Psychology 360

INTRODUCTION!

Some Relevant Terms

Abnormal Behavior

Psychopathology
Psychiatric Problem

Emotion Disorder
Problems in daily Living

Mental Illness
Crazy

But how do we determine what abnormal behavior is?

What criteria should we use to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior?

Some Possible Definitions

Statistical infrequency Violation of Norms Personal Distress Distress to others Disability or dysfunction Unexpectedness

Harmful Dysfunction Jerome Wakefield

Dysfunction A trait fails to optimally perform the specific function that it was evolutionarily designed to perform. Harmful A social judgment that a dysfunction is undesirable. Abnormality is implied when a dysfunction is viewed as harmful by society.

Professionals who Treat Abnormal Behavior

Clinical Psychologists
Hold a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. 4 years of graduate school, 1-year clinical internship, 1-year post-doctoral placement Expertise in diagnosis, treatment, testing.

Psychiatrists
Completed medical school

Completed a psychiatric residency Expertise in diagnosis, treatment, and medical interventions.

The only mental health professional qualified to prescribe (but this is changing).

Social Workers
Have completed a M.S.W. with additional training and in psychiatric issues. Expertise in treatment, often with a strong background in group and family therapy

Marriage and Family Therapists/ Counselors/Mental Health Workers Have a variety of different degrees - such as M.F.C.C., M.A., or B.A. Exact qualifications vary across setting.

The Prime Directive

Psychologists must avoid dual relationships!

A dual relationship is one in which an individual has two separate relationship roles. Relationship roles include: Therapist Romantic partner or friend Business Partner Student or Instructor Patient

Historical Perspectives
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Demonology and Superstition The Somatogenic Perspective The Dark Ages The Asylum Movement Moral treatment The Mental Hygiene Movement

Emil Kraepelin and the return of the Somatogenic Perspective

Kraepelin authored a psychiatry textbook and classification system. His basic assumptions:
All disorders are distinct All disorders have a unique biological cause. Clinical diagnosis is based on careful observation

Rise of the Psychogenic Perspective

Hysteria emerges as a major mental health problem. Anton Mesmer uses a series of bizarre interventions, some of which are related to hypnotism, as a cure. Jean-Martin Charcot conducts more scientific studies of hypnotism. What aspects of their work led to idea that disorders are psychological in origin?

Thomas Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Paradigms guide all scientific inquiry and thought in a particular area.

A paradigm is a guiding

set of assumptions, theories, and methods.

Fall of a Paradigm
When a paradigm fails to explain phenomena, a period of crisis occurs. Eventually, the paradigm falls and is replaced by a new paradigm.

A new paradigm emerges and guides all thinking in the area. This paradigm will remain dominant until a new crisis occurs.