Abnormal Psychology Chapters 1-3 UCF – Flashcards
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What is Abnormal Psychology?
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The scientific study of strange or unusual behavior.
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What are the four tasks of Abnormal Psychology?
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Diagnosis, Explaining, Predicting, and Controlling abnormal behavior.
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What is Psycho-Diagnosis?
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Is an attempt to describe, assess, and systematically draw inferences about a persons psychological disorder.
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What is Diagnosis?
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To label an illness. The label however may be too general, or describe current conditions.
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Define Explaining abnormal behavior.
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Psychologists identify causes of abnormal behavior. Explanation varies with orientation.
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Predicting adnormal behavior
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If a source of a patient difficulty is known, predictions can be made about behavior, but this may not always be true.
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Define Controlling abnormal behavior.
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abnormal behavior may be controlled through therapy (biological or psychological), which modifies a pt.'s behavioral, affective (emotional) or cognitive state.
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What are four ways in which abnormal behavior is defined?
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-Statistical deviation, -Ideal mental health criterion. -Multicultural perspective, -and Practical definitions.
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Define statistical deviation.
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This criterion equates normality with behavior that occurs most frequently in the population. Abnormality is defined terms of less frequently occurring behavior. This method fails to consider cultural values or creative behavior, which is less frequent.
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Define ideal mental health criterion.
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this view stresses looking at deviation from some positive goal. Humanistic psychologists suggest SELF-ACTUALIZATION (reaching one's highest potentials). Psychologists suggest balance of psychic forces. Others suggest reaching MATURITY.
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Define multicultural perspective.
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Cultural universality of abnormal behavior states certain types are seen in all cultures. ** CULTURAL RELATIVISM is defined as the belief that life style, cultural values and worldviews vary on what they consider to be normal or abnormal behavior.
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Define practical definitions.
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Practical or clinical criteria are often the basis of our diagnosis. pragmatic manifestations (symptoms) become the basis of judgment. The practical criteria for abnormality include subjective discomfort { happy all the time}, bizarreness of behavior, and inefficiency {don't go to work, say no, sit at home, some mental disturbance}.
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What is practical or clinical criteria?
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The basis of our diagnosis.
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What are pragmatic manifestations (symptoms)?
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Symptoms that become the basis of judgment.
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What are the four practical criteria for abnormality?
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-Subjective discomfort -Bizarreness of behavior - Inefficiency ( dysfunction) -DSM-IV ( now it would be the 5th version that just came out this year)
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Define discomfort.
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Physical or psychological discomfort is cause for referral.
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Define bizarreness of behavior.
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Odd, strange behavior judged as abmormal in most situations, for example: HALLUCINATIONS, DELUSIONS, DISORIENTATION.
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Define inefficiency ( dysfunction).
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Failing to stand up too one's potential and failure in performance. PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS determine inefficiencies.
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Define DSM-IV definition of abnormal behavior.
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DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorder published by American Psychiatric Association, 1994 includes all abnormal behaviors. According to DSM-IV , behavior that departs form some norm and harms the affected person or others is called abnormal behavior.
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Define hallucination.
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Seeing or hearing things that do not exist.
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Define delusions.
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Having false beliefs.
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Define disorientation.
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Confusion with regards to identity.
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What is the current research into the epidemiology of mental disorders?
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studies show high rates of mental illness in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has done vast data collecting research. The costs are tremendous. ALCOHOL PROBLEMS and PHOBIC DISORDERS are the most common problems in the United States.
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What re the most common problems in the U.S.?
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ALCOHOL PROBLEMS and PHOBIC DISORDERS
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What is the role heredity and environmental factor have in abnormal behavior?
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Persons with mental disturbances are subjected to stereotyping and popular misconceptions. Behavior of abnormal people may be the same as normal persons. Both heredity and environmental factors are very important. Mentally ill persons are not seriously dangerous.
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What are the mental health professions?
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-Clinical Psychology -Counseling Psychology -Mental Health Counseling -Psychiatry -Psychoanalysis -Other fields are psychiatric social work, clinical social work, and marriage and family counseling.
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What is Clinical Psychology?
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A profession which deals with assessment (diagnosis) and treatment of abnormal behavior usually without the use of drugs.
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What is Counseling Psychology?
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A profession which deals with less severe problems, mostly in relation with normal persons.
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What is Mental Health Counseling?
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A profession which deals with providing counseling and various therapeutic techniques to basically normal persons.
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What is Psychiatry?
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A medical profession which deals with assessment and treatment of mentally ill persons, usually using medication.
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What is Psychoanalysis?
