Introduction to Abnormal Psychology - TrullChapter 1 What is a mental disorder?- Definition o There is no single distinct definition of normality/abnormality o Working definition of Mental disorder:  Psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning that is not typical or culturally expected - Prevalenceo In the past year, 25% of Americans will meet criteria for mental disorders o Over individuals lifetime, about 40% meet criteria - Defining Abnormalityo Deviance from the norm  Advantages- Use our own judgment or gut feeling- Once statistical or objective cut off scores are established thy are easy to apply  Limitations- Different cultures have different ideas about what normal behavior is - Statistically deviant behaviors o EX: High intelligence o Difficulties adapting to life’s demands or difficulties functioning effectively (including dangerous behavior) Advantages - Typically easy to observe if someone is having difficulty - Often prompts people to seek psychological treatment Limitations:- Unclear who determines impairment or whether a consensus about impairment is required - Thresholds for impaired are not always clear o Experience of personal distress.  Advantages:- Hallmark of many forms of mental disorder- Individuals may be able to accurately report this  Limitations:- Some psychological problems are not associated with distress- Thresholds or cutoffs for distress are not always clear 1Introduction to Abnormal Psychology - TrullDimensions underlying mental disorders- Emotions/feeling o Normal: Good alertness and positive emotional stateo Mild: Feeling sad temporarily, not for long o Moderate: feeling sad but strong positive experience could lift moodo Mental Disorder (less severe): extreme sadness all of the time and trouble concentrating and some loss of appetiteo Mental Disorder (More severe): extreme sadness all of the time with great trouble concentrating and complete loss of appetite - Cognitions/thinking styles: the way you interpret the world o Normal: “I’m not getting the grades I want this semester, but I’ll keep doing my best”o Mild: “I’m struggling with school. I wish I could study better, or Ill fail”o Moderate: “These bad grades really hurt. This may set me back for a while. I’m really worried” o Mental disorder (less severe): “I’m so worried about these grades that my stomach hurts. I don’t know what to do”o Mental Disorder (more severe): “these bad grades just show what a failure I am at everything. There’s no hope. I’m not doing anything today” - Behaviors (EX: impulsive, absence of behavior or excess of behavior) o Normal: Going to classes and studying for the next round of tests. Talking to professors o Mild: going class with some trouble studying and less contact with others o Moderate: skipping a few classes and feeling somewhat unmotivated to study. Avoiding contact with professors and classmates o Mental Disorder (Less severe): Skipping most classes and unable to maintain eye contact with others. Strong lack of motivation o Mental Disorder (more severe): Unable to get out of bed, eat, or leave the house. Lack of energy and frequentcrying History of Abnormal Psychology- Major psychological disorders have existed o In all cultures o Across all time periods- Causes and treatment of abnormal behavioro Varies widely across cultures, time periods, world views - Early theoreticianso Deviant Behavior as a battle of “Good” vs. Evil Caused by demonic possession, witchcraft, sorcery2Introduction to Abnormal Psychology - Trull Treatments include exorcism, torture, beatings, and crude surgeries - Greek and Roman Thoughto Hippocrates: abnormal behavior as a physical disease  Treatment: restore good healtho Galen extended Hippocrates work Humoral theory of mental illness: imbalance of humors leads to psychopathology  Blood – sanguine, black bile, yellow bile  Galenic-Hippocratic tradition- Linked with abnormality with brain chemical imbalance- Foreshadow modern views  Treating abnormal behavior focused on creating therapeutic environments via healthy diets, massage and good health - End of the Middle Ages and beginning of the Renaissance o Asylums provided poor care and treatmento Natural and scientific approaches to health and human behaviors reemerged - Renaissanceo Rise of the moral therapy  More human treatment of institutionalized patients  Encouraged and reinforced social interaction- Reform Movemento Moral therapyo The falling out of moral therapyo Emergence of competing alternative psychological models Abnormal Psychology and Life: Themes- Dimensional and Prevention Perspectives- Types of Preventiono Primary Prevention The intervention is given to everyone to prevent  EX: wear seatbelt, eat right o Secondary Prevention Identify people at greatest risk for having the problem and give them the intervention EX: binge drinking – give intervention to those showing signs o Tertiary Prevention Typical treatment Individual already has developed the problems and the treatment is designed to keep from getting worse and exasperate the problem - Stigma3Introduction to Abnormal Psychology - Trullo Self-Stigma Stereotypes: “all people with mental illness are incompetent” Prejudices: “I have a mental illness, so I must be incompetent” Discrimination: “why should I even get a job? I’m an incompetent mental patient” (Not worth it)o Public Stigma – Myths  Stereotypes: “all people with mental illness are dangerous” Prejudices: “I agree, all people with mental illness are dangerous, so I’m afraid of them” Discrimination: “I don’t want to be near such people. Do not hire them at my job”