Chapter 1

Abnormal Psychology: Definition & The Core Concepts

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology

Core Concepts in Defining Abnormality 1. The importance of context in defining and understanding abnormality

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology 2. The continuum between normal and abnormal behavior Intelligence Suicidality

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology

3. Cultural and historical relativism in defining and classifying abnormal behavior • No universal definition of abnormality

Approaches to Defining Abnormal Behavior

• • • • • Does Infrequency Define Abnormality?

Does Suffering Define Abnormality?

Does Strangeness Define Abnormality?

Does the Behavior Itself Define Abnormality?

Should Normality Serve as a Guide?

Commonly Used Criteria for Defining Abnormality (HIDES) • • • • • Help Seeking Irrationality/Dangerousness Deviance Emotional Distress Significant Impairment

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology “describes behavioral, emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and associated with personal distress or substantial impairment in functioning” (DSM-IV)

Psychopathology Defined

• A psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning that is not a typical or culturally expected response • Mental Illness is a less preferred term • Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders

Core Concepts in Abnormal Psychology Science of Pathology • Roles – PhD vs. MD vs. MSW • Clinical descriptions – Prevalence, onset, prognosis, course

The Science of Psychopathology

• • • What Factors Contribute to the Development of Psychopathology?

– Study of etiology How Can We Best Improve the Lives of People Suffering From Psychopathology?

– Study of treatment development – Includes pharmacologic, psychosocial, and/or combined treatment How Do We Know That We Have Alleviated Psychological Suffering?

– Study of treatment outcome – Limited in specifying actual causes of disorders

• Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior Major Psychological Disorders Have Existed – In all cultures – Across all time periods • Supernatural Theory

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior • Disorders caused by demons and supernatural powers • Treatments include exorcisms

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior • Biological Theory – Hippocrates – Syphilis – John Grey – Treatment Options

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior • • Psychoanalytic Theory – Freud • • • Structure of the mind Defense mechanisms Stages of development Humanistic Theory – Jung, Alder, Rogers • Self actualization

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior • Behaviorism – Pavlov’s classical conditioning – Watson’s Albert experiment – Skinner’s operant conditioning

Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior • Thomas Szasz – Anti-psychiatry movements – Myth of Mental Illness – “if you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you have schizophrenia”