Psych 380 1st Edition Lecture 2 Chapter 2 Current Paradigms in Psychopathology I The Genetic Paradigm II The Neuroscience Paradigm III The Cognitive Behavioral Paradigm IV Factors That Cut Across the Paradigms V Diathesis Stress An Integrative Paradigm Notion of a Paradigm Goal Study abnormal behavior scientifically Science aims for objectivity Paradigm Thomas Kuhn Perspective or conceptual framework from within which a scientist operates We can never be totally objective subjective factors interfere No one paradigm sufficient to completely explain psychopathology Current Paradigms Genetic Heredity plays a role in most behavior Genes Carriers of genetic information DNA Impacted by environmental influences e g stress relationships culture Relationship between genes and environment is bidirectional Nature via nurture Important Genetic Terms Gene expression Proteins influence whether the action of a specific gene will occur Polygenic transmission Inheritance due to multiple gene pairs vs single gene Heritability Extent to which variability in behavior is due to genetic factors Heritability estimate ranges from 0 00 to 1 00 Polygenetic inheritance Multiple alleles more than two options Genes spread over different locations or chromosomes Many different combinations and mixes Examples Hair color Eye color Skin color Degrees of extremes dark to light Behavior Genetics Study of the degree to which genes and environmental factors influence behavior Genotype Genetic material inherited by an individual Unobservable Phenotype Expressed genetic material Observable behavior and characteristics Depends on interaction of genotype and environment Epigenetics Genes are not absolute determinants Study of how the environment can alter gene expression or function Cross fostering adoptee method Rats from mothers with low parenting skills raised by mothers with high parenting skills showed lower levels of stress reactivity Environment mothering was responsible for turning on or turning up the expression of a particular gene for stress resilience Current Paradigms Neuroscience Examines the contribution of brain structure and function to psychopathology ASSUMPTION Mental disorders are linked to aberrant processes in the brain Three major components Neurons and neurotransmitters Brain structure and function Neuroendocrine system The Neuron Basic Unit of the Nervous System Neurons Cells of the nervous system Four major parts Cell body Dendrites Axons Terminal buttons Nerve Impulse Dendrites or cell body stimulated Travels downs axon to terminal Synapse Gap between neurons Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter Chemicals that allow neurons to send a signal across the synapse to another neuron Receptor sites on postsynaptic neuron absorb neurotransmitter Excitatory Inhibitory Reuptake Reabsorption of leftover neurotransmitter by presynaptic neuron