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Understanding Psychopathology
Abnormal Psychology
Jasmine D. Hawkins
Alan Eby, Psy. D.
Abnormal Psychology 310-01
September 7, 2015
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Issue 1: In Health and Exercise Science there are many disciplines, such as athletic training,
occupational therapist, and nutrition specialist. In any of these health professions, many
psychological disorders can arise, whereas a health professional one will have to approach the
patient and/or situation in the right manner. In my profession as a pediatric dentist, I will most
likely come in contact with a child or parent that has a phobia of the dentist. The fear of the
dentist can cause serious anxiety, which is two psychological disorders that will I will have to
confront. The anxiety and fear of the dentist can cause refusal of preventative care. Dental care is
the window into many diseases beyond what happens in the mouth. Gum disease, for example,
has been connected to stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. As a dentist special training is
necessary so that patient's anxiety can be eased during their visit.
This course will help give me the knowledge of how to identify and approach different
psychological disorders so that I can be an assisting hand in my patients getting the help that they
need. Even though I cannot ethically or professionally give care, I can be the link between my
patients and the resources that they need. Taking this course can also help me to relate to the
patients' needs. As a dentist it will be important to know which medications or levels of certain
medication will counteract the medications that they are currently on, and/or trigger or inhibit
certain neurotransmitters that can have a negative effect on their disorder.
Issue 2: In psychopathology two models are used one is a linear model. This model states that
there is one influence for an individual’s behavior. The other model states that the causes of
psychological disorders are not one-dimensional, but multidimensional. In the multidimensional
model, it discusses three major influences: biological, psychological, and social. None of these
influences acts alone and are highly influenced by each other. To begin, I will discuss the
biological influences.
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Biological influences are the qualities that are inherited, and that cannot be changed or
altered. Examples of biological influences are genetics, hormonal imbalances in the brain,
physical deficit, or overly excited/inhibitory neurotransmitters within the brain. Over the years,
scientists have identified how genetics contributes to psychological disorders and behaviors. In a
research done by Rutter in 2006, his findings were that genetics attribute to half of a person’s
cognitive abilities and personality traits. The scientist has used the Diathesis-Stress Model, to
examine the relationship between genes and the environment. Diathesis is the inclination in
which a person is more susceptible to developing the disorder than others when stressors or
events come about. A person with a low diathesis is less likely to be susceptible to the disorder
when compared to a person with a high diathesis. An example of the Diathesis-Stress Model
would be, after birth some mothers experience postpartum depression while other mothers do
not. The reasoning is thought because of genetic predisposition. The mothers who experience
postpartum depression have gene susceptibility towards the disorder once the stressor is present.
There is evidence that genes play a role in psychopathology, but many researchers state that it
will only account for less than half of the cause for psychological disorders.
Secondly, psychological influences include behavioral, cognitive, and emotions; such as
trauma, maladaptive peer relationships, and situations. Scientists looked closely at classical
conditioning. In 1988, Robert Rescorla stated, having two events to occur close in time has no
significance on the outcome. It is the combination of judgments and cognitive function to
determine the final outcome. Pavlov found that it is the complex cognitive functioning of
information combined with emotional functioning is what is involved in conditioning. In other
aspects psychological influences, Martin Seligman examined learned helplessness, where rats
encountered situations where they experienced no control. The rats would receive shocks on
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occasions. The findings showed that the rats could function if they could learn to cope with the
shocks by avoiding them. On the other hand, if the rats found that their behavior had no effect on
the environment, and they continued to be shocked occasionally regardless of what they did. The
rats would develop depression because they could not find a way to cope. The way in which we
think positive, or try to “keep hope alive” is important because in a study held in 2002, results
showed that their participants had added up to seven years on their life for thinking positive.
Another aspect within the area of behavior and cognitive there is social learning. Social
learning is learning through an experience from someone else. An example of this would be
seeing a classmate cheat on a final, even though a person doesn’t go through it, by seeing those
repercussions is enough to trigger something in the mind to say cheating it bad. There is also
prepared learning that states that as humans we learn by preparing to fear objects or situations
that can be contributed to survival even without contact. An example would be the fear of
snakes, when we might have never come in contact with a snake yet we fear them because of the
knowledge of the dangers they can cause.
