Theoretical Approaches to Psychopathology

Theoretical Approaches: How does Behavior Develop?

A theory = useful “map” for navigating psychopathology Risk factors Causes Treatment options

Theories do not change the disorder, only how it is seen (any more than a map changes roads)

Overview of Relevant Theoretical Perspectives*

Psychodynamic Behavioral Humanistic Cognitive/Cognitive-Behavioral Sociocultural

Psychodynamic Perspective

Behavior is the result of a long (maybe contentious) and often unconscious discussion about how we should behave

Freud’s Model of Personality

Id - basic drives, motives, and instincts What we want

Ego - sense of self Balances external constraints & desires

Superego - conscience and ego ideal Grows out of conflict b/w id impulses and

parents

Id

Focused on pleasure and immediate gratification

Everything present at birth

Responsible for basic drives

Ego Seeks to appease the

Id, in a way that doesn’t sacrifice long-term gain Balances id drives and

reality, common sense

Mediates the Id and Superego

Superego

Conscience Focuses on acting in a

socially appropriate way

Freud’s Model of Personality

All exist outside of consciousness

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development

Children negotiate stages of development (desires, fears, challenges)

Sexual issues to be resolved at each stage If needs not met, child becomes “fixated” in

one stage

Defense Mechanisms

Strategies for reducing anxiety using thoughts, desires, impulses

Permit ego to regulate anxiety when Id (impulses) clash with Superego (restrictions)

Protect our Ego from harm

Examples of Defense Mechanisms

1. Denial - behaving as if things are different Extreme denial = delusions

2. Repression - motivated forgetting. Thoughts are prevented from awareness

3. Projection - attributing unpleasant feelings to another person

4. Displacement - unacceptable feelings toward someone placed toward another

Psychodynamic Psychopathology

Psychopathology develops from unresolved conflict at a psychosocial level.

It is related to defense mechanisms

Psychodynamic Treatment

Insight-oriented (Why do I have this problem?)

Insight → behavioral change Make the unconscious conscious

Dream association Free association Freudian slips

Psychoanalysis - can be long, expensive

Behaviorism

Behavior is the result of learning (reward and punishment)

Behaviorism

Based upon principles of operant and classical conditioning

Punishment = decreases likelihood of behavior

Reward = increases likelihood of behavior Key components of child treatments, anxiety,

new EST for depression

Behavioralist Psychopathology

Psychopathology results from incorrect associations between learning

Humanistic Approaches

Humans are, intrinsically, good, and will mature into healthy adults if allowed to develop normally

Humanistic Approaches

Carl Roger’s Client-Centered Therapy Unconditional positive regard Self-actualization More influence on treatment than evaluating

psychopathology

Cognitive Behavioral Approach

Behavior is a result of our thoughts and appraisals of situations

Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective

Thoughts influence our behavior

Early Cognitive Perspective How we respond = how we perceive/interpret We each interpret the world as individuals

The Sociocultural Perspective

Disorder

Family

Culture

Religion

National Values

SocietalSupport

Cultural Diversity

Culture: common expectations, experiences, and perspectives of a group of people living together

Study psychopathology across culture Many cultures have idiosyncratic risk and

protective factors E.g. Eating disorders

Social Influences

Social class: combination of education level and occupation (not necessarily income)

Risk can vary across social class Schizophrenia

Social/gender roles can influence Social stresses (violence, unemployment,

crime, racism) Cultural norms (e.g. tolerance for alcohol)

Sociocultural Treatments

Community Psychology Understand how social factors impact individual Prevention is main focus

Primary prevention: entire population Secondary prevention: groups at risk

Sociocultural Treatments

Family Therapy Family has strong influences on individuals Change more likely when work with impact of

family