Abnormal Psychology

The Myth of Mental Illness

Is there really such a thing as mental illness, or is it all just a myth?

Are behaviors listed as disorders just different, not wrong? Not sick?

Is the notion of mental illness a convenient way for society to deal with people who disturb us?

Causes and Treatments

Psychodynamic Approach Foundations:

Sigmund Freud Anna O. (early childhood experiences) Free association 5 stages of psychosexual development:

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Cause: Stress leads to symptoms Treatment: Psychotherapy; reduce stress and aid

coping

Learning Approach Foundations

Classical Conditioning → Pavlov & Watson Operant Conditioning → Skinner

Cause Abnormal behaviors are learned in the same way

normal behaviors are learned Treatment

Eliminating C.C. responses: extinction, flooding, counterconditioning

Eliminating O.C. responses: remove rewards for abnormal behaviors. Reward normal behaviors. Punish abnormal behaviors

Cognitive Approach Cause:

Symptoms result from incorrect beliefs Incorrect beliefs stem from bad info. or unfortunate

experiences that distort one’s view of the world or themselves

Incorrect beliefs are strengthened by: Selective attention to info. that supports the belief Changing memories to make them consistent w/ the belief Selective recall of experiences that confirm the belief

Treatment: Correct the negative beliefs Patients participate in experiments that are designed

to test their beliefs (Albert Ellis case study)

Physiological Approach Cause: Abnormal behaviors are the result of

biochemical and structural problems of the brain. (Hippocrates) Stimulation of neurons in the brain causes the release

of neurotransmitters (chemicals) Low levels of neurotransmitters can reduce the

transmission of neural impulses and consequently brain activity.

Reverse is true of high levels of neurotransmitters Structural problems: failure of the brain to develop

due to traumas such as stroke, diseases, head trauma.

Treatment Drug therapy, electrical stimulation of the brain,

surgery