Psychopathology Notes PDF

Psychopathology Social-Cognitive Theories Predict people’s objectively measured actual behavior Cognitive constructs are the basis for personality: goals, values, expectancies Situational specificity, can’t use global traits that apply to all situations Social-Cognitive Theories Rotter:...

Psychopathology Social-Cognitive Theories Predict people’s objectively measured actual behavior Cognitive constructs are the basis for personality: goals, values, expectancies Situational specificity, can’t use global traits that apply to all situations Social-Cognitive Theories Rotter: Locus of Control Internal ○ Healthier ○ Take action to control own fate ○ More persuasive ○ Less anxious External ○ Less healthy ○ Prefer games of luck (vs.skill) ○ Less successful at persuading others ○ Lower self-esteem Social-Cognitive Theories Dweck: Malleability ○ Embrace challenges ○ Persist ○ Learn from criticisms ○ Find lessons/inspiration in others’ success Fixed Abilities ○ Avoid challenges ○ Give up easily ○ Ignore negative feedback ○ Feel threatened by others’ success What is Psychopathology? The scientific study of psychological disorders The disorders themselves So how do we determine what makes a “psychological disorder”? Psychological disorder “the four Ds” Deviance ○ Behavior is considered unacceptable or uncommon within a particular society Distress ○ Negative feelings (of the self or those around them) that arise because of the disorder Dysfunction ○ Behavior is maladaptive—interferes with individual’s everyday life Danger ○ Behavior is dangerous or violent, can be directed at others or the self DEVIANCE= Considered unacceptable or uncommon DISTRESS = Negative feelings DYSFUNCTION = Behavior is maladaptive DANGER = Behavior is dangerous or violent Distinguishing “Normal” vs. “Abnormal” Problems with the 4 Ds Deviance statistical infrequency a) Doesn’t specify which behaviors and whether the “good end” counts b) Not all problems fall along a continuum c) Cutoff is arbitrary d) Cultural differences Deviance unacceptable a) Not all symptoms are unacceptable to society b) What is viewed as unacceptable changes over time Dysfunction (or disability) a) How much interference required? Personal distress a) Distress w/o psychological disorder b) Psychological disorder w/o distress DSM-5 Definition “A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities. An expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss, such as the death of a loved one, is not a mental disorder. Socially deviant behavior (e.g., political, religious, or sexual) and conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society are not mental disorders unless the deviance or conflict results from a dysfunction in the individual, as described above.” Defining Psychological Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive levels of anxiety and worry not tied to any particular object, situation, or activity accompanied by muscle tension, sleep disturbance, restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Social Phobia Clinically: significant anxiety relating to exposure to social situations or performance situations, often accompanied by avoidance of these situations. ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder (OCD): Recurrent obsessions (e.g., intrusive thoughts about disease) and/or compulsions (e.g., repetitive acts such as hand-washing) that last 1+ hour per day Diagnostic Labels Benefits ○ Improve treatment ○ Improve research ○ Reduce confusion for individuals with a puzzling set of symptoms  ○ Individuals (and their friends/families) can gain a sense of community with others experiencing similar situations Costs ○ Can create stigma and affect how someone is perceived by others and themselves ○ Encourage thinking of psychological disorders as fixed and enduring diagnoses ○ Create a framework that can reduce research and understanding of the real overlap between disorders