Abnormal Behavior and Society
Defining Abnormal Behavior
Norm Violation
Norms as rules of "right" and "wrong"
Abnormal behavior as a violation of cultural norms
Limitations include variability of norms and rewarding of conformity
Statistical Rarity
Abnormal behavior as a deviation from the average
Normal behavior as falling within the average
Diagnosing mental retardation using statistics
Limitations include a lack of values
Not all rarities should be identified as abnormal
Personal Discomfort
Abnormality as distressing thoughts or behaviors
People are their own judges of their own normality
Limitations include no standard for evaluating the behavior itself, and individuals may still need help if behavior is not harmful
Maladaptive Behavior
Abnormality exists if behavior pattern prevents the demands of life from being met
Related to norm violation
Focuses on behavior relative to life circumstances
Combined Standard
Should standard of abnormality be based on facts or values?
Both facts and values are used
Most societies identify the same categories of abnormal behavior, such as harmful behavior, poor reality contact, inappropriate emotional reactions, and erratic behavior
Relating Abnormal Behavior to Groups
Cultural and Ethnic Group Differences
Psychological disorders affect different cultures at different rates
Psychological disorders are experienced and managed differently among different cultures
Cultures have differing idioms of distress--ways that illness is signified
Diagnosis should take into account individual's cultural background
Gender Differences
Gender affects the expression of psychological disorders
Gender affects susceptibility to psychological disorders
Diagnosis should take into account individual's gender
Explaining Abnormal Behavior
Medical Model
The medical model argues that abnormal behavior is comparable to disease
Each abnormal behavior has causes and set of symptoms
Abnormal behavior is biogenic
Long history of biogenic theories of abnormal behavior
Biogenic theories supported by early discoveries of brain pathologies
Conceptualization of abnormal behavior influenced by medical model
Criticisms of model include labeling effects
Biological perspective focuses on physical components of abnormal behavior but does not necessarily argue that all abnormal behavior is merely symptomatic of biological abnormalities
Multiperspective Approach
Psychological theories attribute abnormal behavior to psychological process from interaction between person and environment
Psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic-existential, interpersonal, and sociocultural perspectives are examples of psychological theories
Treating Abnormal Behavior
Nature of society affects the treatment of abnormal behavior
Way in which abnormal behavior is defined influences its treatment
Suspected causes of abnormal behavior influences its treatment
Preventing Abnormal Behavior
Keeping disorders from becoming disorders in the first place
Primary and secondary preventions as well as a "tertiary" level of prevention
The art of prevention science: reducing risks and strengthening resilience to illness or disease
Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior: A Short History
Ancient Societies: Deviance and the Supernatural
Belief in supernatural forces influenced treatment such as exorcism
Undramatic treatments were probably common in ancient societies
The Greeks and the Rise of Science
Evolution of naturalistic approach to abnormal behavior
Hippocrates suggested all illness as due to natural causes
Importance of observing cases of abnormal behavior
Developed first biogenic theory suggesting abnormalities of humors
Developed one of the first classification systems
Plato argued that care of mentally ill was a family responsibility and influenced the treatment located in retreats
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance: Natural and Supernatural
Medieval Theory and Treatment
Abnormal behavior thought to be caused by supernatural forces
Treatment reflects belief in the supernatural
Many cases were seen as caused by intervening factors of physical or emotional mishaps
The Witch Hunts
The stage was set to perceive anyone behaving strangely as a witch
Papal bull declaring church's intention of seeking and punishing witches
Renaissance Theory and Treatment
Accusations of witchcraft were often used for political and economic reasons
Many of those alleged to be witches were psychologically disturbed
Many were institutionalized or cared for at homes
The Eighteenth Century and After: The Asylums
Early Mental Asylums
Hospitalizing mentally ill is an old idea
Public hospitals became "madhouses"
Conditions of mental hospitals, such Bethlehem Hospital in London, were often terrible
Bedlam reported in many asylums was due to violent patients
Reform of the Asylums
Pussin, superintendent at La Bicête in Paris, established new rules that were later extended by Pinel
Tuke attempted similar reforms in England
New approach to treatment known as moral therapy designed to treat patients like human beings
Reform Movement in America
Rush is known as the "father of American psychiatry"
Rush moved the treatment of mentally disturbed toward human therapy
Dix traveled country and became an advocate calling for humane treatment of mentally ill in appropriate facilities
Hospitalization and the Decline of Moral Therapy
Lack of enough advocates of moral therapy to staff growing number of mental hospitals
Prejudice against Irish Catholics by Protestant-staffed mental hospitals reduced likelihood of using moral therapy
Medical model directed efforts toward biological treatment
Custodial care was replacing moral therapy
Prefrontal lobotomy used on patients considered uncontrollable
Exodus from the Hospitals
Deinstitutionalization movement led to many individuals being discharged
Cost of care and development of phenothiazines contributed to deinstitutionalization movement
Community Mental Health Centers Act (1963) led to different types of care--outpatient,inpatient
Different types of programs were available, such as day hospital and night hospital
Halfway houses were developed to help patients with readjustment to community life
Insufficient funds have led to inadequate and nonexistent services; some patients are homeless
"Revolving door syndrome" results from a lack of services
Foundations of Modern Abnormal Psychology
Experimental Study of Abnormal Psychology
Methods developed by Wundt were applied to the study of abnormal behavior
Emil Kraepelin studied psychopathology in his laboratory
Kraepelin and the Biogenic Theory
Kraepelin developed classification system based on biogenic perspective
Syndrome is a distinct cluster of symptoms and is used in classification
Neurological research made significant progress in linking syndromes with brain pathologies such as general paresis
Psychogenic theory suggests that psychological disturbances are due primarily to stress and not organic dysfunction
Franz Anton Mesmer and Hypnosis
Mesmer applied knowledge of magnetism and electricity to study of mental states
Mesmer believed that "animal magnetism" could treat hysteria
Success was actually due to the power of suggestion
Hypnosis was originally known as "mesmerism"
The Nancy School
Liebeault and Bernheim used hypnosis as treatment
Argued that glove anesthesia was a form of hysteria caused by self-hypnosis
The Nancy school suggested that mental disorders were caused by psychological factors
Charcot criticized the Nancy school
Josef Breuer and Sigmund Freud: The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis
Breuer, in treating Anne O., found the talking cure to be useful
Freud and Breuer argued that disorders were due to unconscious conflicts and were to be drawn out under hypnosis
Free association was used to examine unconscious conflicts
This form of therapy is called psychoanalysis and has had profound influence
Non-Western Approaches to Abnormal Behavior
Africa
Family plays an important role in dealing with disturbed people
Causes of abnormal behavior often linked to individual's relationship with spirit world
Many principles common in the West are used, such as the goal of insight
Asia
Religion emphasizes self-awareness through meditation
Meditation is used to treat variety of psychological problems
Naikan therapy suggests that psychological problems are due to self-centeredness; self-observation is taught as a treatment
Morita therapy used to treat anxiety disorders to clear one's mind of perfectionism and to once again want practical activity
Multiperspective Approach
Human behavior can be studied scientifically
Most abnormal behavior is the product of both psychological and biological processes
Each human being is unique
A comprehensive view of abnormal behavior is accomplished by examining different perspectives
