Psych 101: Abnormal Psychology

frequently occurring behavior is normal, while infrequent behavior is abnormal
not always applicable– intelligence

going against norms or standards of society
dependent on situational context

social or environmental settings of a person’s behavior

emotional distress or pain

inability to function normally

product of behavioral shaping within context of social groups

need to consider the unique characteristics of culture in which behavior takes place

Is the behavior unusual?
Does the behavior go against social norms?
Does the behavior cause subjective discomfort?
Is the behavior maladaptive (resulting in the inability to function)?
Does this behavior endanger self or others?

abnormal behavior satisfying 2/5 criteria is classified as a _____________

psychological disorders have a biological or medical cause
Examples: schizophrenia related to chemical imbalances, and genetic variation

disorders result of repressing threatening thoughts/feelings in the unconscious mind
Example: ritualistic washing of hands

psychological disorders are a set of learned behaviors
Example: phobia of flying

interactions between biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences cause abnormal behavior
Example: genetic X environment susceptibility to depression

Used by most mental health professionals for diagnosis of psychological disorders
250 disorders included
Includes both statistics of disorder prevalence and disorder criteria

Axis of DSM-IV-TR:
clinical disorders—includes most psychological disorders (eg. depression, anxiety), except for personality disorders
Symptoms are transient

Axis of DSM-IV-TR:
personality disorders and mental disabilities
Symptoms are persistent

Axis of DSM-IV-TR:
physical and genetic disorders that affect wellbeing

Axis of DSM-IV-TR:
life stressors that may affect adjustment

Axis of DSM-IV-TR:
Global Assessment of Functioning
Overall judgment made on the person’s mental health and adjustment

labeling disorders:
helps psychological professionals communicate effectively and efficiently—common language

labeling disorders:
can affect how patients are viewed—bias has long lasting and power effects
putting things into a category which may actually be a continuum

main symptom of excessive or unrealistic anxiety and fearfulness

anxiety unrelated to any realistic, known factor — highly characteristic of anxiety disorders

irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity

fear of interacting with others or being in social situations
Afraid of negative evaluation, avoid potentially embarrassing or humiliating situations

irrational fear of and object or specific situation

fear inescapable situations
Typically fear crowds, car traveling in planes/cars, leaving the house
Significant impairment compared to specific phobias
Severe cases result in person afraid to leave home

sudden onset of intense panic, with multiple physical symptoms of stress, marked by feeling that one is dying

frequent attacks causing impairment are results in __________

fear of panic attacks in public places prevents person from going to unfamiliar, exposed places

intruding, recurring thoughts result in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors
Anxiety results when compulsion is not performed— negatively reinforcing

Symptoms include anxiety, dissociative symptoms, nightmares, problems with concentration
Hallmark symptom: relive the event in dreams and flashbacks
Onset occurs as long as 6 months post-event

characterized by high levels of free-floating anxiety—person has feelings of dread and impending doom for >6 months
Usually occurs with other anxiety disorders and depression

cause of anxiety disorder:
repressed urges or conflicts attempting to surface create anxiety

cause of anxiety disorder:
anxious behavioral patterns are learned

cause of anxiety disorder:
lower level of serotonin and GABA
decrease ability to calm oneself during stressors

cause of anxiety disorder:
irrational thinking patterns result in anxiety

make “mountains out of molehills”

belief that only perfect performance will avoid failure

single negative event interpreted as pattern of defeat and failure

giving little importance to one’s successes or positive events/traits

disturbances in mood and emotions, in either direction

mild to moderate depression, but persistent, lasting 2 years or more

sudden depressed mood without any external cause
depressed most of the day, almost everyday
Symptoms: tiredness, sleeping disturbance (hypersomnia or insomnia), appetite and weight changes, excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness, difficulties concentrating, thoughts of suicide
Most commonly diagnosed mood disorder, twice as common in females

inability to find pleasure in previously pleasurable activities

severe mood swings major depressive episodes and manic episodes
Rapid cycling between 2 poles of possible emotions

marked by excessive excitement, energy, and elation or irritability

causes of mood disorders:
learned helplessness

causes of mood disorders:
irrational negative, self-defeating thoughts about selves
learned helplessness may lead to these negative self-defeating thoughts

causes of mood disorders:
linked with abnormal signaling of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
genetics

reduced eating results in 15% or more below expected body weight
Causes physiological damage to heart, muscle tissue, and abnormal hormone secretion
Obsession with food and exercise
Distorted body image

cycle of “binging” and inappropriate methods of avoiding weight gain
Binges or overeating (usually in secret) characterized by lack of self-control due to anxious or depressed mood and social stressors
May avoid weight gain via purging but also use laxatives, inducing vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting

break into conscious awareness, memory, or sense of identity

loss of memory for personal information, either partial or complete
Psychological cause (non-physical)
Stressful, emotionally traumatic experience
Memory deficit can occur for one particular moment, or for all previous personal details

traveling away from familiar surroundings with amnesia about the trip, possibly for personal information
Sometimes will take on a new identity
Occur after emotional trauma

persona seems to have two or more distinct personalities within one body
Main “core” personality unaware of events occurring in other personalities—loses memory and time when “alter” personalities appear

causes of dissociative disorders:
method used to repress traumatic, threatening thoughts from consciousness

causes of dissociative disorders:
“thought avoidance” is negatively reinforced
Person feels guilt/shame/anxiety about a traumatic event, and avoiding these thoughts becomes negatively reinforced

severe disorder characterized by disordered thinking, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, and inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality

severe break from reality
Results in disturbances in thinking, emotions, behavior, and perception

bizarre false beliefs continue to persist despite conflicting evidence

others trying to hurt them

others are trying to talk specifically to them (books, TV, etc)

being controlled by external forces

convinced they are powerful and can save the world

hear voices or see things or people that are not present

lack of emotional responsiveness
disorganized behavior, speech and odd facial gestures

causes of schizophrenia:
most prevalent
Genetics, inflammation in the brain, altered neurotransmitters, and brain structural deficits

biological sensitivity created by genetics, then become further exacerbated by environmental factors