN determine causation!
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34. Alternative Experimental Designs
Quasi-experimental designs – no random assignment
Natural experiment
Analogue experiment
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

35. Single-Case Experimental Designs
Single-case research designs
Make causal inferences in individual cases
Involve alternating baseline condition and treatment condition
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36. Figure 1.4: An ABAB Experimental Design: Kris’s Treatment
Trichotillomania and given 2.5 lb weights on her hands.
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