Lesson 5 Theoretical Perspectives PDF

**[Lesson 05]** **[Theoretical Perspectives I]** **[Topic: 17-21]** **Simplified Notes for Lesson 5: Theoretical Perspectives in Abnormal Psychology** **Topic 17: Introduction to Perspectives** - **Definition**: Models or theories explain human behavior and guide investigations. - **Ma...

**[Lesson 05]** **[Theoretical Perspectives I]** **[Topic: 17-21]** **Simplified Notes for Lesson 5: Theoretical Perspectives in Abnormal Psychology** **Topic 17: Introduction to Perspectives** - **Definition**: Models or theories explain human behavior and guide investigations. - **Major Models**: - **Biological Model**: Focuses on physical processes (e.g., brain chemistry). - **Psychodynamic Model**: Emphasizes unconscious conflicts. - **Cognitive-Behavioral Model**: Studies learned behaviors and thought patterns. - **Humanistic-Existential Model**: Stresses values and personal choices. - **Sociocultural Model**: Highlights social and cultural influences, including: - **Family-Social Perspective**: Family and social interactions. - **Multicultural Perspective**: Cultural beliefs, values, and history. **Topic 18: Biological Perspective** - **Viewpoint**: Abnormal behavior is an illness caused by body dysfunctions. - **Brain Anatomy**: - Brain consists of **neurons** and **glia cells**. - Disorders (e.g., Huntington's disease) linked to brain structure issues. - **Open Questions**: It\'s unclear if structural issues cause disorders or vice versa. **Topic 19: Brain Chemistry** - **Neuron Structure**: - **Dendrites**: Receive impulses. - **Axon**: Transmits impulses. - **Synapse**: Space where impulses travel via **neurotransmitters**. - **Message Flow**: Electrical impulses travel, releasing neurotransmitters that: - Excite: Trigger neuron firing. - Inhibit: Stop neuron firing. **Topic 20: Neurotransmitters & Endocrine Glands** - **Neurotransmitters**: - Examples: **Serotonin**, **Dopamine**, **GABA**. - Disorders linked to imbalances: - **Depression**: Low serotonin and norepinephrine. - **Anxiety**: Issues with GABA. - **Schizophrenia**: Dopamine imbalances. - **Endocrine System**: - Releases **hormones** to regulate stress, growth, etc. - Disorders linked to hormone imbalances (e.g., high cortisol in depression). **Topic 21: Viral Infections and Genetic Factors** - **Viral Infections**: - Prenatal exposure may lead to schizophrenia or intellectual disabilities. - **Genetic Factors**: - Inheritance plays a role in disorders (e.g., mood disorders, Alzheimer's). - No single gene identified; often, multiple genes interact. **Biological Treatments** 1. **Drug Therapy**: - **Psychotropic drugs** reduce symptoms (most common method). 2. **Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)**: - Used for severe depression. - Involves brief brain seizures via electrical currents. 3. **Neurosurgery**: - Rare; involves surgical intervention for mental disorders. These notes provide a concise overview of the theoretical perspectives and key biological factors in abnormal psychology, making it easier to remember key concepts and treatments. [**Topic 17**: **Introducing Perspectives**] In science, the perspectives/models or paradigms/theories attempt to explain events or behaviors. Each perspective spells out basic assumptions; and sets guideless for investigation. Today several models are used to explain and treat abnormal functioning. This variety has resulted both from shifts in values and beliefs over the past half-century and from improvements in clinical research. At one end of the spectrum is the biological model, which sees physical processes as key to human behavior. In the middle are three models that focus on more psychological and personal aspects of human functioning: The psychodynamic model looks at people's unconscious internal processes and conflicts; the cognitive-behavioral model emphasizes behavior, the ways in which it is learned, and the thinking that underlies behavior; and the humanistic-existential model stresses the role of values and choices. At the far end of the spectrum is the sociocultural model, which looks to social and cultural forces as the keys to human functioning. This model includes the family-social perspective, which focuses on an individual's family and social interactions, and the multicultural perspective, which emphasizes an individual's culture and the shared beliefs, values, and history of that culture. **Models' Influence** These models influence that that what specifically professionals/investigators are observing and how the questions are being asked on the basis of those observations. The information they seek, and how they interpret this information Today, several models are used to explain and treat abnormal behavior. Each model focuses upon one aspect of humans. No single model can explain all aspects of abnormality [**Topic 18**: **Biological Perspective**] Adopting a medical perspective, biological theorists view abnormal behavior as an illness brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism. Typically, they point to problems in brain anatomy, brain chemistry, and/or brain circuitry as the cause of such behavior.  **Brain Anatomy and Abnormal Behavior** Brain is composed of 100 billion nerve cells called neurons and thousands of billions of support cells called glia/glial cells. Within the brain large groups of neurons form distinct regions, or brain structures. Clinical researchers have sometimes discovered connections between particular psychological disorders and problems in specific structures of the brain. One such disorder is Huntington's disease, a disorder marked by violent emotional outbursts, memory loss, suicidal thinking, involuntary body movements, and absurd beliefs. This disease has been linked in part to a loss of cells in the basal ganglia and cortex. Now there arises a question that either a structural change comes fist or then the disorder come or vice versa. There is no conclusive evidence yet as the research is still going on.  **[Topic 19: Brain Chemistry and Abnormal Behavior]** Biological researchers have also learned that psychological disorders can be related to problems in the transmission of messages from neuron to neuron. Information is communicated throughout the brain in form of electrical impulses that travel from one neuron to one (or more) others.  **Structure of a Neuron:** - Dendrite - Cell body - Axon - Electrical impulse - Neurotransmitters - Synapse An impulse is first received by a neuron's dendrites, antenna-like extensions located at one end of the neuron. From there it travels down the neuron's axon, a long fiber extending from the neuron's body. Finally, it is transmitted through the nerve ending at the end of the axon to the dendrites of other neurons (See the above figure). Each neuron has multiple dendrites and a single axon. But that axon can be very long indeed, often extending all the way from one structure of the brain to another. Neurons are separated by a space (the synapse), across which a message moves. A tiny space, called the synapse, separates one neuron from the next, and the message must somehow move across that space. When an electrical impulse reaches a neuron's ending, the nerve ending is stimulated to release a chemical, called a neurotransmitter, that travels across the synaptic space to receptors on the dendrites of the neighboring neurons. After binding to the receiving neuron's receptors, some neurotransmitters give a message to receiving neurons to "fire," that is, to trigger their own electrical impulse. Other neurotransmitters carry an inhibitory message; they tell receiving neurons to stop all firing. As you can see, neurotransmitters play a key role in moving information through the brain. **[Topic 20: Neurotransmitters]** Researchers have identified dozens of neurotransmitters in the brain e.g. serotonin, dopamine, and GABA and they have learned that each neuron uses only certain kinds. Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters is sometimes associated with mental disorders. Depression, for example, has been linked in part to low activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Anxiety has found to be having a relation with GABA. Schizophrenia is also linked with imbalances of dopamine **Endocrine Glands\ **Mental disorders are also found to be linked to abnormal chemical activity in the endocrine system. Endocrine glands, located throughout the body, work along with neurons to control such vital activities as growth, reproduction, sexual activity, heart rate, body temperature, energy, and responses to stress. The glands release chemicals called hormones into the bloodstream, and these chemicals then propel body organs into action. During times of stress, for example, the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, secrete the hormone cortisol to help the body deal with the stress. Abnormal secretions of this chemical have been tied to anxiety and mood disorders i.e. depression or mania. **Genetic Factors** Genes on chromosomes control the characteristics and traits a person inherits. Studies suggest that inheritance plays a part in mood disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and other mental disorders. However, no specific gene in this regard has been identified though. There is no exact information regarding to which extent genetic factors contribute to disorders. It appears that in most cases several genes combine to produce our actions and reactions.  [**Topic 21**: **Viral Infections**] Under biological perspectives, another very important factor which may cause abnormal brain structure or biochemical dysfunction is infections, particularly viral infections e.g. schizophrenia and prenatal viral exposure or intellectual disability. **Treatment:** Biological practitioners attempt to identify physical source of dysfunction to determine the course of treatment. Once the clinicians have pinpointed physical sources of dysfunction, they are in a better position to choose a biological course of treatment. The three leading kinds of biological treatments used today are drug therapy, brain stimulation, and psychosurgery.  **Drug Therapy/Psychotropic Medicines:** These are the drugs that primarily affect the brain and reduce many symptoms of mental dysfunction. These drugs have greatly changed the outlook for a number of mental disorders and today are used widely, either alone or with other forms of therapy. Drug therapy is by far the most common of three approaches. **Electroconvulsive Therapy:  **The oldest and most controversial approach, used primarily on severely depressed people, is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Two electrodes are attached to a patient's forehead, and an electrical current of 65 to 140 volts is passed briefly through the brain. The current causes a brain seizure that lasts up to a few minutes. After seven to nine ECT sessions, spaced two or three days apart, many patients feel considerably less depressed. **Neurosurgery: **A third kind of biological treatment is psychosurgery, brain surgery for mental disorders.