Download Introduction to Mind Psychology - Mind Psychology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Introduction to Abnormal Psychology Docsity.com Psychopathology • Psychopathology examines the nature and development of abnormal – Behavior, Thoughts, Feelings • Definitions of abnormality vary widely and may not capture all aspects of psychopathology – Psychopathological aspect (causes, mechanisms) – Clinical aspect (assessment, treatment) Ch 1.1 Docsity.com Defining Abnormal Behavior II • Personal distress suggests that behaviors that are accompanied by distress are abnormal • Disability/dysfunction argues that impairment of life function can be a component of abnormal behavior • Unexpectedness asks whether the responses of a person to an environmental stressor are appropriate, or adaptive Ch 1.3 Docsity.com Abnormal Behavior in Context • Epidemiology (e.g., National Comorbidity Survey (1994)(D&N, p.112) – Prevalence, Incidence within a population – Course of disorder (chronic, or time limited) – Onset of disorders (acute or insidious) • Etiology (the study of why a disorder begins) • Maintaining factors Docsity.com Early Views of Psychopathology • Demonology (Supernaturalism) is the view that abnormal mental function is due the occupation by an evil being of the mind of a person – Treatment requires exorcism • Somatogenesis is the view that disturbed body function produces mental abnormality • Psychogenesis is the belief that mental disturbance has psychological origins Docsity.com Modern Approaches to Mental Illness • Systems of classification were developed which argued that mental illness has a biological cause – Kraepelin suggested that clusters of symptoms form a syndrome – Each syndrome has its own unique cause, course, symptoms, treatment, and outcome Ch 1.7 Docsity.com Causation of Mental Illness • Physical disorder: general paresis involves paralysis and cognitive changes – General paresis was linked to brain destruction brought on by the infection related to syphilis • Psychogenesis is the view that psychological issues can produce mental disorder – Breuer used hypnosis to induce patients to recall their troubled past; some patients experienced mental relief. – Breuer’s technique is the cathartic method Ch 1.8 Docsity.com Scientific Paradigms • Paradigms are conceptual frameworks that scientists use to study the world – “Zeitgeist” (spirit of the times) – Paradigms include assumptions about science and methods – Paradigms dictate what will and will not be studied (e.g. few scientists study ESP today) – Paradigms can dictate the methods used by a scientist (introspection versus experimentation) Ch 1.9 Docsity.com