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A method of treatment proposed by Sigmund Freud. A psychoanalyst is a person who follows this method.
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What are the other fields of of the mental health professions?
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Other fields are psychiatric social work, clinical social work, and marriage and family counseling.
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What is Trephining?
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A crude operation performed by stone age man, chipping the skull with a sharp object such as a stone.
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Naturalistic Explanations (Greco-Roman Thoughts)
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Hippocrates
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Describe Hippocrates view.
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Had a naturalistic view regarding mental illness. He felt deviant behavior was caused by brain pathology. He classified illness into mania (elated), melancholia (depressed), and phrenitis (brain fever). Tranquility and moderate exercise and diet were proposed.
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What is Tarantism?
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A disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance. (Mass Madness)
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What is Lycanthropy?
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Victims imagined they were wolves. (Mass Madness)
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Exorcism
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Was practiced in the Middle Ages to cast off evil spirits.
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Middle Ages
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Re-emphasis on supernatural as the cause of mental illness appeared. Mental illness was perceived as punishment for sins. The Dark Ages (400-900 AD) were bleak for the mentally ill.
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Witchcraft Practice
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Increased authority of the church. People with peculiar behavior were suspected of performing witchcraft.
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The Rise of Humanism (Renaissance)
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Humanism movement emphasized human welfare and the worth and uniqueness of the person. Johan Weyer stated persons who were tortured were not witches, but mentally disturbed. (16th century)
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Humanism
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Emphasized human welfare and the worth and uniqueness of the person.
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Johan Weyer
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Stated persons who were tortured were not witches, but mentally disturbed. (16th century)
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Reform Movements
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Phillip Pinel in France was the founder of moral treatment movement. Benjamin Rush, Dorothy Dix, and Clifford Beers in the United States were all involved in improving the treatment offered in mental institutions.
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The Biological (Organic) Viewpoint (Somatogenic View)
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- Emil Kraeplin is the founder. - He believed mental illnesses has physiological (biological/organic) causes. - Clusters (groups) of symptoms (signs of illness) were called syndrome. - Biological causes included metabolic disturbances, endocrine problems, brain disease, and heredity. - His classification of mental illnesses was the basis for the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness).
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The Psychological Viewpoint (Psychogenic View)
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This view states that some types of emotional disorders are not associated with any biological diseases.
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Who was a major contributor(s) for the Psychogenic View?
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Mesmer, Charcot, and Breuer & Freud- ( I think, could just be Mesmer)
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Mesmer
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( a Frenchman in the 18th century) challenged the organic point of view. His work was the forerunner of hypnotism. He treated hysteria.
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The Nancy School
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Charcot was the founder and he used hypnosis and removed symptoms of hysteria under hypnosis in France in the 19th century.
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Breuer & Freud
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Freud founded psychoanalysis. He originally practiced with Breuer in Vienna using hypnosis to treat hysterical patients. [Gave it up after he saw that it just comes back in another form.]
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Who founded psychoanalysis?
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Sigmund Freud ( study of the mind)
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What is the Contemporary View Point: A Bio-psycho-social approach?
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The belief that abnormal behavior has multi-factor causes, namely bio, psycho, and social factors and the use of the bio-psycho-social model.
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Three major factors contributed to our current understanding of abnormal behavior:
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a.The drug revolution in psychiatry and prescription privileges for psychologists. b.Increased research in abnormal psychology. c.The belief that abnormal behavior has multi-factor causes, namely bio, psycho, and social factors and the use of the bio-psycho-social model.
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Who was the founder of moral treatment movement?
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Phillip Pinel
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Who is involved in improving the treatment offered in mental institutions?
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Benjamin Rush, Dorothy Dix, and Clifford Beers
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Syndrome
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Clusters (groups) of symptoms (signs of illness)
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What is a Model?
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Is used to describe something that cannot be observed directly, e.g. using a pump to illustrate the function of a heart. No true model for abnormal behavior is available.
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What is an Eclectic Model?
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Using a variety of perspectives (biopsychosocio) is employed by an eclectic psychologist to describe, explain, predict, and control abnormal behavior.
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what is an Eclectic Psychologist?
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to describe, explain, predict, and control abnormal behavior.
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BIOLOGICAL (ORGANIC) MODELS
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Biological models state that mental disorders are correlated with brain dysfunction and can be treated with medication or other biomedical techniques.
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The Human Brain contains?
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-Neurons -Neurotransmitters -Forebrain (highbrain) -thalamus - hypothalamus - limbic system -Midbrain -Hindbrain (lowbrain)
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Neurons
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Nerve cells that transmit messages.
