ABNORMAL

BEHAVIOR
DR. AMBAREEN HASIB
CONCEPT OF ABNORMALITY
• Although many definitions of abnormality have been used over the years, none
has won universal acceptance.
• Still, most definitions have certain common features. Often called the “FOUR Ds” :
• A- Deviance
• B- Distress
• C- Dysfunction
• D- Danger
• That is, psychological disorders are deviant (different, extreme, unusual, even
bizarre), distressing (unpleasant and upsetting to the person and to others),
dysfunctional (interfering with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a
constructive way), and possibly dangerous (to the person or to others).
• This definition is a useful starting point from which we can explore
psychological abnormality.
• Since the word ‘abnormal’ literary means “away from the normal”, it
implies deviation from some clearly defined norms or standards.
• In psychology, we have no ‘ideal model’ or even ‘normal model’ of
human behavior to use as a base for comparison.
• Various approaches have been used in distinguishing between normal
and abnormal behaviors. From these approaches, there emerge two
basic and conflicting views:
• The first approach views abnormal behavior as a deviation from
social norms.
• Many psychologists have stated that ‘abnormal’ is simply a label that
is given to a behavior which is deviant from social expectations.
• Abnormal behavior, thoughts and emotions are those that differ
markedly from a society’s ideas of proper functioning.
• Each society has norms, which are stated or unstated rules for proper
conduct.
• Behaviors, thoughts and emotions that break societal norms are
called abnormal.
• A society’s norms grow from its particular culture
- its history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts.
• Thus, a society whose culture values competition and assertiveness
may accept aggressive behavior, whereas one that emphasizes
cooperation and family values (such as in Pakistan) may consider
aggressive behavior as unacceptable or even abnormal.
• A society’s values may change over time, causing its views of what is
psychologically abnormal to change as well.
• Serious questions have been raised about this definition.
• It is based on the assumption that socially accepted behavior is not
abnormal and the normality is nothing more than conformity to social
norms.
• The second approach views abnormal behavior as maladaptive.
• Many psychologists believe that the best criterion for determining the
normality of behavior is not whether society accepts it but whether it
fosters the well-being of the individual and eventually of the group to
which s/he belongs.
• Well-being is not simply maintenance and survival but also includes
growth and fulfilment.i.e. the actualization of potential, which you must
have studies of Maslow’s need hierarchy theory.
• According to this criterion, conforming behavior can be seen as
abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e. if it interferes with optimal functioning
and growth.
• For example, a student in the class prefers to remain silent even when
s/he has questions in her/his mind.
• Describing behavior as maladaptive implies that a problem exists; it also
suggests that vulnerability in the individual, inability to cope, or
exceptional stress in the environment have led to problems in life.
• If you talk to people around, you will see that they have vague ideas
about psychological disorders that are characterized by superstition,
ignorance and fear.
• Again it is commonly believed that psychological disorder is
something to be ashamed of.
• The stigma attached to mental illness means that people are hesitant
to consult a doctor or psychologist because they are ashamed of their
problems.
• Actually, psychological disorder which indicates a failure in adaptation
should be viewed as any other illness.
PSYCHOLOGICAL/MENTAL
DISORDERS
• All of us face major problems at some point of our lives.
• However, some people have an extreme reaction to the problems and
stresses of life.
• In this chapter, we will try to understand what goes wrong when
people develop psychological problems.
• What are the causes and factors which lead to abnormal behavior,
and what are the various signs and symptoms associated with
different types of psychological/mental disorders?
• The study of mental disorders has intrigued and mystified all cultures
for more than 2.500 years.
• Mental disorders or mental disorders (as they are commonly referred
to), like anything unusual may make us uncomfortable and even a
little frightened.
• Unhappiness, discomfort, anxiety, and unrealized potential are seen
all over the world.
• These failures in living are mainly due to failures in adaptation to life
challenges.
• Adaptation refers to the person’s ability to modify her/his behavior in
response to changing environmental requirements.
• When the behavior cannot be modified according to the needs of the
situation, it is said to be maladaptive.
• Abnormal psychology is the area within psychology that is focused on
maladaptive behavior- its causes, consequences, and treatment.
•
FACTORS OF ABNORMAL
BEHAVIOR
• In order to understand something as complex as abnormal behavior,
psychologists use different approaches.
• Each approach in use today emphasizes a different aspect of human
behavior, and explains and treats abnormality in line with that aspect.
• These approaches also emphasize the role of different factors such as
biological, psychological and interpersonal, and socio-cultural
factors.
