Contemporary Theories
Psychological
Biological
Feedback Loops
Emphasis on
biological processes
(i.e., genetics)
Feedback Loops
Social
Emphasis on
psychological
factors, such as early
childhood experience
and self-concept
Feedback Loops
Emphasis on
interpersonal
relationships and
social environment
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Vulnerability
Factor
Stress
Trigger
Biological
genes, disordered
biochemistry, brain
anomalies)
onset of a
disease,
exposure to
toxins, etc.
Social
maladaptive
upbringing, chronic
stress, etc.
traumatic event,
major loss, etc.
Psychological
unconscious conflicts,
poor skills,
maladaptive
cognitions, etc,
perceived loss
of control,
violation of
trust, etc.
Chapter 2
Disorder
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Biological Theories of Mental Disorders
Structural Theories
Biochemical
Theories
Genetic Theories
Chapter 2
Abnormalities in the structure
of the brain cause mental
disorders
Imbalances in the levels of
neurotransmitters or
hormones, or poor
functioning of receptors
cause mental disorders
Disordered genes lead to
mental disorders
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Structural Causes of Dysfunction
Can occur in three areas of the brain:
Cerebrum
Central core
Limbic system
Can result from injury, such as an
automobile accident, and from diseases
that cause deterioration.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Biochemical Causes of Abnormality
The brain needs a number of chemicals to
operate properly.
Neurotransmitters are biochemical
“messengers.”
Reuptake occurs when the neuron which
initially released the neurotransmitter into the
synapse reabsorbs the neurotransmitter.
Degradation occurs when the receiving neuron
releases an enzyme into the synapse that
breaks down the neurotransmitter into other
biochemicals..
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Behavior Genetics Questions
1. To what extent are behaviors or
behavioral tendencies inherited?
2. What are the processes by which
genes affect behavior?
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Genetic Factors in Abnormality
Chromosomes
are made up of
individual genes.
Chapter 2
Alterations in the
structure or number of
chromosomes can
cause major defects.
Polygenic
process: it takes
multiple genetic
abnormalities to
create one
disorder.
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Family History Studies
Identify people who clearly have the
disorder in question – probands.
Researchers are most interested in firstdegree relatives.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Psychological Theories of Mental
Disorders
Psychodynamic Theories
Unconscious conflicts between
primitive desires and constraints
of mental illness
Behavioral Theories
Symptoms of mental disorders
due to reinforcements and
punishments for specific
behaviors and feelings
Cognitive Theories
Humanist and
Existential Theories
Chapter 2
People’s ways of interpreting
situations, their assumptions about
the world and self-concepts can
cause negative feelings / behaviors
Conform to demands of others instead
Of perusing own values and potentials
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Psychodynamic Theories
Developed by Freud
Id
Pleasure principle, primary
process (wish fulfillment)
Ego
Reality principle, secondary
process thinking (rational
deliberation)
Superego
Chapter 2
Introject (internalize) social
standards. Conscience and ego ideal
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Psychosexual Stages
Chapter 2
Stages
Age
Oral
0-18 months
Anal
18 months to three years
Phallic
Three to six years
Latency
Six years to puberty
Genital
Puberty to adulthood
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Newer Psychodynamic Theories:
Object Relations
Stages
Undifferentiated
Symbiosis
Splitting
Separation/Individuation
Integration
Chapter 2
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Behavioral Theories of Abnormality
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Modeling and Observational Learning
Observational Learning
Chapter 2
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Cognitive Theories of Abnormality
Types of cognition
Causal attributions
Control beliefs
Dysfunctional assumptions
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Humanistic and Existential Theories
of Abnormality
Suggest that all humans strive to fulfill their
potential for good and to self-actualize.
The inability to fulfill one’s potential arises from
the pressures of society to conform to others’
expectations and values, and from existential
anxiety.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Some Common Global
Dysfunctional Assumptions
Once
something
affects my life,
it will affect it
forever.
I should be
loved by
everyone for
everything I
do.
I must have
perfect self
control.
Chapter 2
It is better to
avoid problems
than to face
them.
I should be
terribly upset
by certain
situations.
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sociocultural Approaches
Focus more on the larger social
structures within which an
individual lives.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sociocultural Approaches, continued
Interpersonal
Theories
Mental disorders result of longstanding patterns of negative
relationships that have roots in
early caregivers
Family Systems
Theories
Families create and maintain
mental disorders in individual
family members to maintain
homeostasis.
Social
Structural
Theories
Chapter 2
Societies create mental disorders
in individuals by putting them
under unbearable stress and by
sanctioning abnormal behavior
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sociocultural Approaches:
Interpersonal Theory
Alfred Adler split with Freud’s teachings and helped
developed contemporary interpersonal theories.
Erik Erikson proposed a series of stages of
psychosocial development that are not concerned
with the gratification of sexual needs.
Harry Stack Sullivan developed prototypes; “bad me”
“good me” and “not me” images of self.
John Bowlby argued that the quality of the attachment
to our caregivers determines our expectations for
ourselves and our relationships.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sociocultural Approaches: Family
Systems Theory
The family is a complex system that works to
maintain the status quo, or homeostasis.
Roots of disorder are within the family, not the
individual.
Family systems theories may be more
applicable to treatment of children since they
are more enmeshed in the family than other
members of the family.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sociocultural Approaches: Social
Structures Theory
Society increases stress on individuals, leading to
disorders.
Some people live in more chronically stressful
circumstances than others, and these people appear
to be at greater risk (Gabrino, 1995; NAMHC,
1996).
Society influences the types of psychopathy by
having rules about what types of abnormal
behavior are acceptable and in what circumstances.
Chapter 2
Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.