Explaining Abnormality 1.

Biological Approach Behaviour is all determined by biological mechanisms like hormones, genetic, neurological and physiological factors. Assumptions: Caused by: Genetics - Abnormality is inherited and often has genetic basis - Twin studies are useful for evidence as well as brain scans and studies of molecular biology Concordance rate- extent to which 2 individuals are similar in terms of a specific trait Gottesman meta-analysis of 40 twin studies Concordance rates of schizophrenia 48% for monozygotic twins and 17% for dizygotic twins- suggests genetics is a factor Low concordance rates for phobias and high for schizophrenia Viral infections - Some researchers suggest some disorders are caused by viral infections in the womb Torrey: some mums with schizophrenia had influenza during pregnancy increasing incidence of schizophrenia for unborn child when it matures Biochemistry - Abnormal levels of hormones and neurotransmitters can cause abnormality - For example, serotonin linked to OCD Limitations of this approach: o o o o o Practical application of drug therapy which is effective but short term Easy explanation for people as they know the disorder is not their fault i.e. blame game No actual causal relationship- could be an effect e.g. Patients with schizophrenia have enlarged ventricles in the brain but we dont know if its a cause or effect. Hard to carry out genetic inheritance tests due to impracticality and morals so psychologists have to rely on correlation studies instead of direct cause and effect ones they want to do No evidence that mental disorders are solely caused by genetic inheritance. Concordance rates are never 100%. Gottesman found concordance rates of identical twins for schizophrenia 48% showing schizophrenia isnt the product of just biological causes. Diathesis stress model- individual inherits a susceptibility for the disorder which develops only if individual exposed to stress is more likely than person inheriting actual disorder Mental illnesses are just physical illnesses that happen to involve emotion, behaviour Should be treated with physical intervention like drugs, surgery

2. Psychodynamic Approach According to Freud, he believed that mental illnesses come from unresolved conflicts from our early childhood which are unconscious. He believed an adults personality consists of three parts which can cause anxiety, the root of abnormality: Id- driven by the pleasure principal- instant satisfaction Ego- reality principle- accommodating to demands of environment. o Concerned with getting what it wants in socially accepted way o Must balance id and superego Superego- persons conscience and is concerned with moral judgement and guilt o Allows id to get what it wants as long as its moral o Last part of mind to develop

Overuse of these parts can cause problems: - If ego is weakened, id and superego (whichever stronger) will dominate personality - If superego too powerful, person will be deprived of socially acceptable desires. Can cause someone to become neurotic.

Egos 6 main defence mechanisms: Repression: memories and information in the unconscious mind have an effect on behaviour but the person cant pinpoint the memory or information as its in the unconscious. Problem cant be dealt with until in conscious awareness. Regression: regressing to childhood behaviour as a response to trauma or anxiety. Projection: person sees their own undesirable trait in someone else even when that other person doesnt have it. Displacement: feelings towards a person are diverted towards someone else. E.g. boy angry at parents becomes bully Sublimation: process of transferring feelings about a person or situation onto something else Denial: person denies facts or events relating to them

Psychosexual Development- Freud believed children pass five stages with each stage marking certain behaviours. Fixation or problems can cause abnormality in later life. Oral Stage (0-1 year)- child receives pleasure from putting something in its mouth Anal Stage (1-3 year) wants pleasurable feelings with bowel, anus and bladder Phallic Stage (3-6 year) - children become aware of bodies and learn the difference in genders. Latency Stage (7-puberty)- children form social relationships and friends Genital Stage (puberty-adulthood)- sexual awareness and desires

Electra and Oedipus complex- attraction for parent of opposite gender so jealousy toward other parent normally during Phallic Stage. If unresolved, can cause relationship difficulties and anxiety in later life Evaluation of this approach: o o We know that early experiences are important We know unconscious is important

But. o o o o Little evidence other than Hans Unscientific theory Limited sampling of Jewish Viennese women so sexist Over emphasis on unconscious

3. Cognitive Approach Thinking, expectations and attitude direct behaviour so fault in these, cause abnormality Faulty thinking causes abnormality (obsession, high expectations, negativity) o Not the problem itself but the way the person is thinking about it Individual is in control o Rejects determinism o Individual in control of behaviour so therefore abnormality is product of faulty control Thinking and behaviour linked so when thoughts change, so does behaviour

Evaluation Strengths: Makes sense that abnormal behaviour accompanied by dysfunctional thinking Thoughts, actions and feelings always been linked

Negatives: Approach makes patient responsible and doesnt consider life events and problems Subjective of what irrational beliefs are in fact irrational o Alloy and Abraham suggests depressive people more realistic and found that depressed people gave more accurate estimates of likelihood of a disaster than others not depressed- sadder but wiser effect May be that disorder causes the faulty thinking and not the other way Cognitive therapy not as popular as other therapies

Cognitive distortions is an example of a faulty thought process

4. Behavioural Approach Abnormality is seen as the development of behavioural patterns that are undesirable for the individual. Behaviour is learned through operant, classical conditioning or observational. (External events)

Classical conditioning: Learning through association. Unconditioned stimulus produces unconditioned response When neutral stimulus +unconditioned stimulus (a few times) = conditioned stimulus which produces a conditioned response. Conditioned stimulus evokes powerful fear response E.g. Little Albert: Tested his responses with white fluffy objects (rabbit, cotton wool, rat) Then struck hammer every time he touched the rat. Repeated 3 times and week later After this, when shown the rat, Albert would cry showing phobia could be learnt

Operant conditioning: Learning via reinforcement Psychological disorder produced when undesirable behaviour is rewarded o E.g. child gets panic attack to attract attention so attacks may become more frequent until difficult to stop

Social learning (observational): Learning by seeing others rewarded and punished o E.g. seeing someone being praised for losing weight could encourage one to do same

Only observable behaviour important: Behaviour can be external or internal. Approach focuses on external behaviours which can be observed and external events which cause these behaviours Behaviourists dont focus on past and childhood experiences but focus on present

Evaluation Strengths: Effective therapy of SD Explains things like media impacting people e.g. anorexia

Weaknesses: Research suggests most people have no recollection of a traumatic experience associated with their phobia which contradicts the approach. Also Seligman suggests there are some basic anxieties inbuilt (not learnt) which our ancestors survived on like fear of wild animals Criticised for limited view as some disorders are clearly not just behaviourist e.g. depression Symptom Substitution: removing symptoms doesnt remove cause but could resurface Most research based on animals so the approach may not explain human learning in same way