Question

A Brief History and Overview of Abnormal Psychology

Answer 1

Note: This is a reference for educational/studying purposes, not a question, please save all comments or questions for the end.

Answer 2

\({\bf{Abnormal~Psychology}}\) is a field of study that seeks to describe, explain, and predict abnormal behavior. Abnormal behavior is not always clear to define but four descriptive factors used are: \({\bf{deviance,~ distress,~ dysfunction,~ and~ danger. }}\)

Deviance: behavior that is different than the norms of one's culture would dictate (something that might be considered deviant in one culture may not be in another)
Distress: behavior that causes negative feelings or emotions
(this may not always be present, some people with mental disorders do not report negative feelings but their still behavior negatively affects themselves or others)
Dysfunction: behavior that interferes with one's daily functioning
Danger: behavior that is dangerous to oneself or others

note: abnormality is distinct from eccentricity; eccentricity is simply an unusual pattern of behavior or personality that does not warrant intervention

Answer 3

\({\bf{Treatment}}\) is a procedure to change abnormal behavior; also called therapy

Three features of therapy:
1. the sufferer
2. the healer
3. a series of contacts between the healer and sufferer

Conflicting views of therapy:
- Abnormality is an illness that must be cured (sufferers are patients)
- Abnormality is a problem with living (sufferers are clients)

Answer 4

\({\bf{History~of~Treatment}}\)

Prehistory: mental illness was seen to be caused by evil spirits, trephination (cutting holes in skull) as treatment for hallucinations, exorcism, demonology, shamanism

Greek and Roman: caused by nature; Hippocrates came up with imbalance of the four humors as an explanation for mental illness

Europe in the Middle Ages: demonology re-emerges as an explanation of mental illness, witch hints, hysteria, lycanthropy

Europe in the Renaissance: emergence of community mental health problems in Gheel, more humane approach to mental health treatment, but problems in staffing/resources/management lead to the rise of asylums where mentally ill patients are treated with cruelty

Europe in the 19th Century: reform of asylums, rise of moral treatment, attempts to deinstitutionalize and house people in state hospitals, but eventually suffer for similar problems in staffing/crowding/funding; the public becomes suspicious/prejudiced towards people with mental illness

Answer 5

\({\bf{Somatogenic~and~Psychogenic~Perspectives}}\)

somatogenic: abnormality caused by physical problems
psychogenic: abnormality caused by mental disorders

Somatogenic Work/Theorists:
- Kraeplin: argued that physical factors like fatigue cause mental dysfunction, first modern system for classifying mental disorders
- Krafft-Ebing: argued that syphilis was the cause of general paresis (a disorder featuring symptoms like grandeur + physical symptoms like paralysis) from studies on patients w/ syphilis/ immunity to syphilis

Psychogenic Work/Theorists:
- Mesmer: found that hypnotism could reduce physical pains
- Liebault and Bernheim: found that hypnotism could induce deafness/paralysis/other physical symptoms; mental processes can be caused/cured by hypnotic suggestion

Answer 6

\({\bf{Modern~Trends~in~Abormality}}\)

- psychtropic medications (antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety, etc.) developed in the 1950's. led to improvements in mental health but also side effects
- deinstitutionalization: release of patients from public mental health hospitals, # of institutionalized patients declined from 600K to 40K
- community mental health approach, emphasis on programs to address the needs of mental health patients
- 100K+ are homeless, 135K+ are in prison

Answer 7

\({\bf{Modern~Treatments}}\)

private psychotherapy: self-employed private therapist gives counsel to client
- managed care program: insurance provider determines the type and scope of services offered, often disliked by patients/practitioners

-increase in outpatient treatment
-combination with other types of therapy to combat problems with living, like marital/family stress, jobs, school, etc.
- emphasis on prevention
- problems: insurance not covering/reimbursing mental health treatment

New Sub-types of Psychology:
- positive psychology: study of positive traits like optimism, happiness, hard work, etc.
- multicultural psychology: study of how culture/race/ethnicity/gender affects behavior and treatment

Answer 8

\({\bf{Technology~and~Mental~Health}}\)

- new contributing factors to mental abnormality: isolation from others, availability of instant gratification like gambling, new avenues for bullying, oversaturation of information
- cybertherapy: use of computer technology to provide therapy, either through a professional therapist or through informal sources
- problems: misleading information, anti-treatment groups that lead people to avoid seeking help/treatment

Answer 9

Anyway, that's all for this topic, I hope it was of use to you! If you have any questions I will address them to the best of my ability

Source: Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, Eighth Edition, Ronald J. Comer

Answer 10

Thank you for this.