Chapter 1 Chapter Topic
Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context
Understanding Psychopathology
– Defines what abnormal behavior is, shows
➢ What Is a Psychological Disorder? how ideas about it have changed over
➢ The Science of Psychopathology time, and explains the three main traditions
➢ Historical Conceptions of Abnormal (Supernatural, Biological, Psychological)
Behavior that have shaped understanding and
treatment. Also introduces the
The Supernatural Tradition Biopsychosocial Model used today.
➢ Demons and Witches
➢ Stress and Melancholy Definition
➢ Treatments for Possession
➢ Mass Hysteria Abnormal psychology is the study of
➢ Modern Mass Hysteria psychological dysfunction within an
➢ The Moon and the Stars individual that is associated with distress or
➢ Comments impairment in functioning and a response
that is not typical or culturally expected.
The Biological Tradition
Plain meaning: Studying unusual patterns of
➢ Hippocrates and Galen thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that cause
➢ The 19th Century problems in life and differ from what’s
➢ The Development of Biological normal in a given culture.
Treatments
➢ Consequences of the Biological
Tradition Key Symptoms or
Characteristics
The Psychological Tradition
Psychologists look for these markers
➢ Moral Therapy (not all need to be present for a diagnosis):
➢ Asylum Reform and the Decline of
Moral ● Psychological dysfunction–
➢ Therapy breakdown in cognitive (thinking),
➢ Psychoanalytic Theory emotional, or behavioral functioning
➢ Humanistic Theory Plain meaning: Something isn’t
➢ The Behavioral Model working right mentally or
emotionally.
The Present: The Scientific Method and ● Distress or impairment –
an Integrative Approach significant suffering or trouble in
daily life.
Plain meaning: The problem is
upsetting or makes life harder to
manage.
● Atypical or not culturally expected
response– rare or unexpected in
that society.
Plain meaning: Unusual for the
person’s culture or circumstances.
Etiology How It’s Diagnosed
Modern view = Biopsychosocial Model – ● DSM-5 criteria – the main
most disorders are caused by a mix of: classification system; lists required
symptoms, duration, and level of
1. Biological influences impairment.
● Structured or semi-structured
● Genetics and hereditary risk interviews – e.g., Structured Clinical
● Brain structure and function Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID).
abnormalities ● Psychological testing – personality
● Neurotransmitter imbalances inventories, symptom checklists,
(serotonin, dopamine, cognitive assessments.
norepinephrine) ● Behavioral observation – looking
● Physical illness or brain injury at speech, actions, and reactions in
different situations.
2. Psychological influences
Treatment Options
● Early childhood experiences
● Learned behaviors (classical or Biological treatments
operant conditioning)
● Maladaptive thinking patterns ● Psychotropic medications:
(catastrophizing, all-or-nothing antidepressants, antipsychotics,
thinking) mood stabilizers
● Emotional regulation difficulties ● Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
for severe depression
● Brain stimulation (Transcranial
3. Social & Cultural influences Magnetic Stimulation – TMS, Deep
Brain Stimulation – DBS)
● Family dynamics and parenting
● Poverty, discrimination, stressful life
events Psychological treatments
● Cultural beliefs about mental illness
● Stigma and lack of support ● Cognitive-behavioral therapy
(CBT) – identify and change
unhelpful thoughts and behaviors
Real-Life Example ● Psychodynamic therapy – explore
unconscious conflicts and early
A student survives a car accident. experiences
Afterwards, she develops panic attacks, ● Humanistic therapy – promote
avoids driving, feels constantly “on self-growth and acceptance
edge,” and struggles to attend classes.
Her grades drop. This shows distress
(she’s suffering), dysfunction (daily life Social interventions
disrupted), and deviation from norms (this
is very different from her past behavior). ● Group therapy
● Family therapy
● Community support programs
Terms & Definitions Includes:
● Psychological disorder – pattern ● Psychoanalytic theory (Freud) –
involving dysfunction, unconscious conflicts
distress/impairment, and atypical ● Behavioral model – learned
response behaviors and conditioning
● Etiology – study of causes of ● Humanistic theory – failure to
disorders achieve personal growth or
● Prevalence – percentage of people self-acceptance
with the disorder at a given time
● Incidence – number of new cases in Connections to Other Topics
a period
● Prognosis – predicted course or ● Builds on basic psychology concepts
outcome like learning, memory, emotion, and
● Course – pattern over time cognition
(episodic, chronic, time-limited) ● Shows the interaction between
● Acute onset – sudden start of nature (biology) and nurture
symptoms (environment)
● Insidious onset – gradual ● Highlights cultural and historical
development of symptoms influences on defining abnormality
Key Theories or Models Common Misconceptions
1. Supernatural Tradition ● Myth: People with mental illness are
usually violent
Causes: witchcraft, demonic
possession, moon/stars influence Fact: Most are not
Treatments: exorcisms, rituals, ● Myth: Mental illness is rare
trephination (drilling holes in skull)
Fact: Many people will experience
2. Biological Tradition one during their lifetime
Causes: brain disease, genetics, ● Myth: Disorders have only one
chemical imbalances cause
Origins: Hippocrates’ humoral Fact: Most involve a mix of
theory, Galen’s medical writings biological, psychological, and social
factors
Treatments: early medical
therapies, rest, diet, sometimes
crude physical interventions
3. Psychological Tradition
Causes: social, psychological, and
cultural influences
