Abnormal Psychology Defining Abnormal Behavior n What is

Abnormal Psychology

Defining Abnormal Behavior n What is abnormal behavior? – statistical infrequency § e. g. mental retardation – personal distress § e. g. depression – violation of social norms § e. g. , alcoholism n Abnormal behavior is behavior that causes: – significant impairment in social or occupational functioning – Significant distress in self or others

Causes of Abnormal Behavior n Biological factors – e. g. , neurotransmitters n Psychological factors – e. g. traumatic stressors n Sociocultural factors – e. g. “downward” social drift n An interactive approach: Biopsychosocial

Classifying Abnormal Behavior Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4 th Edition (DSM-IV) n Multiaxial system n – – – I: Primary classification II: Personality disorders III: General medical conditions IV: Psychosocial stressors V: Current level of functioning

Categories of Mental Disorders n Anxiety disorders – Psychological disorders that include the following main features: § Excessive fear (out of proportion to the feared stimulus) § Phsical symptoms (e. g. racing heart, sweatiness) § Apprehensive expectations and thoughts

Anxiety Disorders n Generalized anxiety disorder – Consists of persistent anxiety for at least a month – Individual is unable to specify the reasons for the anxiety n Panic disorder – Panic attacks coupled with at least one month of worry about having another panic attack

Anxiety Disorders n Agoraphobia – Individuals often lead very restricted lives- not leaving the house at all. – characterized by an intense fear of: § Having a panic attack and being humiliated or unable to find help

Anxiety Disorders n Phobic disorder – Individual has irrational, overwhelming, persistent fear of a particular object or situation n Social phobia – Intense fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in social situations

Anxiety Disorders n Obsessive-compulsive disorder – Individual has recurrent unwanted thoughts that will not go away (obsession) and/or urges to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsion) § Common themes are contamination or doubting

Anxiety Disorders n Post-traumatic stress disorder – Develops through exposure to an extremely traumatic event – Anxiety symptoms may immediately follow the trauma or be delayed for many years

Dissociative Disorders n Dissociative disorders – Involve a sudden loss of memory or change in identity n Dissociative amnesia – Memory loss caused by extensive psychological stress

Dissociative Disorders n Dissociative fugue – Individual not only develops amnesia, but also unexpectedly travels away from home and assumes a new identity n Dissociative identity disorder – Formerly called multiple personality disorder – Individuals have two or more distinct personalities or selves

Mood Disorders n Major depressive disorder – Individual experiences depressed characteristics for at least two weeks – Symptoms are: § § § n Cognitive Emotional somatic Dysthymic disorder – More chronic than major depressive disorders and has fewer symptoms.

Mood Disorders n Bipolar disorder – A mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings that include one or more episodes of mania § Euphoria § Excitability and hyperactivity – Person may experience depression and mania

Causes of Mood Disorders n Biological causes – Heredity and brain processes n Psychological causes – Learned helplessness § occurs when individuals are exposed to aversive stimulation, such as prolonged stress or pain, over which they have no control

Schizophrenia n Schizophrenia – A severe psychological disorder characterized by: § Disturbances in affect – e. g. flat or inappropriate § Disturbances in speech and behavior – e. g. formal thought disorder § Distortions in cognition – e. g. , delusions and hallucinations

Types of Schizophrenia n Disorganized schizophrenia – Individual has delusions and hallucinations that have little or no recognizable meaning n Catatonic schizophrenia – Most prominent characteristic is disturbances in motor behavior § e. g. catatonic rigidity

Types of Schizophrenia n Paranoid schizophrenia – Characterized by delusions of reference, grandeur, and persecution n Undifferentiated schizophrenia – Characterized by disorganized behavior, hallucinations, delusions, and incoherence

Causes of Schizophrenia n Biological factors – Heredity and neurobiological factors § The dopamine hypothesis n Psychosocial factors – Diathesis-stress view § A combination of biogenetic disposition and stress causes schizophrenia

Personality Disorders n Personality disorders – Chronic, maladaptive cognitivebehavioral patterns that are thoroughly integrated into the individual’s personality

Odd/Eccentric Cluster n Paranoid n Schizotypal

Dramatic/Emotionally Problematic Cluster n Histrionic n Narcissistic n Antisocial n Borderline

Chronic Fearfulness/Avoidant Cluster n Avoidant n Dependent n Obsessive-compulsive n Passive-aggressive