Abnormal Psychology
What is abnormal Psychology
Psychology- scientific study of behaviour, emotion and cognition
Abnormal Psychology- scientific study of abnormal behaviour, emotion and
cognition
Scientific/Empirical study of Psychology focus on
1. Description
a. Classification
b. Diagnosis
2. Causation (bio-psycho-social)
a. Biological
b. Psychological
c. Social
3. Treatment
a. Effectiveness
What is abnormal
The 3 D’s
1. Deviant - divert from the mean crave, inconsistent with social norm)
Can he positive deviant
2. Distressing- such as depress or anxiety
note: distress is normal part of he
3. Dysfunction - interfering with day-to-day activities
Other definitions
1. Not readily definable unlike physical illnesses
2. First on a continuum along with normal
3. 'abnormal’ reflects the cultural value and social norm at the time
4. The diagnosis and statistical Manual (DSM) - American Psychology
association (APA)
Psychological abnormal is not readily definable like physical illnesses hence it
exist on a continuum and generally the definition of 'abnormal' reflect the
cultural value and social norm at the time
Medical/Biological and Psychological Models and approaches to treatment
,Ancient times
• supernatural/works of demon
16th and 17th century medieval Europe - demonological model
• involuntary/voluntary of devil and darkness
1800s Western medicine - Biological/Medical model
• Similar to physical illness and can be explained in the same biological
process
• The underlying of development of DSM
• Treated by ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)
• issues/ criticism:
o Complex psychological phenomenon cannot be explained
o Need to avoid over-extrapolating from animal research
o Need to avoid assuming causation from treatment efficacy
o May not be able to conceptualising and diagnose mental illness
( mental illness on continuum no clear boundaries like physical
illness)
1900s Sigmund Freud - Psychoanalytical model
• Id ego and super-ego
• Unresolved conflict between Id and super-ego that cannot be resolved by
ego and as a result ego creates a defence mechanism
• Maladjustment occur when defence mechanism excessively and/or rigidly
applied → symptoms/suffering
• Diagnosis subject to each case as symptoms NOT central
• Treatment focus on gaining insights into unconscious process → develop
awareness of the unsolved conflict and the defence mechanism used
• psychoanalytical model is revolutionary, introduced the concept of mental
illness on continuum and had strong influence on the early development
of DSM
• However been criticised for lack of empirical evidence and being
unfalsifiable
1960's & 1970's Maslow and Rogers - Humanistic model
• self-actualised (Maslow) and fully-functioning human (Rogers)
• Maladjustment occur when self-actualisation thwarted
• Treatment type is empathy and unconditional positive regard
, • Been criticised as difficult to research and uncertainty as to when is self-
actualisation achieved
1897 Pavlov & 1937 Skinner - Behavioural model
• Derived from psychoanalysis being unfalsifiable
• Pavlov Classic Conditioning
o USC - UCR, CS - CR
• Skinner Operant Conditioning
o Reinforcement and punishment
• Normal and abnormal behavioural resulted from learning so treatment
should be many applications and learning new behaviours
• This model being criticised on overemphasis on behaviour to extended
which cognitive elements are being excluded
o 1974 Bandura - observational/vicarious learning showed learning
possible without own experience which reintroduced the
importance of cognition
Mid 20th century Aaron Beck - Cognitive-Behavioural model
• What we think influence how we feel and do
• Maladjustment result from negative core belief
• Treatment techniques involves exposure, behavioural experiments →
cognitive restructuring where the focus is on challenging irrational beliefs
• The criticism for this model yours around:
o simplicity where the focus is only on current belief and no
consideration of childhood implications
o Whilst it bees the most evidence it could be because it has been
studied the most
Type of approach to psychological illnesses
Supernatural
• causes: demon, evil spirits, star, moon, past lives
, • treatment: exorcism, prayer, magic
Biological
• causes: Internal physical problems re. Biological dysfunction
• treatment: bleed, diet, exercise, rest, medication
Psychological
• causes: beliefs, perception, value, goals, motivation, psychological
dysfunction
• treatment: psychotherapy
Socialcultural
• causes: poverty, prejudice, culture worm
• treatment: social work, advocating
Integrated approach: bio-psycho-social model
Classification vs diagnosis
Classification → identify the diagnosis category
Diagnosis → to improve communication, improve understanding and help recur
stigma
Mental disorder classification systems
Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental disorder (DSM)
• American psychiatric association
• English speaking countries
• 1952 first edition, 2021 5th version text revision DSM-5-TR
International classification of diseases and Health related problems (ICS)
• World Health organisation
• Europe
• 1948 mental disorder added, 2019 current 11th edition ICD-11
