Models of Abnormal Behavior - Abnormal Psychology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Abnormal Psychology

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Models of Abnormal Behavior

Models in the Study of Psychopathology

• Psychopathology: Clinical term meaning abnormal behavior.
• Model: An analogy used by scientists to describe or explain a phenomenon or process that they cannot directly observe. - Referring to “patients” and “mental illness” is to apply a medical model. - Fevers and rashes caused by invasion of the body by foreign substances. - Abnormal behavior caused by…

Two Different Schools of Thought

• Mental disorders are caused primarily by biological problems.
• Abnormal behavior is essentially psychosocial.

A Multipath Model of Mental Disorders

• Multipath Model: An integrative and interacting means of viewing disorders and their causes. - Multipath model consists of following dimensions: - Biological - Psychological - Social - Sociocultural

Neural Communication Neurons

• Dendrite: The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
• Axon: The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
• Myelin Sheath: A layer of fatty cells segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons. - Makes possible vastly greater transmission speed of neutral impulses.

Neural Communication Neurons

Neural Communication How Neurons Communicate

• Synapse: Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron - Tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
• Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons - When released by the sending neuron, neuro- transmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether it will generate a neural impulse.

Neural Communication How Neurons Communicate

Neural Communication How Neurotransmitters Influence Us

• There are dozens of different types
• Certain neurotransmitters are associated with particular events. - Dopamine influences movement - Too much dopamine may cause schizophrenia; not enough may cause Parkinson’s disease. - Serotonin affects mood - Not enough serotonin may cause depression.

Functional Neuroanatomy Lower Level Brain Structures The Brainstem and Thalamus

 Brainstem: The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull.  Responsible for automatic survival functions.

 Medulla: Base of the brainstem.

 Controls heartbeat and breathing.

Functional Neuroanatomy Lower Level Brain Structures The Brainstem and Thalamus

 Reticular Formation: A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.  Runs through the brainstem

 Thalamus: The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem.  It directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. docsity.com