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Neurotransmitters
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Are chemicals released in the synapses.
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Forebrain (highbrain)
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Controls all higher mental functions such as learning, speech, thought, and memory.
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Forebrain (highbrain) includes?
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thalamus limbic system hypothalamus
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Midbrain
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Is involved in vision and hearing.
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Hindbrain (lowbrain)
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Controls vegetative functions such as heart rate, sleep, and respiration.
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True or False: Damage to the brain may cause abnormal behavior.
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True
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Electrical impulses cross the synapses by the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters, name the two types.
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-excitatory (10%) -inhibitory (90%) - Which alter the behavior. Imbalance of neurotransmitters is correlated to mental illness. - (note: manic with bipolar patients b/c of the high and low of the two types on different days)
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What are the parts of a neuron and what do they do?
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A. The cell body- the center for sending and receiving nerve impulses. The cell body is also responsible for making proteins and for using energy for maintenance and growth of the nerve cell. B.The axon- is specialized to carry messages. C.The dendrites- are specialized structures for receiving impulses, mostly form the axon of another neuron.
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What is a Genotype?
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refers to a person's genetic make-up.
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What is a Phenotype
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refers to the behavioral characteristics as a result of genes.
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Identical twins are also called?
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Monozygotic twins They are derived from a single egg Have the same genetic makeup Are more alike
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Identical twins
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Are studied for inherited predisposition factors.
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Identical twins in the studies of schizophrenia show what?
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Shared disorders.
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schizophrenia
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Severe impairment in thinking and perception Speech may be incoherent And suffer from delsions
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What do correlation studies show?
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Strong correlation appears to exist between genetic inheritance and some mental disorders. Just comparisons, but do not show cause and effect realtionships
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What are the shortcomings of the biological models?
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-They are viewed as the only explanations for mental disorders. -If you only use the biological model to understand mental illness, you may be ignoring important environmental stressors or causes of mental illness. The best approach to understanding mental illness is the bio-psycho-social approach which accounts for multiple causes.
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What is Diathesis?
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Refers to the predisposition to develop a certain illness [pre-disposition + stress = symptoms]
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What is THE PSYCHOANALYTICAL MODEL?
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-The view that adult disorders arise from the unconscious of repressed anxieties originally experienced during childhood. -According to this model. the personality structure is composed of three parts, id, ego, and superego.
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Id
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Refers to the basic inborn instinctual and animalistic impulses present in everyone, which seeks the pleasure principle. The energy of the id is called libido. -operates from the pleasure principle - impulsive/subjective
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Ego
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Is the rational part of personality and follows the reality principle. -is influenced by the reality principle -rational part
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Superego
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-Is the conscience, the ego ideals, and is learned through the training of parents (the do's and don'ts) and follows the moral principle. -There are many opposing instincts, the major ones being life (eros) versus death (thanatos), love vs. hate, and aggression vs. care. - If there is no anxiety then there's something wrong and possibly no Superego -is the moral judgements and moralistic considerations - Conscience and guilt
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Eros
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Life instincts
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Thanatos
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Death instincts
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The Oral Stage
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Birth to about 2 years. Fixation or regression (remaining or returning) to this stage may cause an oral personality characterized by passivity, helplessness, obesity, smoking, overeating, and alcoholism.
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The Anal Stage
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2 to 4 years. Fixation or regression to this stage causes anal personality characterized by obsessive and compulsive behaviors, cleanliness or frugality, or the opposite traits.
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The Phallic Stage
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About 4 to 6 years. The child becomes preoccupied with his/her phallus (genitals). Fixation or regression results in exhibitionism and voyeurism. At the end of this stage, the boy must solve his Oedipus complex (abnormal attachment to the mother) by identifying with the father. The girl must solve her Electra complex (abnormal attachment to the father) by identifying with the mother. Healthy personality development continues after the resolution of these two complexes.
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The Latency Stage
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About 6 to 12. No visible preoccupation with sexuality. This is the period of socialization for both boys and girls.
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The Genital Stage
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About 12 to 18. Heterosexual interests begin to surface in both sexes, preparing the ground for future vocational planning, marriage, and family planning.
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The Psychosexual Stages of Development
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According to Freud, the human personality is largely developed in the first 5 - 7 years of life. From the moment of birth, an infant and then the child goes through the following stages called the psychosexual stages: -The Oral Stage -The Anal Stage -The Phallic Stage -The Latency Stage -The Genital Stage
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Oedipus complex
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Abnormal attachment to the mother
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Electra complex
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Abnormal attachment to the father
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Anxiety & Psychopathology
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According to Freud conflict between impulses and instincts cause anxiety which is the basis of abnormal behavior or what he called neurosis. Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe and has three types: -Realistic Anxiety -Moralistic Anxiety -Neurotic Anxiety
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Realistic Anxiety
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Caused by a realistic physical or psychological threat to the ego.
