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An overview of abnormal psychology, focusing on the classification of abnormal behavior and the theoretical models used to understand it. It explores various guidelines for classifying abnormal behavior, including statistical frequency, personal distress, impairments, and social norms. The document also delves into different theoretical models, such as the biological, psychological, and social models, and examines the role of genetics, neuroscience, and behaviorism in understanding abnormal behavior. It includes examples and explanations to illustrate key concepts and provides a foundation for further exploration of abnormal psychology.
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6 guidelines or rules of thumb to Classify Abnormal behavior
Theoretical models of abnormal behavior ( always categorized in different ways)--three major categories ANSWER biological, psychological, and social (multidimensional integrative approach).
cell body dendrite axon synapse ANSWER main part receives impulses; finger things carries information away; tail part bridge; the space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron neurotransmitters ANSWER brain chemicals; chemicals in the brain that send information from one neuron to another; chemical coming from cell body; axon brings chemical down; crosses synapse; dendrite picks neurotransmitter up; bring it into cell boy; axon carries that away Two parts of the nervous system: CNS. what does it consist of? ANSWER spinal cord (brings info to brain) and brain two aspects of the brain & drug therapies ANSWER structure: you damage part of the brain brain chemicals: neurotransmitters; almost all drug therapies wok with changing the neurotransmitter; like prozac drugs can affect neurotransmitters one of two ways' ANSWER agonists: raise activity of neurotransmitter antagonists: lower activity of neurotransmitter too much dopamine crossing the bridge ANSWER either stop or slow it down; drugs either turn up the volume or turn down the volume a. serotonin b. norepinephrine c. dopamine
Peripheral Nervous System (NS) 2 parts ANSWER (S)omatic Nervous system (raising your hand)- skeletal muscles; voluntary movement Autonomic nervous system (making your heart beat)- regulates glands, heart, digestion...automatic and not voluntary.. automatic Autonomic broken down into 2 parts
What consequences is behavior determined by? and what is the antecedent? ANSWER reinforcement and punishment; events that occur before a behavior is performed that signal likelihood of a consequence Examples of operant conditioning ANSWER If a kid has a tantrum and the parents give him candy to make him stop (got what they wanted), that's reinforcement; when teacher punishes him, he gets a consequence and doesn't do it anymore. police vs. no police: behavior- speeding; speed with police officer- get ticket; don't speed anymore; speed with no ticket, keep speeding because no consequences behavior is determined by ANSWER consequences ABC model of operant conditioning ANSWER A B C Antecedent Behavior consequences (re&pu parent/teacher kid tantrum reinf/punished police/no pol speeding ticket-pun; no tick-rein mean/nice teach ask a question yelled- pun; candy- rein verbal cue sneeze reinforced/ biscuit Outline of remaining theoretical models- behavioral and cognitive science; behavioral model Behavior Therapy---- based on Behavior Theory treating ADHD through what; token economy? and example; and what is intellectual disability? ANSWER operant conditioning; rewarding desirable behavior with tokens which can be exchanged for items or privileges
Courtney having trouble paying attention; give her a token every few minutes that she does well for her to get a prize at the end; treating ADHD through operant conditioning Time out does what ANSWER decreases inappropriate behavior; put them outside so that they don't get attention Behavioral and cognitive science; Behavioral model Behavior therapy based on behavioral theory; treating fears and phobias using systematic desensitization- what is the assumption behind fear? and what is the most common way to do this? ANSWER confront fear in order to overcome it; exposure therapy' gradual or prolonged( real life or imagination) Systematic Desensitization- what kind of technique? and three components? ANSWER gradual technique;
Emotions ANSWER Influence our lives, decisions; based more on emotions or rational decisions; crimes of passion; emotions impact you more than thinking; survival of the species / individual Emotions cont...Autonomic nervous system and emotions have 3 components ANSWER fight, flight, and freeze (sympathetic part) behavior: snake = leaving; cognitive: snake= thinking about what the snake might do; physiological: public speaking= heart racing, sweating, dry thoat Social consequence model( three factors) ANSWER cultural, social, interpersonal Social consequence model risk factors ANSWER sex or gender: Male- substance use, antisocial, ADHD; women-depression, eating disorders race: Caucasians: eating disorders, african a's: obesity, Asians: sz Social consequence model risk factors continued ANSWER poverty: SES- socioeconomic status (poor- trauma, malnourished) Being elderly Social relationships and contact: fewer social contacts: more psychological problems: rape victims- need someone; one spouse dies, the other does; need social support Lifespan development: 2 important concepts: Principle of equifinality- what can happen? and examples. .2. resiliecny and protective factors ANSWER different causes for the same disorder; depression-> car accident, biology, or parent died
Multidimensional integrative Approach Biopsychosocial Model- what does this mean? ANSWER Unidimensional theories don't cover everything; especially in psych...take in all aspects Clinical assessment. definition and example ANSWER Systematic evaluation of biological, psychological, and social factors in people with a possible psychological disorder; funnel; starts broad and then gets very narrow and focused 7 aspects of clinical assessment:
3 ways of classifying psychological disorders 1. categorical approach ANSWER 1. categorical approach: looks at the type of problem; comes from biology; assumes that each disorder is unique and there are no overlaps-doesn't apply to psychology Dimensional approach ANSWER amount on a continuum; quantity amount of symptom on a continuum ; middle is probably better; too much fear is bad but so is too little Prototypical categorical approach and 2 criteria ANSWER current- what we use now; DSM IV; ***1. identifies certain esential features that you much have for diagnosis; 2. allows for nonessential variation Characteristics of the DSM III and beyond ANSWER 1. atheoretical: describes rather than explains