DYSFUNCTIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
What
actually
is
abnormality?
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
1. Biological Approach
Assumes causes of dysfunctional behavior can be found
in the body (i.e. neurotransmitters, genetics, etc.)
Therefore: The onset, distribution, course, treatment, and
all related features of disorders can then be viewed as
parallel to what occurs in physical diseases
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
a) Approach to “illness”
1) Identify syndrome
2) Establish etiology
3) Seek treatment
b) Bio-genic or Bio-medical model
1) Neuroanatomy: size or shape of brain structures
may be abnormal, causing symptoms of mental
illness
2) Chemical: excess or deficiency of one or more
chemical elements of the body has been studied as
a cause of mental illness
3) Genetics: genetic influence on abnormal
behavior. Methods: family studies, twin studies &
adoptee studies
4) Infection: caused by disease or infection
(impairment of mental function by syphilis)
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
C.
DIAGNOSIS
1. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
a. Neuropsychological Tests
 CAT (Computer Axial Tomogram) scan
 EEG (Electroencephalogram)
 PET (Positron emission tomography) scan
 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
 Blood tests
b. Clinical Questions
 Does the family have a history of that behavior?
(genetic cause)
 Does the disorder seem to have a link with some
illness or accident?
 Is the behavior made worse by events that could
be construed as having a physiological effect?
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
D.
TREATMENTS
There are three major kinds of biological treatments
1. Drug Therapy
Psychotropic drugs discovered in 1950s
- Act primarily on the brain & can help
alleviate symptoms of mental disorders
a) Antianxiety drugs: reduce tension & anxiety
 Benzodiazepines (valium)
-most widely prescribed
-do alleviate anxiety but are addictive, overused
& misused
-without other support therapies not a long-term
solution
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
D. TREATMENTS, drug therapy, cont’d
b) Antidepressants: help lift spirits of depressed

MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
 tricyclics
 Fluoxetine hydrochloride (tradename Prozac)
 Success
rates:
 MAOIs 50%
 Tricyclics & Prozac 65%

BEST WHEN:
 Drug treatment combined with cognitive therapy
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
D. TREATMENTS, drug therapy, cont’d
c) Antibipolar drugs: help stabilize moods
 Most effective: lithium
 Helpful in 70 – 80%
d) Antipsychotics: alleviate confusion, hallucinations &
delusions
 Also called neuroleptic drugs because of side effects
 Phenothiazines
(block dopamine metabolism
 Clozapine (acts on serotonin)
 Chlopromazine (thorazine)
 Haloperidol (Haldol)

TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE:
 Drug treatment combined psychotherapy &
support programs
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
D.
TREATMENTS cont’d
2. ECT
a) Developed in 1930s
- Used primarily on depressed patients
- Used IN THE PAST on schizophrenics
b) Helps approximately 70 – 80% of depressed patients
c) Used as last resort
d) Ethically questioned: no-one really knows WHY it
works
e) Side effects: minor loss of memory & mild confusion
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
D.
TREATMENTS cont’d
3. Psychosurgery
a) Developed in 1930s by Moniz
- Lobotomy, leucotomy
- Used at first on depressed patients & later
on schizophrenics
b) 1940 “transorbital lobotomy” developed by Freeman
c) Used as last resort
d) Side effects: seizures, extreme listlessness & in
some cases death
e) Today’s procedures more precise but only used in
extreme circumstances
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
E. ADVANTAGES
1. Psychological processes have a biological basis
2. Research produces new information quickly
3. Some mental disorders have been revolutionized by
drug treatments
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
F. PROBLEMS
1. Narrow view of abnormal functioning. Not
everything can be reduced to biological causes.
2. Evidence often incomplete. Many studies done on
animals and this makes information uncertain.
3. Genetic explanation not conclusive. Is it genes or
does being in the same family expose you to the
same conditions?
4. Drugs used to treat disorders often have severe
side-effects.
5. Drugs do not help everyone
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Biological Approach cont’d
F. PROBLEMS cont’d
6. Some drugs can be addictive which can lead to
other problems
7. There are ethical issues with some of the treatments
QUIZ:
The psychology of dysfunctional behavior &
The Medical Model
1. Discuss the difficulty in assessing
dysfunctional behavior.
2. Describe & Evaluate two treatments for a
dysfunctional behavior within the biological
approach.
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
2. Behavioral (Learning) Approach
Assumes causes of dysfunctional behavior can be found
Therefore: The onset, distribution, course, treatment, and
all related features of disorders
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Behavioral Approach cont’d
QUESTIONS
1. How was the behavioral model conceived?
2. What are the three explanations of abnormal
behavior according to the behavioral model?
3. Give two strengths of the behavioral approach &
treatments (your own words)
4. Give a BRIEF description of the four behavioral
treatments in the behavioral model.
5. What do behavioral theorists believe about our
behavior?
6. Give two weaknesses of the behavioral approach &
treatments (your own words)
QUIZ:
The psychology of dysfunctional behavior &
The Behavioral Model
1. Discuss the difficulty in assessing
dysfunctional behavior.
2. Discuss how the classical conditioning,
operant conditioning & modeling explanation
of abnormal behavior differ?
3. Describe & Evaluate two treatments for a
dysfunctional behavior within the learning
(behavioral) approach.
MODELS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: Behavioral Approach cont’d
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is the main idea behind Ellis’ Rational Emotive
Therapy?
What are Beck’s “automatic thoughts” and how do they
affect a person’s behavior?
In your own words, explain what you think is the greatest
strength & the greatest weakness of the cognitive model.
According to Beck, _________ thought patterns are
_________ and can cause great _________ or __________
for the individual.
According to the cognitive model, what is needed to
understand human behavior?
How do Ellis’ RET & Beck’s Cognitive Therapy compare?