DSM-5-TR
What is abnormal Psychology
Psychology- scientific study of behaviour, emotion and cognition
Abnormal Psychology- scientific study of abnormal behaviour, emotion and
cognition
Scientific/Empirical study of Psychology focus on
1. Description
a. Classification
b. Diagnosis
2. Causation (bio-psycho-social)
a. Biological
b. Psychological
c. Social
3. Treatment
a. Effectiveness
What is abnormal
The 3 D’s
1. Deviant - divert from the mean crave, inconsistent with social norm)
Can he positive deviant
2. Distressing- such as depress or anxiety
note: distress is normal part of he
3. Dysfunction - interfering with day-to-day activities
Other definitions
1. Not readily definable unlike physical illnesses
2. First on a continuum along with normal
3. 'abnormal’ reflects the cultural value and social norm at the time
4. The diagnosis and statistical Manual (DSM) - American Psychology
association (APA)
Psychological abnormal is not readily definable like physical illnesses hence it
exist on a continuum and generally the definition of 'abnormal' reflect the
cultural value and social norm at the time
Medical/Biological and Psychological Models and approaches to treatment
,Ancient times
• supernatural/works of demon
16th and 17th century medieval Europe - demonological model
• involuntary/voluntary of devil and darkness
1800s Western medicine - Biological/Medical model
• Similar to physical illness and can be explained in the same biological
process
• The underlying of development of DSM
• Treated by ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)
• issues/ criticism:
o Complex psychological phenomenon cannot be explained
o Need to avoid over-extrapolating from animal research
o Need to avoid assuming causation from treatment efficacy
o May not be able to conceptualising and diagnose mental illness
( mental illness on continuum no clear boundaries like physical
illness)
1900s Sigmund Freud - Psychoanalytical model
• Id ego and super-ego
• Unresolved conflict between Id and super-ego that cannot be resolved by
ego and as a result ego creates a defence mechanism
• Maladjustment occur when defence mechanism excessively and/or rigidly
applied → symptoms/suffering
• Diagnosis subject to each case as symptoms NOT central
• Treatment focus on gaining insights into unconscious process → develop
awareness of the unsolved conflict and the defence mechanism used
• psychoanalytical model is revolutionary, introduced the concept of mental
illness on continuum and had strong influence on the early development
of DSM
• However been criticised for lack of empirical evidence and being
unfalsifiable
1960's & 1970's Maslow and Rogers - Humanistic model
• self-actualised (Maslow) and fully-functioning human (Rogers)
• Maladjustment occur when self-actualisation thwarted
• Treatment type is empathy and unconditional positive regard
, • Been criticised as difficult to research and uncertainty as to when is self-
actualisation achieved
1897 Pavlov & 1937 Skinner - Behavioural model
• Derived from psychoanalysis being unfalsifiable
• Pavlov Classic Conditioning
o USC - UCR, CS - CR
• Skinner Operant Conditioning
o Reinforcement and punishment
• Normal and abnormal behavioural resulted from learning so treatment
should be many applications and learning new behaviours
• This model being criticised on overemphasis on behaviour to extended
which cognitive elements are being excluded
o 1974 Bandura - observational/vicarious learning showed learning
possible without own experience which reintroduced the
importance of cognition
Mid 20th century Aaron Beck - Cognitive-Behavioural model
• What we think influence how we feel and do
• Maladjustment result from negative core belief
• Treatment techniques involves exposure, behavioural experiments →
cognitive restructuring where the focus is on challenging irrational beliefs
• The criticism for this model yours around:
o simplicity where the focus is only on current belief and no
consideration of childhood implications
o Whilst it bees the most evidence it could be because it has been
studied the most
Type of approach to psychological illnesses
Supernatural
• causes: demon, evil spirits, star, moon, past lives
, • treatment: exorcism, prayer, magic
Biological
• causes: Internal physical problems re. Biological dysfunction
• treatment: bleed, diet, exercise, rest, medication
Psychological
• causes: beliefs, perception, value, goals, motivation, psychological
dysfunction
• treatment: psychotherapy
Socialcultural
• causes: poverty, prejudice, culture worm
• treatment: social work, advocating
Integrated approach: bio-psycho-social model
Classification vs diagnosis
Classification → identify the diagnosis category
Diagnosis → to improve communication, improve understanding and help recur
stigma
Mental disorder classification systems
Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental disorder (DSM)
• American psychiatric association
• English speaking countries
• 1952 first edition, 2021 5th version text revision DSM-5-TR
International classification of diseases and Health related problems (ICS)
• World Health organisation
• Europe
• 1948 mental disorder added, 2019 current 11th edition ICD-11
DSM-5-TR
