INTRODUCTION TO ABNORMAL PSYCH

• Distress

  Abnormal behavior often causes significant emotional distress or discomfort to the individual experiencing it
• Characteristics of Abnormal Behaviours

  1. Deviance

  2. Distress

  3. Dysfunction

  4. Danger
• According to the American Psychology Association, abnormal psychology is known as, “any deviation from what is considered typical, usual, or healthy, particularly if the deviation is considered harmful or maladaptive,” (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2018)
• Danger

  Behaviors that pose a risk of harm to oneself or others
• Prevalence and Impact are considered in abnormal psychology
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used in abnormal psychology
• Treatment Approaches are explored in abnormal psychology
• The Medical Model is used in abnormal psychology
• Deviance

  Behavior that significantly deviates from the cultural or societal norms
• Abnormal psychology focuses on the study of atypical behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, often referred to as psychological disorders or mental illnesses
• Abnormal psychology explores a wide range of psychological disorders, their causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches
• Biopsychosocial Model is used in abnormal psychology
• Dysfunction

  Impairment in daily functioning due to abnormal behavior
• Aetiology is examined in abnormal psychology
• Learning outcomes 1-5 will be assessed through an exam. Learning outcomes 6-9 will be assessed through an assignment
• Early explanations of abnormal behavior

  1. Involved supernatural or religious interpretations

  2. Mental disorders were thought to be the result of possession by evil spirits or a punishment from the gods

  3. Treatments included exorcism and rituals aimed at expelling demons

  4. Treatment also included trephination, in which a stone instrument known as a trephine was used to remove part of the skull, creating an opening

  5. The purpose of opening the skull was to release the evil spirits causing the problem
• Self-harming behaviors


  As a way to cope with emotional pain
• Bloodletting

  1. One of the oldest practices in medicine

  2. Originated in ancient Egypt around 3,000 years ago

  3. Spread to the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Asians

  4. Performed using various methods including venesection, leeching, and cupping
• Reform Movement

  1. Rise of the moral treatment movement in Europe in the late 18th century

  2. Philippe Pinel led the movement
• Methods during the Middle Ages

  1. Included exorcism, flogging, prayer, touching relics, chanting, visiting holy sites, using holy water

  2. Employed to expel the perceived influence of the Devil from individuals

  3. In extreme cases, the afflicted were confined, beaten, and even executed
• Self-harming behaviors


  • cutting
• Views of Hippocrates

  1. Mental disorders were comparable to physical disorders and stemmed from natural origins

  2. Outlined four primary fluids or humors governing regular functioning and personality: Blood, Phlegm, Yellow bile, Black Bile

  3. Believed that mental illnesses could be addressed similarly to other disorders
• History of Abnormal Psychology
• Views of Plato

  1. Individuals with mental illnesses were not accountable for their actions and should not face punishment

  2. Highlighted the influence of social surroundings and early learning in the formation of mental disorders

  3. Advocated for a compassionate approach, emphasizing the duty of the community and families to provide humane care
• Views during the Renaissance

  1. Emergence of humanism prioritizing human well-being and the distinctiveness of the individual

  2. Johann Weyer proposed that many accused of witchcraft were likely suffering from mental illnesses

  3. Advocated for a more humane and medical approach to their treatment

  4. Emergence of asylums as places of refuge for the mentally ill where they could receive care began to rise
• Reform Movement (18th to 19th Centuries)

  1. The rise of the moral treatment movement occurred in Europe in the late 18th century

  2. Philippe Pinel (1745–1826) was a French physician and a pioneer in the humane treatment of individuals with mental disorders
• Early Twentieth Century: Somatogenic and Psychogenic Perspectives

  The moral movement was declining in the late 1800s as the somatogenic and psychogenic perspectives arose
• Behavioural Perspective


  • Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned and reinforced
  • Key concepts include conditioning, reinforcement, punishment, and observational learning
  • Treatment involves approaches like behavior modification techniques, exposure therapy, systematic desensitization
• Biological Perspective

  • Focuses on physiological factors contributing to abnormal behavior
  • Key concepts include genetics, brain structure and function, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hormonal influences
  • Treatment involves the use of medications, neurotransmitter regulation, neurostimulation, or other biological interventions
• Psychogenic perspective


  • Attributes mental disorders primarily to psychological or emotional causes
  • Mental disorders are seen as arising from psychological processes, such as unresolved conflicts, unconscious dynamics, and dysfunctional thought patterns
  • Treatment methods often involve talk therapy, particularly psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy
• Philippe Pinel advocated for

  • Humanitarian Reforms- advocated for more compassionate and humane treatment of individuals with mental illnesses
  • Removal of Chains- departure from the brutal and dehumanizing practices that were common in the treatment of the mentally ill at the time
  • Focus on Moral Treatment- treating patients with kindness, respect, and dignity promotes mental and physical well-being
  • Advocacy for systemic changes- improvement of hospital conditions, better staffing, and the incorporation of therapeutic interventions
• Somatogenic perspective


  • Attributes mental disorders primarily to physical or biological causes
  • Mental disorders are seen as resulting from identifiable abnormalities in the body, such as the brain's structure or function, genetic factors, neurotransmitter imbalances, or other physiological processes
  • Treatments often involve biological interventions like medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and other neurostimulation techniques
• Various theoretical perspectives of abnormal behavior

  • Biological Perspective
  • Psychodynamic Perspective
  • Behavioural Perspective
  • Cognitive Perspective
• Cognitive Perspective


  • Focuses on how thoughts and cognitive processes contribute to abnormal behaviors
  • Key concepts include cognitive distortions, irrational beliefs, and dysfunctional thought patterns
  • Treatment involves the use of Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify and change maladaptive thought patterns
• Psychodynamic Perspective


  • Focuses on the role of unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts in abnormal behavior
  • Key concepts include Freudian concepts like defense mechanisms, unresolved childhood experiences, and the influence of the unconscious mind
  • Treatment involves the use of psychoanalytic therapy to explore and resolve unconscious conflicts
• Abnormal behaviours

  • Cognitive distortions
  • Irrational beliefs
  • Dysfunctional thought patterns
• Treatment and Care for Individuals with Severe Abnormal Behaviours

  Individuals with severe disorders often require specialized and comprehensive care
• Medication Management

  Psychotropic medications may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms and manage underlying neurochemical imbalances associated with severe disorders
• Sociocultural Perspective


  • Focuses on the impact of social and cultural factors on abnormal behavior
  • Key concepts include cultural norms, societal expectations, socioeconomic factors, and cultural identity
  • Involves culturally sensitive assessments and interventions, recognition of social determinants of mental health
• Supported Employment and Education

  Focus on helping individuals reintegrate into the community by providing assistance in finding and maintaining employment or pursuing educational goals