Exploring Models of Abnormality: Biological, Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Humanistic-Existential Perspectives

Modes of Abnormality - Models or paradigms used by scientists and clinicians to treat abnormality - Explain events and basic assumptions - Guide treatment techniques and principles - Involves several models to explain abnormality The Biological Model - Has biological basis and medical perspective - Considers illness to be brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism - Points to problems in brain anatomy or brain chemistry How Do Biological Theorists Explain Abnormal Behavior? - Brain anatomy - Neurons and glia cells - Brain structures - Cerebrum - Connections found among some psychological disorders and specific Brain structures - Brain chemistry - Neuron-to-neuron transmission - Dendrites - Axons - Nerve endings - Synapses - Neurotransmitters - Receptors - More about neurotransmitters - Dozens of identified Neurotransmitters in brain - Abnormal activity in certain Neurotransmitters can lead to specific mental disorders - Chemical activity - Abnormal activity in endocrine system is also related to mental disorders - Abnormal secretion of the hormone cortisol is linked to anxiety and mood Disorders Sources of Biological Abnormalities: Genetics - Abnormalities in brain anatomy or chemistry are sometimes the result of genetic Inheritance - Studies suggest that inheritance plays a part in mood disorders, schizophrenia, and Other mental disorders - In most cases, several genes combine to produce actions and reactions - Genes that contribute to mental disorders may be viewed as mistakes of inheritance - Mutations - Inherited after a mutation in the family line - Result of normal evolutionary principles - Evolutionary theorists suggest - Genes contribute to adaption and survival - Contemporary pressure may cause this genetic inheritance to be less adaptive and Leave some people prone to abnormal psychological patterns. Biological Treatments - Biological practitioners attempt to identify the physical source of dysfunction to determine The course of treatment - Three leading biological treatments today - Drug therapy - Brain stimulation - Psychosurgery - Drug therapy - 1950s: Advent of psychotropic medications - Four major drug groups used in therapy - Antianxiety drugs - Antidepressant drugs - Antibipolar drugs - Antipsychotic drugs - Brain stimulation - Direct or indirect brain stimulation - Approaches - Electroconvulsive therapy - Transcranial magnetic stimulation - Vagus nerve stimulation - Deep brain stimulation - Psychosurgery - Brain surgery for mental disorders Assessing the Biological Model - Strengths - Enjoys considerable respect in the field - Constantly produces valuable new information - Treatments bring great relief - Weaknesses - Limits understanding of abnormal function by excluding nonbiological factors - May produce significant undesirable effects The Psychodynamic Model - Freud (1856-11939) developed theory of psychoanalysis - Proposed person’s behavior determined largely by underlying unconscious, dynamic, Psychological forces - Suggested abnormal symptoms are the result of conflict among these forces How Did Freud Explain Normal and Abnormal Functioning? - Three unconscious forces shape personality: instinctual needs, rational thinking, and moral Standard - Id: Pleasure principle - Ego: Reality principle - Superego: Morality principle - Conflicts - Some degree of conflict - Healthy personality equals balance - Dysfunction equals excessive conflict - Freud’s proposed developmental stages - New events and pressures require adjustment in the Id, Ego, and Superego at each Stage - If successful, it leads to personal growth - If unsuccessful, it leads to fixation at early developmental stage, leading to Psychological abnormality Psychodynamic Therapies - Seek to uncover past trauma and inner conflicts with the therapist acting as a guide - Free association - Therapist interpretation - Resistance - Transference - Dream interpretation - Catharsis - Working through - Current trends - Short-term psychodynamic therapies - Relational psychoanalytic therapy Assessing the Psychodynamic Model - Strengths - First to recognize the importance of psychological theories and systematic treatment For abnormality - Saw abnormal functioning nested in the same processes as normal functioning - Weaknesses - Unsupported ideas; difficult to research - Non-observable concepts - Inaccessible to human subjects The Cognitive-Behavioral Model - Focuses on maladaptive behaviors and/or cognitions in understanding and treating Psychological abnormality - Shares key principles between behavioral and cognitive perspectives - Behavioral dimension - Using conditioning - Classical conditioning - Modeling - Operant conditioning - Therapists, as teachers, seek to help replace problematic behaviors with more Appropriate behaviors - Cognitive dimension - Focuses on maladaptive thinking processes - Inaccurate/disturbing assumptions and attitudes - Illogical thinking - Therapists help clients recognize, challenge, and change problematic thinking - Cognitive-behavioral interplay - Behavioral and cognitive components are interwoven in most contemporary theories And therapies - Example: Social anxiety disorder - Anxiety levels increase when clients enter social situations, avoidance, and safety Behaviors appear. - Exposure therapy Assessing the Behavioral Model - Strengths - Powerful force in clinical field - Very broad appeal - Clinically useful - Focuses on a uniquely human process - Theories tend themselves to research - Therapies are effective in treating several disorders - Weaknesses - The premise role of cognition in abnormality has yet to be determined - Cognitive-behavioral therapies are not effective with everyone - New focus on self-efficacy, social cognition, and cognitive- behavioral theories - Some changes may not be possible to achieve - A new wave of therapies has emerged: acceptance and commitment therapy And mindfulness-based techniques Assessing the Cognitive Model - Strengths - Very broad appeal - Clinically useful and effective - Focuses on a uniquely human process - Theories lend themselves to research - Therapies effective in treating several disorders The Humanistic-Existential Model - Humanist view - Emphasis on people as friendly, cooperative, and constructive - Focus on drive to self-actualize through honest recognition of strengths and Weaknesses - Existential view - Emphasis on accurate self-awareness and meaningful life - Total freedom from birth can result in negative or positive behaviors/outcomes - Psychological dysfunction is caused by self-deception - Rogers’ humanistic theory and therapy - Basic human need for unconditional positive regard - If received is unconditional self-regard - If not is conditions of worth - Rogers’ client-centered therapy - Therapist creates a supportive climate - Unconditional positive regard - Accurate empathy - Genuineness - Little research support but positive impact on clinical practice - Gestalt theory and therapy - Goal is to guide clients towards self-recognition through challenge and frustration - Techniques - Skillful frustration - Role playing - Rules, including “here and now” and “I” language - Little research support; subjective experiences and self-awareness cannot be Objectively measured. - Existential theories and therapy - Psychological abnormality - Arises when client uses self-deception to hide from responsibilities - Clients feel overwhelmed by societal forces; quitting becomes habitual - Existential therapy - Clients are encouraged to accept responsibility for their lives and problems - Relationship between therapist and client includes shared learning and growth Assessing the Humanistic-Existential Model - Strengths - Taps into domains missing from other models - Emphasizes the individual - Optimistic - Emphasizes health - Weaknesses - Focuses on abstract issues - Difficult to research - Weakened by disapproval of scientific approach; may be changing The Sociocultural Model - Abnormal behavior includes social and cultural forces that influence an individual - Address norms and roles in society - Includes two major perspectives - Family-social perspective - Multicultural perspective - How do family-social theorists explain abnormal functioning? - Proponents argue that theorists should concentrate on forces that operate directly on An individual - Social labels and roles; diagnostic labels - Social connections and supports - Family structure and communication - Family systems theory - Enmeshed; disengaged structures - Family-social treatments - Psychological problems emerge and are best treated in family and social settings - Perspective helped spur growth of several treatment approaches - Group therapy - Family therapy - Couple therapy - Community therapy