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Moralistic Anxiety
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Caused by conflict between the id and superego resulting in guilt.
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Neurotic Anxiety
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Caused by conflict between id and ego. Ego experiences anxiety due to the threat of unwanted id impulses.
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Which of the three types of anxiety is related to mental illness?
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Neurotic Anxiety ( **not sure if true**)
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In order to deal with anxiety
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Ego mobilizes defense mechanisms, which are conscious in the start and gradually due to habitual use become unconscious.
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What is the core of neurotic behavior?
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Anxiety
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Defense Mechanisms
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a. Repression b. Reaction Formation c. Projection d. Rationalization e. Displacement f. Regression g. Denial h. Sublimation i. There are other defenses such as - intellectualization - interjection - undoing People use defense mechanisms according to their personalities.
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Repression
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Blocking and preventing dangerous and unacceptable material from reaching consciousness. ["I don't remember"]
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Reaction Formation
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Demonstrating the opposite of one's feelings such as showing superficial love when one really hates an object or a person.
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Projection
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Blaming others for one's shortcomings or problems. It can lead to delusional systems and paranoia. [Blame everyone]
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Rationalization
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Stating irrational excuses to justify one's actions and behavior
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Displacement
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Directing hostility towards a substitute target.
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Regression
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To return to an earlier stage of development.
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Denial
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To deny the existence of reality, such as in lying.
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Sublimation
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The only so-called "good" defense in which a person channels his/her anxiety in socially accepted ways.
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Intellectualization
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(talk about disturbing event in an intellectual, jargon-y, emotionless manner),
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Interjection
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(Opposite of projection—blame self)
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Undoing
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(tries to repeat something to remove guilt. Try to un-do it).
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The Neo-Freudian Perspective
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-The neo-Freudians emphasizes the importance of ego, ego autonomy, the influences of social factors rather than sexual factors, freedom of choice, and the importance of future goals. -Some important neo-Freudians are Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, Eric Erikson, Karen Horney, Erich Fromm, and Anna Freud.
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The Humanistic View
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-Carl Rogers emphasizes the basic goodness of an individual. -Rogers believes behavior disorders are the result of the state of incongruency.
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Actualizing Tendency
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States that all people are born with a tendency to actualize and to reach their highest potentials.
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Self-Concept
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Refers to how we view ourselves.
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Condition of Worth
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Is imposed on a person by the society.
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Incongruency
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-A person who is uncomfortable with him/herself) results in disharmony. -Rogers believes behavior disorders are the result of the state of incongruency.
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Unconditioned positive regard
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Allows a person to grow and feel good about him/herself
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Rogers created a therapeutic technique referred to as what?
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Person-Centered Therapy
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Person-Centered Therapy
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-Stating that people can solve their problems if a positive therapeutic condition is created for them. -(The role of the therapist is to demonstrate unconditioned positive regards for the client. The therapist will be a good listener, will reflect, clarify, and interpret the feeling of the client. The client is the active participant.)
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The Existential Perspective
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The emphasis is on person's uniqueness, freedom and choice, and responsibility.
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Who developed existential perspective in the United States?
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Rolo May
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What are the three concepts are essential in existential analysis?
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-Being - Awareness of Existence -Nonbeing- Awareness of Death -Being-in-the-World- Existing in a social context
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Existential Anxiety
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Nonbeing - We cease to exist in the future. The anxiety it produces is called existential anxiety.
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Being (additional information)
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We exist at a particular point in time. We are conscious of our existence, therefore we are responsible, have a free will, and are capable of choosing.
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When does Abnormal Behavior develop in The Existential Perspective?
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Develops when a person feels he/she exists in a meaningless life and when conflict occurs between demands placed on the person and the person's nature.
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What is the goal of The Existential Therapy?
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Is to help a person become aware of his/her potentials for growth and for making choices for finding meaning in life.
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To find the nature of mental disorder, the clinician must gather facts through what?
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-observation -interview, -psychological tests
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The evaluation of the information leads to what?
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Psychodiagnosis- an attempt to describe and to assess a person's psychological disorder.
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Diagnosis
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To label an illness.
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Etiology
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Causes of an illness which may be biological, psychological, sociological.
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Symptom
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A sign of an illness or disorder.
