Transcript Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology
The study of psychopathology
What is Psychopathology?
 The
study of abnormal thoughts,
behaviors, and feelings.

“Psycho” means “mind.”

“Pathology” means “pathogen” or “organism
causing disease.”
What constitutes abnormal
behavior?

What do you think?
Factors that determine whether
behavior is abnormal or not:

1.Statistical infrequency

2.Violation of norms

3.Personal Distress

4.Dysfunction

Unexpectedness
Statistical infrequency:

Abnormal behavior is often infrequent.
mania & depression occur in 1% of the pop.
Problem:
Not all unusual behavior is abnormal!!
(E.g., superior athletic ability, geniuses)
Violation of norms:

Abnormal behavior often violates the social
norms of a given culture.
(E.g., experiencing hallucinations, talking to
inanimate objects,)
Problem:

The violation of norms explicitly makes
abnormality a relative concept.
Criminals and prostitutes violate social
norms, but would not fall within the context
of abnormal psychology.
Personal Distress:

Behavior may be abnormal if it creates great
distress.

(E.g., people with depression experience
considerable distress.)
Problem:

Not all distressed individuals are mentally
ill & some mentally ill individuals do not
show distress (psychopaths).
Dysfunction:

Does the behavior impair an individual’s
ability to function in life (work, personal
relationships)?
(E.g., substance-use disorders)
Problem:

Some individuals with a DSM diagnosis,
live functional lives (e.g., transvestites).
Unexpectedness:

Distress & disability are considered
abnormal when they are unexpected
responses to stressors.
E.g., (anxiety disproportionate with the
situation).
Problems with classifying behavior
as abnormal
Several factors need to be examined.
Societal norms may change which behaviors
are deemed abnormal.
E.g., Homosexuality was once classified as a
mental disorder in the DSM (up till 1973).
Mental Health Professions
What does it take to be a clinical psychologist?
1. Clinical Psychologist

-Ph.D. or Psy.D.

-4-7 yrs graduate study

-1-year internship in APA accredited hospital
or mental health facility.
Difference between Ph.D. & Psy.D

-A Ph.D. is trained to:
 *conduct research, teach
 *assess & diagnose mental disorders
 *conduct therapy

A Psy.D: limited to clinical practice.
2. Psychiatrist

-4 yrs Medical school (M.D.)

-4-5 yr residency in hospital

***Can prescribe medication for mental
disorders-because of M.D. training.
3. Psychoanalyst
-M.D. degree

-receives specialized training in field of
psychoanalysis

-up to 10 yrs graduate study required
4. M.S.W.

-MSW degree
 -2-3 yrs graduate study
 -1-3 yr. field placement
 -can practice some psychotherapy and marriage
counseling.

5.Counseling Psychologist:
 - (Masters or Ph.D.)
 -2-5 yrs graduate work
 1-3 yr field placement
History of Psychopathology

Mental illness was thought to be the result of
supernatural forces (angry Gods, possession by
demons).
Scholars, theologians, and philosophers believed a
troubled mind was the result of displeased Gods or
possession.
Demonology: “the Devil made
me do it!”

Abnormal behavior (hallucinations, delusions,
paranoia) resulted from demonic possession.

Treatment: drive the evil spirits out of the body.
 -stone-age: trephination

-exorcism: prayers, brews, flogging, starvation,
etc.
Mental illness: a biological problem.

By 5th century B.C., mental illness--thought to be
result of biological problem in the brain.

-Hippocrates- argued that deviant behavior was
result of physical causes.

-The view that deviant behavior occurs because of
disease in the body is called “Somatogenesis.”
Hippocrates (contd.)
Thought cognitive functioning could be
restored by balancing the four humors in
body: blood, black bile, yellow bile, &
phlegm).
The Dark Ages

With decline of Roman & Greek
civilizations/ rise of Church as dominant
power in Europe, demonology makes a
come-back!!

*Treatment- exorcisms
Mental illness: witchcraft (1300s)

Hallucinations & delusions--evidence of witchcraft.

Most accused were not mentally ill, but forced to
confess crimes they didn’t commit.

Treatment: beatings/death by hanging or burning.
Mentally ill housed in asylums (1500s+)

After crusades, mentally ill were confined to asylums.

Asylums (originally leprosariums), were converted
after crusades when leprosy was on a decline.

Most famous: St. Mary’s of Bethlehem in London
(founded in 1243). Called “Bedlam.”

Deplorable conditions- little food, little patient care,
blood letting practices, & spread of diseases.
Asylums became “attraction.”

Bethlehem- became hot tourist spot, where
people gawked at London’s mentally ill.

Treatment- patients were drained of blood
& purposely “frightened.”
Moral Treatment (1790s +)

Philippe Pinel – humanitarian treatment of
mentally ill in asylums.

Patients formerly chained & shackled were
released & free to roam the buildings.
Treatment: cannabis, opium, alcohol.
Medical model (recent)
Mental illness– may have biological,
psychological, and/or social cause.
Treatment: drugs, psychotherapy, ECT