Abnormal Psychology Chapter 1 Historical Context Exam 1 Study Guide Chapters 1 4 Lecture based learning objectives 1 Understand approaches to defining abnormality and their problems Statistical infrequencies Violation of local norms personal distress disability or disfunction 2 Understand the contemporary definition of mental illness Behavioral psychological or biological syndrome that is unexpected in the cultural context and associated with distress disability or damage the three D s 3 Describe the concept of epistemology and the various types we discussed in class a Understand why rational empirical perspectives form the basis of the current class the theory of knowledge especially with regard to its methods validity and scope the study of origins Rationalism truth can be discovered by reason logic Intuition Our sense of things Authority someone told you Always ask why 4 Understand historical developments in the science of psychopathology including lessons learned from the supernatural biological and psychological perspectives Things such as the witch trials and the rebirthing therapy Starting on pg 6 of text Text based learning objectives Carefully read chapter 1 with an emphasis on the following 1 Describe the scientist practitioner model 2 Describe the different approaches of the psychological tradition i e psychoanalysis humanism and behavioral with regard to their explanations of abnormal behavior 3 Explain the importance of science and the scientific method as applied to abnormal behavior Chapter 2 Integrative Approach to Psychopathology Lecture based learning objectives 1 Understand multidimensional models of psychopathology and why such approaches are necessary to understand the etiology cause of clinical disorders a Understand the concept of equifinality Multidimensional Integrative Approach Approach to the study of psychopathology that holds psychological disorders are always the products of multiple interacting causal factors What to look at for causes Behavioral Biological emotional social and developmental influences Equifinality refers to the concept that similar outcomes may stem from different early experiences 2 Within the biological perspective understand a the power of the environment including the limited role of genes the diathesis stress and biological susceptibility models sensitive periods and epigenetics Diathesis stress model individuals inherit tendencies to express certain traits or behaviors which then may be activated under conditions of stress sensitive periods when the brain is more sensitive to environmental input epigenetics the study of factors other than inherited DNA sequence such as new learning or stress that alter the phenotypic expression of genes b how the brain and nervous system contribute to mental health outcomes including the role of specific neurotransmitters discussed in class key neurotransmitters Gamma Aminobutyric Acid GABA inhibitory pg 39 Benzodiazepines Xanax Serotonin 5HT SSRIs inhibit the uptake of 5HT Dopamine motor functions 3 Within the psychological perspective understand classical and operant conditioning as well as the dimensions of emotion physiological cognitive behavioral Classical conditioning a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone Operant conditioning sometimes referred to as instrumental learning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior It encourages the subject to associate desirable or undesirable outcomes with certain behaviors dimensions of emotion physiological cognitive behavioral on page 56 4 Within the social perspective understand the influence of gender and social networks on psychopathology Gender Related to cultural imperatives Influence across several dimensions Type and prevalence of fears Treatment Response Coping page 58 59 Social network critical predictor in outcomes High quality social support improves health page 59 60 Text based learning objectives Carefully read chapter 2 with an emphasis on the following 1 How genes interact with environmental factors to influence behavior 2 The role of neurotransmitters and their involvement in abnormal behavior 3 Compare and contrast the behavioral and cognitive theories and how they are used to explain the origins of mental illness Chapter 3 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis Research Methods Lecture based learning objectives 1 Define clinical assessment and understand its purpose Systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological biological and social factors in a person presenting with a possible psychological disorder 2 Understand key concepts in clinical assessment including reliability validity and standardization Reliability the degree to which a measurement is consistent Think bullseye Inter rater reliability Test retest reliability Validity Degree to which a technique measures what it purports to measure Evidence Conceptual aspects convergent divergent Convergence the measure correlates with other measures Divergence it doesn t correlate with other measures Temporal aspects Predictive if stable over time Concurrent happens at the same time Standardization Process of establishing specific norms and requirements for a measurement technique to ensure it is used consistently across measurement occasions 3 Understand the various types of clinical assessment i e physical exams clinical interviews behavioral assessment psychological testing neuropsychological testing and psychophysiological assessment Understand strengths and or challenges of each method as discussed in class and why using more than one assessment approach is beneficial 4 Define clinical diagnosis and its purpose Process of determining whether a presenting problem meets the established criteria for a specific psychological disorder 5 Understand how the DSM 5 is used to inform assessment and pros and cons of the current diagnostic system Pros Key communicative tool Comprehensive summary of current literature Empirically grounded DSM is the most valid and reliable tool we have Cons Co morbidity fuzzy boundaries Diagnoses potentially affected by political influence Retains categorical approach dimensional might be better 6 Understand the steps to establishing causality including the roles of various research designs e g case studies correlational studies longitudinal studies Case study Advantages