psychopath ogy

7/28/2019 Psychopath Ogy

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PT10603 PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUALDIFFERENCES


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Also called abnormalpsychology

Studies the causes, treatment &consequences of psychologicaldisorders/ mental illnesses

such as depression, anxiety &psychoses


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Conventional criteria for definingabnormality1. Statistical deviance an approach

that conceptualizes abnormality interms of behaviors that areextreme, rare/ unique, as opposed

to typical


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2. Social norm approach A rule/ guideline determined by cultural

factors for what kind of behavior isconsidered appropriate in social contexts

E.g. some governments condemn theconsumption of alcoholics drink, whereas

others have very relaxed attitudes towardsdrug


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3. Personal distress Individuals level of suffering takesinto consideration and whether theywant to get rid of the suffering

Disadvantages of this defining abnormality is not always associated

with subjective suffering or the

experience of discomfort


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4. Maladaptiveness The extent to which behavior interferes

with a persons capacity to carry outeveryday tasks such as studying/ relatingto others

Disturb behavior, e.g. anxiety disorderssuch as phobias, panic attack &

obsessive-compulsive disorder


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Statistical Deviance

(is it unsual / atypical?)

Personal distress (Doesthe individual suffer)

Maladaptiveness(is it disruptive in

everyday life?)

Social norms(Does it defy cultural

rulesAbnormality


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Hippocrates, believed in the connectionbetween psychological & physical disorders

invention of medicine

He explained pathologies which were

common disorders in ancient Greek society.


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Plato: disorders are intrapsychical (all in themind) conflicts & embedded in some of thesalient psychogenic theories of abnormalpsychology.


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Psychopathology did not develop as majorarea of psychology until the beginnings ofthe twentieth century

Symptoms were regarded as the expressionof supernatural forces that controlled theindividuals mind & body Treated through obscure rituals Exorcism &

shamanism


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Ancient Egyptians: have special temples forthe mentally ill & performed rituals &included the use of opium to reduce pain.

Behavioral abnormalities treated with violence

Mentally ill individuals were marginalized


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Nolen- Hoeksema, (2001)- in 1484 -

possessed individuals to be burnedalive.

Bedlam, established in 1243- 1800, thefirst formal attempt at

psychopathological hospitalization 1970, Phillippe Pinel (1745-1826)

proposed the moral treatment for mentaldisorders & categorize symptoms.


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Freuds studies hysterical disorder

Development of psychoanalysis/psychodynamics (exploration of theunconscious)

Unconscious intrapsychical origin tomental ilness.

All behaviors are influenced byunconscious processes


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Psychopathological symptoms as acompromise between unconscious andconscious forces that represents asymbolic expression or repressed events.

Treatments may last for 10/20 years Based on case studies & is largely

untestable

Based on circular interpretations &speculative theories not robust &representative empirical evidence


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In the first half of the twentiethcentury while psychoanalysis wasgaining momentum in Europe

Study of empirically observable

behavior Uninterested in hypotheticalpsychodynamic conflicts

Symptoms would be a consequence of

reinforcing/ punishing specificbehaviors


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Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) &John Watson (1878-1958)applied the principles of

classic conditioning to thestudy of phobias


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Thorndike (1874-1949) Skinner(1904-1909)= rewardingdesirable behaviors was more

effective than punishingundesirable ones (operantconditioning)


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Emerged in 1960s & 1970s- attempted tounderstand the internal mental processes(cognitions)

Peoples subjective interpretations of eventscan have a direct impact on their behavior &emotion.


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Bandura (1896) conceptualized

this idea as self efficacy(individuals belief about theextent to which they can

successfully execute theappropriate behaviors tocontrol & influence importantlife events)


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Ellis (1973)= Rational EmotiveTherapy, conceptualizes illness asthe result of irrational negative

beliefs about oneself & the world Dryden & DiGiuseppe (1990), roleof therapist= changes in thepatients beliefs


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Divided into : Nerophysiology- dealing with the processes/

functions of the brain. Neuroanatomy- dealing with the structure of

the brain Neurotransmitter (chemical messenger that

carry information between neurons & othercells Imbalance=psychological disorders Eg.serotonin affects emotion & impulse regulation ;

dopamine levels have been linked to psychosis &schizophrenia

Endocrine system (production & release ofhormones) in the blood= affect mood, levels ofenergy & reactions to stress


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A multidisiplinary approach ropsychopathology based on the idea thatmental illness results from combination ofbiological, psychological, environmental &

social factors. Diathesis- stress model (some people

possess an enduring, inherited vulnerabilitywhich is likely to result in psychological

disorder when they experience anunbearable life event


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2 frameworks:1) Idiographic adopted by psychoanalytic &

psychodynamic theories) Emphasizes the singularity of mentalillness

Assumes psychological disorders tobe manifested differently in everyindividual


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2) Nomothetic preestablished categories &compare every case withpreviously defined, described &classified psychological disorders