Another example of psychological psychopathology is an implicit memory. Implicit
memory is when a person reacts to a situation that based on things that happened in their past,
but the exact event cannot be remembered. Emotion is another discipline under psychological
influences, it is interconnected with other the areas previously discussed. Certain emotions can
be contributed to psychological disorders and/or can define them. Some of the emotions can be
anger, anxiety, or sadness. Emotions which are short-term and moods which a long-term can
affect a person's cognitive function. As stated previously when talking about the study from
2002, a positive mood can change the outlook of your impression and associations with others.
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All of these psychological influences can contribute to a psychological disorder, but also modify
the brain and its structure.
Thirdly, social/cultural influences are socioeconomic status, being subjected to prejudice
and/or discrimination, social changes, and employment. Culture and/or society can have major
influences on how a person responds or thinks about particular situations in life. In some
cultures, superstitions are highly enforced and must be passed down generation to generation. A
great example of this is Friday the 13th. Some people develop extreme fear anxiety because of the
thought that something bad will happen to them. Another example in some other culture the
bride must wear a veil to spare her from the evil eye. Gender and image can be a major social
influence because how society expects someone to look, especially females because it can cause
eating disorders. Interpersonal factors such as relationship can play a role in how social
influences affect health and behavior. Having a low socioeconomic status, social changes, or
unemployment in some cultures can result in shunning from other members in society. This can
cause low self-esteem, stress, depression, and/or other psychological disorders. Research has
shown that the most interpersonal connections made or more contact with others a person has,
can increase their happiness and lifespan.
The biological influences are the foundation of
psychopathology because biology is the
building blocks of a person. In the picture, the
rocks represent the biological influences
because the rocks are the foundation of the
river. A persons’ genetics and physiology
cannot be changed just like a rock. No matter
how you try to change it, it will still remain a
rock. The water is the psychological influences
because all the water from the waterfall flows
into the river. The many different aspects of the
psychology flow together to make it
psychological influences. The plant life would
consist of the social influences. Social
influences surround a person and can have
different levels of impact based on the stressor
or person. The plant life surrounds the river and
can have different effects on the river.
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Issue 3: In my experience in a Baptist church, mental illness was not something that was
addressed. When I grew older and became more knowledgeable about how things worked in my
church, my pastor would always say, “one of our members in our congregation is or has been
under the hand of affliction…please make sure you keep them in your prayers”. This statement
was normally given after they have been treated or hospitalized. The affliction could mean
various things, such as mental or physical illness, unclean spirit, financial, or marital/family
issues. The answer for any of these things was and remains, prayer. This is one reason in why I
consider myself more spiritual rather than a religious. I do believe that prayer can change things,
but in some situations I feel that other measures need to be taken. Another reason is in my church
many people still look at the seven deadly sins as, you are going to hell if you don’t change and
get prayer. It is even to the point where thinking outside of the norms within my church can have
you judged as, “you’re crazy” or mentally unstable.
I think that churches/religions should start to look past evil and holy, and consider other
options for why someone’s behavior is the way that it is. I still feel that many churches in smaller
areas still treat mental illness as a punishment or a bad thing. People of power within the church
should be taught how to identify people with mental illness, and where to find the resources out
there so that people can get the help they need. I think everyone should look for spiritual
meaning whether you are mentally ill or not, because having something to believe in beyond
what we can see or feel, and having something that gives life positive meaning that can help
focus our energy into an enlightening path. When we don’t have human contact for support, we
at least have our spiritual beliefs to use as a support system.
Issue 4: The biggest stigma that I have would be, the majority of people who suffer from mental
illness is dangerous and hard to understand. My stigma stems from how people with mental
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illness are portrayed in society, especially through media. It also stems from my own ignorance
because in my community mental health is something that is acknowledged. My family is strong
believers in going to church to fix problems. My ignorance is my reason for why it would be
hard for me to be helpful to someone with mental illness because I don't know how to address
someone who might have a psychological disorder. I also cannot first handedly understand what
a person who deals with a mental problem goes through, so it would be hard for me to relate.
This class can be the knowledge to my ignorance and help me teach others in my community
about mental illness, and to eliminate their stigmas or fears.