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Syndrome
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A group of symptoms.
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Treatment
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Biological, psychological, and sociological techniques and methods to control and alleviate mental illness.
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Prognosis
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Prediction of the future course of a particular illness or disorder described in terms of favorable, unfavorable, or guarded .
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What is an Assessment?
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The process of gathering information and drawing conclusions about an individual, generally leading to diagnosis.
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Four principle means of assessment are available to clinicians, what are they?
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-observation - interview -psychological tests -neurological tests
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Observation
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-Observation is performed in natural settings, called naturalistic observation, - or under the conditions of a laboratory, called controlled observation. -Objectivity should be practiced in conducting observation.
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Interview
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-Interview provides a good chance to watch verbal and non-verbal behaviors, content of speech, and other face-to-face factors. -Structured and non-structured interviews can be conducted. Standardized interviews are formal and structured.
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Psychological Tests
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Psychological tests are used to assess personality, abnormal behavior, intellectual abilities, vocational interests, and brain damage.
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Neurological Tests
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-A variety of neurological medical procedures are available for diagnosing brain damage. -The CAT scan (computerized axial tomography) provides a 3D image of the structure of the brain, showing any deterioration or abnormality present. -The EEG (electroencephalograph) provides information about tumors or other brain problems and conditions. It maps the brainwaves. -The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can produce clear pictures of brain and its tissues.
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Reliability
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A test giving the same or nearly the same results on repeated administration is called a reliable test.
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Validity
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Refers to how well a test measures the trait or character it is supposed to measure. A valid intelligence test measures the intelligence quotient (IQ) accurately.
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What are the different types of Psychological Tests?
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-Projective Tests -Objective Tests -Intelligence Tests -Tests for Brain Damage
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Projective tests
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-Vague, ambiguous, and unstructured stimuli are presented to the client and he/she is to make out what he/she thinks they are. -Such tests delve into a person's unconscious needs and desires. -Examples: Rorschach Inkblot Test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Sentence Completion Test, Human Figure Drawing Test For children, the House-Tree-Person Test is also used.
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Objective tests
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- These tests are in the form of questionnaires, inventories, and true-false statements. When completed they provide a profile of a person's personality. -Example: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI and MMPI-2)
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Intelligence tests
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- These tests measure a person's intelligence quotient (IQ). - Examples: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test Wechsler tests
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Tests for brain damage (organicity)
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-Brain damage, also referred to as organicity can be diagnosed by using psychological tests. Some of them are very elaborate and some are simple. -Example:- Bender Gestalt Visual Motor Test (most simple) - Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery -Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery
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Rorschach Inkblot Test
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Which is a very sensitive test for detection of psychosis
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Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
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Which gives insight to a person's worries and conflicts in the stories they tell [see picture -> make story]
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Sentence Completion Test
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Is when a person is asked to complete sentences revealing many personality characteristics
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Human Figure Drawing Test
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When a person is asked to draw human figures [draw male and female, describe]
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Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI and MMPI-2)
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Which consists of over 550 true-false items.
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Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test
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Usually used for children (2-13)
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Wechsler tests
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Used for children and adults. -For children 6-17, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) IS USED. -For adults (17-75), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is used. -There are new revisions of tests, known as WISC-III and WAIS-R.
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Bender Gestalt Visual Motor Test
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Involving some geometrical figures and the patient is asked to draw them.
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Ethics of Assessment
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Psychologists should safeguard against the misuse of test results or application of such results.
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Emil Kraeplin
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-Proposed the 1st classification of mental disorders -Held the organic (biological) view of psychopathology -Classifications were based on the patient's symptoms -Common etiology (causes) result in similar problems
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DSM-IV
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-Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Illness -Published in 1994 -Published by APA (American Psychiatric Association) -Each revision was made to increase the reliability, validity, and usefulness of classification
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The Current DSM-IV System
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Individual's mental state is examined and evaluated on five dimensions or axes.
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What are the five axes?
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Axis I -Clinical Syndromes or other Clinical Conditions -Principle disorder is listed first Axis II -Personality Disorders -Mental Retardation Axis III -General Medical Conditions -If there is no medical problem, state deferred. Axis IV -Psychological & Environmental problems -Mild/Moderate/Severe Axis V -Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF Score) -Rating on psychological, social, & occupational functioning -Uses a 100-point scale -Normal: 75. Low: 50.
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Objections to Classification & Labeling
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-A label may cause people to interpret all activities of the affected person as pathological -A label may lead others to treat a person differently -A label may lead those labeled to believe that they indeed possess such characteristics