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2 taxonomies diagonosing mental disorders

1. ICD- International Classification of

Diseases, Injuries & Causes of death(WHO,1992)

2. DSM- Diagnostic & Statistical Manual OfMental Disorder (APA,1994)


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Schizophrenia Psychotic disorder characterized by the

patients lack of insight & loss of contactwith reality & episodic

Unable to distinguish between inner &external reality

Severe thinking & perception impairment


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Syndromes: Hallucinations (fake perceptions) Delusions (false beliefs) Disorganied speech

Diorganized behavior Negative symptoms Passivity Neurocognitive deficits


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Experience more than one of the syndromes Conceptualized by Kraepelin as early

madness Not involved double personality &

aggressive manner Types : catatonic, hebephrenic &

paranoidresidual & undifferentiated


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Catatonic-Kinetic abnormalities

Hebephrenic-Disorganized thought disorder &decreased affect

Paranoid- vivid & horrifying hallucinations (thoughtdisorder & disorganized behavior)

Residual- Positive symptoms (the presence of

something unusual-delusions, hallucinations &thought disorder)

Undifferentiated- Symptoms which are notrepresentative of any other type of schizophrenia


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Treated by antipsychotic/ neuroleptic drugs Cognitive therapy + antipsychotic drugs can

help to reduce hallucination & delusions


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Exaggerated intensity of mood experiencesthroughout long periods of time Unrelated/ disproportionate reactions to

external life real- life events

Depression- persistent low mood (egspeech reduction, lack of joy, often suicidal,feeling of guilt, pessimistic) Learned helplessness & hopelessness


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Mania- opposite extreme of affect thandepression Exacerbated elevated mood & an inappropriate sense of

well-being

Eg. Optimism, over confidence

Abnormal talk & speech (eg. inconsistency & incoherent)

Psychotic symptoms (delusions of grandeur) Manic behavior- overactivity & increased sexual &

aggressive impulses

Treated with lithium & antipsychotics &hospitalization


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Experience of high levels of anxiety Anxiety can be experienced psychologically

(eg. unpleasant & dreadful feelings) &somatically (muscular tension & increased

heart attack)


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Common anxiety disorders is phobias(experience of irrational/ disproportionatefear of an object/ phobic stimulus that leadsindividual to avoid contact with that object

Treatment: systematic desensitization(progressive exposure to the phobic object)


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Obsessive-compulsive disorder- a disordercharacterized by intense & repetitiveobsessions that generate anxiety

Tends to start in early adulthood


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Causes of phobias according to:

Psychodynamic-conflict betweenunconscious sexual/ aggressive impulses &social/culture norms

Behaviors- induced in humans as in animalsthrough association & conditioning

Cognitive- sensitive/ have more vulnerableschemas to interpret events


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Biological- a ubiquitous human emotion

Neuropsychological- overactivity of thenoradrenaline neurotransmitters isassociated with anxiety attacks whilst

serotonin has been associated with theadaptational function of preparing theindividual for danger & stress

Diathesis-stress model- psychological &

biological


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Exacerbated worry about food, body shape,weight & related physical symptoms

Related to cultural, economic & social factors-experience of anxiety

Anorexia (1. a serious & permanent concernabout ones body shape, weight & thinness, 2.an active pursuit & maintenance of low bodyweight, 3 the absence of menstrual periods in

female- disturbance of hormonal status)


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Associated with anxiety fail to stop fromeating.

Anorexia individuals quiet, unassertive,anxious, and sexually inexperienced. Also tend to be ambitious and achievement-

oriented, but have low self estee.


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Bulimia nervosa- person to indulge in alcohol& drugs consumption

Treatment: psychotherapy &psychopharmacological drugs

Treatment- group/ family in treatment


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A persistent pattern of thinking, feeling &behaving that deviates from culturalexpectations & impairs a personseducational, occupational & interpersonal

functioning Begins at early age, are stable over time & are

pervasive & inflexible


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DSM Cluster A: antisocial, borderline, narcissistic &

histrionic- odd & eccentric behaviors as well asdisregard for others

Cluster B: schizotypal, schizoid & paranoid-dramatic, erratic & emotional behavior

Cluster C- avoidant, obsessive-compulsive,dependent & passive-aggressive-anxious &fearful

behaviors


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+ve correlation: Neuroticism (N)-ve correlation: Agreeableness (A) &

Conscientiousness

Variable in direction & strength: Extraversion(E) & Openness (O)

Eg. Histrionic personality disorder- higher in E,avoidant personality disorder- lower in E


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Modern conceptualizations of normality arebased on statistical frequency, personaldistress, social norms & maladaptiveness

Diagnostic approach: clinical psychology &

psychiatry


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psychopath ogy

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