Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Definition

• Study of unusual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that deviate from societal norms
• Focus on understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental disorders

Models of Abnormality

• Medical Model: views abnormal behavior as a result of a physical or biological disorder
• Psychological Model: views abnormal behavior as a result of psychological factors such as learning, environment, and personality
• Sociocultural Model: views abnormal behavior as a result of cultural and societal factors

Types of Mental Disorders

• Anxiety Disorders: excessive fear, anxiety, or avoidance of situations
  • Examples: phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Mood Disorders: extreme or persistent feelings of sadness or elation
  • Examples: depression, bipolar disorder
• Personality Disorders: inflexible and maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior
  • Examples: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder
• Psychotic Disorders: detachment from reality, hallucinations, and delusions
  • Examples: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder

Assessment and Diagnosis

• Clinical Interviews: face-to-face interviews with a mental health professional
• Psychological Tests: standardized measures of behavior, cognition, and emotion
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): standardized guide for diagnosing mental disorders

Treatment Approaches

• Biological Treatments: medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Psychological Treatments: psychotherapy, counseling, behavioral therapy
• Humanistic Treatments: focus on personal growth, self-actualization, and empowerment

Therapeutic Relationships

• Therapeutic Alliance: collaborative relationship between therapist and client
• Empathy: understanding and sharing of client's feelings
• Genuineness: authenticity and transparency in the therapeutic relationship

Abnormal Psychology

Definition and Scope

• Abnormal psychology is the study of unusual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that deviate from societal norms
• Focuses on understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental disorders

Models of Abnormality

Medical Model

• Views abnormal behavior as a result of physical or biological disorder
• Emphasizes the role of genetics, neurobiology, and neurotransmitters

Psychological Model

• Views abnormal behavior as a result of psychological factors such as learning, environment, and personality
• Emphasizes the role of cognitive processes, behavioral conditioning, and social learning

Sociocultural Model

• Views abnormal behavior as a result of cultural and societal factors
• Emphasizes the role of social norms, cultural values, and environmental factors

Types of Mental Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

• Characterized by excessive fear, anxiety, or avoidance of situations
• Examples: phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder

Mood Disorders

• Characterized by extreme or persistent feelings of sadness or elation
• Examples: depression, bipolar disorder

Personality Disorders

• Characterized by inflexible and maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior
• Examples: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder

Psychotic Disorders

• Characterized by detachment from reality, hallucinations, and delusions
• Examples: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder

Assessment and Diagnosis

• Clinical interviews are face-to-face interviews with a mental health professional
• Psychological tests are standardized measures of behavior, cognition, and emotion
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is a standardized guide for diagnosing mental disorders

Treatment Approaches

Biological Treatments

• Medication: used to treat symptoms of mental disorders
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): used to treat severe depression and other mental disorders

Psychological Treatments

• Psychotherapy: talk therapy to address mental health issues
• Counseling: guidance and support to address mental health issues
• Behavioral therapy: focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors

Humanistic Treatments

• Focuses on personal growth, self-actualization, and empowerment
• Emphasizes the client's inherent worth and dignity

Therapeutic Relationships

• Therapeutic alliance: a collaborative relationship between therapist and client
• Empathy: understanding and sharing of client's feelings
• Genuineness: authenticity and transparency in the therapeutic relationship

Understand patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that deviate from societal norms, including medical, psychological, and sociocultural models of abnormality.