Chapter Two

Models of Abnormal Behavior

OR

“Welcome [back] to PSY 101!”

• We use a model (theory) to describe, understand, predict and control behavior.

• Some people stick to one model (purists)• Some people choose from among all the

models (eclectics) • Sue, Sue, & Sue use a “multi-path” model so they’re eclectics….

Multi-path/eclectic models acknowledge…

• … that no one single theory is best all of the time.

• …that there may be factors from more than one theory to explain a behavior.

• …that all theories should at least be considered all of the time.

• …some theories MAY be more relevant than others at times.

• …theories may interact with each other.

Multi-path Model (Dimensions)

BiologicalGenetics, Brain,

Biochemical, CNS, ANS

PsychologicalPersonality, Cognition,

Emotions, Learning, Stress, Self-esteem, Development.

SocialFamily, Relationships, Social

Support, Belonging, Love, Marital Status, etc.

SocioculturalRace, Gender, Sexual Or., SES, Religion, Ethnicity,

Culture

Cognitive

Behaviorism Early childhood experiences

Humanism

Interaction

Depression?

The Brain

HindbrainSerotonin

Limbic System

HippocampusAmygdala:

Pleasure, fear, aggression,

arousal,

Sleep, alertness, pain, vision,

hearing. Serotonin, Norepinephrine,

dopamine.

Neuron

• Dendrites receive messages

• Axons send messages

• To next neuron

• 100 billion

neurons in the brain

• Myelin: Fatty layer of tissue that coats

axons

• Synapse

Genetic ExplanationsGenetically transmitted mental illness:

– Depression – Alcoholism, – Schizophrenia – 35-91%

– Pharmacogenomics

Biology-based TreatmentsPsychopharmacology: aka drug therapy (drugs

that affect mind and behavior)

Four classes:

» Antianxiety» Antipsychotic» Antidpressant» Antimanic

(handout)

Electoconvulsive Therapy• Declined in ‘70s – recent upswing…• Used in endogenous depression. • Mayo Clinic

Psychosurgery

Rosemary Kennedy

Psychological Factors(More PSY 101)

• Sigmund Freud

Personality: • Id – Pleasure principle• Ego – Reality principle• Supergo - Conscience

Psychosexual Stages:• Oral• Anal• Phallic• Latency• Genital

Develops during…

Psychological Factors

Psychodynamic treatments:• Free association• Dream analysis• Analysis of resistance• Transference

Criticism: No empirical data, anti-female, works best on well-educated, upper SES patients.

Psychological Factors

Behaviorism: Classical Conditioning:

• Ivan Pavlov, John Watson. • Behavior is elicited.

Operant Conditioning: • Edward Thorndike, B. F. Skinner. • Behavior is emitted then strengthened or

weakened through: – Positive reinforcement– Negative reinforcement– Punishment

Psychological Factors

Observational Learning

Albert Bandura

Psychological Factors

Cognitive Models• Thinking and events affect behavior. • Therapists need to change our schemata

(schemas)

Conclusion: It’s all in the attitude! …or…so says Charles Swindoll

(handout)

Or it’s the power of POSITIVE thinking says Wil Smith!

Psychological Factors

Humanistic/ExistentialSome assumptions:

1. Subjective experience is more important than objective experience (“Daddy, I’m scared!)

2. People can make their own choices and be responsible for those choices.

3. Need to look at whole person – not one behavior, not toilet training, not just SES…

4. People have the ability to be whatever they want. (touches of cognitive psychology here…)

Psychological Factors , Humanistic

Abraham Maslow

Psychological Factors , Humanistic

Carl Rogers

• Client-centered therapy. • Unconditional Positive Regard. • Non-directive therapy.

Psychological Factors , Humanistic

ExistentialADDRESSES:

• irrational beliefs• human suffering• “intrusion of technology” into society• moral, philosophical, and ethical

behaviors of self and others. • “Fuzzy” “Not Scientific”• Doesn’t work with severe mental disorders

Social Factors DimensionAddresses how others affect our behavior:

Family systems: Everyone in a family affects every other family member.

• Personality is developed by how parents treat children. • Abnormal behavior is a symptom of a “dysfunctional” family

Therapies: Family therapy focuses on the entire famly and addresses:

• communication• power struggles

Couple therapy: • needs • expectations

Group therapy: Everyone has something in common….

Sociocultural Factors• Gender: More stress on females than males• SES: health, depression, stressors, wages,

unemployment, food/shelter, hopeless, helpless, dependence, inferiority

• RACE: – Inferiority model –– Are Asians smartest?

• Multicultural model says some cultures are not bad just DIFFERENT in values, customs, etc.

• Need to understand behavior