• We will examine some of the approaches which are currently being
used to explain abnormal behavior.
Biological factors:
• Biological factors influence all aspects of our behavior. A wide range of biological
factors such as faulty genes, endocrine imbalances, malnutrition, injures and other
conditions may interfere with normal development and functioning of the human
body.
• These factors may be potential causes of abnormal behavior. We have already
come across the biological model.
• According to this model, abnormal behavior has a biochemical or physiological
basis.
• Biological researchers have found that psychological disorders are often related to
problem in the transmission of messages from one neuron to another.
• You have studied in previous chapter that a tiny space called synapse separates
one neuron from the next, and the message must move across that space.
• When an electrical impulse reaches a neuron’s ending, the nerve
ending is stimulated to release a chemical, called a neuro -
transmitter.
• Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neuro-transmitters
can lead to specific psychological disorders.
• Anxiety disorders have been linked to low activity of the
neurotransmitters gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), schizophrenia to
excess activity of dopamine, and depression to low activity of
serotonin.
• Genetic factors have been linked to bipolar and related disorders,
schizophrenia, intellectual disability and other psychological
disorders.
• Researchers have not, however, been able to identify the specific
genes that are the culprits.
• It appears that in most cases, no single gene is responsible for a
particular behavior or a psychological disorder.
• In fact, many genes combine to help bring about our various
behaviors and emotional reactions, both functional and dysfunction.
• Although there is sound evidence to believe that genetic/ biochemical
factors are involved in mental disorders as diverse as schizophrenia,
depression, anxiety etc. but biology alone cannot account for most
mental disorders.
• There are several psychological models which provide a psychological
explanation of mental disorders.
• These models maintain that psychological and interpersonal factors
have a significant role to play in abnormal behavior.
• These factors include maternal deprivation (separation from the
mother or lack of warmth and stimulation during early years of life),
faulty parent-child relationships (rejection, overprotection, over-
permissiveness, faulty discipline, etc), maladaptive family structures
(inadequate or disturbed family), and severe stress.
• The psychological models includes the psychodynamic, behavioral,
cognitive, and humanistic- existential models.
Psychodynamic model:
• The psychodynamic model is the oldest and most famous of the
modern psychological models.
• Psychodynamic theories believe that behavior, whether normal or
abnormal, is determined by psychological forces within the person of
which s/he is not consciously aware.
• These internal forces are considered dynamic, i.e. they interact with
one another and their interaction gives shape to behavior, thoughts
and emotions.
• Abnormal symptoms are viewed as the result of conflicts between
these forces.
• This model was first formulated by Freud who believed that three
central forces shape personality- instinctual needs, drives and
impulses(id), rational thinking(ego), and moral standards (superego).
• Freud stated that abnormal behavior is a symbolic expression of
unconscious mental conflicts that can be generally traced to early
childhood or infancy.
Behavioral Model:
• Another model that emphasizes the role of psychological factors is the behavioral
model.
• This model states that both normal and abnormal behaviors are learned and
psychological disorders are the result of learning maladaptive ways of behaving.
• The model concentrates on behavior that are learned through conditioning and
proposes that what has been learned can be unlearned.
• Learning can take place by classical conditioning(temporal association in which
two events repeatedly occur close together in time), operant conditioning
(behavior is followed by a reward), and social learning (learning by imitating
other’s behavior).
• These three types of conditioning account for behavior, whether adaptive or
maladaptive.
• Psychological factors are also emphasized by the cognitive model. This
model states that abnormal functioning can result from cognitive
problems.
• People may hold assumptions and attitudes about themselves that
are irrational and inaccurate.
• People may also repeatedly think in illogical ways and make
overgeneralizations, that is, they may draw broad, negative
conclusions on the basis of a single in significant event.
Humanistic-existential model:
• Another psychological model is the humanistic-existential model
which focuses on broader aspects of human existence.
• Humanists believe that human beings are born with a natural
tendency to be friendly, cooperative and constructive, and are driven
to self-actualize, i.e. to fulfil this potential for goodness and growth.
• Existentialists believe that from birth we have total freedom to give
meaning to our existence or to avoid that responsibility.
• Those who shirk from this responsibility would live empty,
inauthentic, and dysfunctional lives.
• In additional to the biological and psychological factors, socio-cultural
factors such as war and violence, group prejudice and discrimination,
economic and employment problems, and rapid social change, put
stress on most of use and can also lead to psychological problems in
some individuals.