Models of Abnormal Behaviour

49f1c247-6157-463a-89e5-b3e65e0c9555 (image/jpg)

Models of Abnormal Behaviour

Biological Models

c2ea6934-b5a8-43f0-8e23-22edc44f4eb6 (image/jpg)

Caption: : genetics

b84b30ea-852d-400e-80b2-e66717fed9ff (image/jpg)

5ec7a49c-711c-458e-954d-eb47987759a7 (image/jpg)

Caption: : neuroscience

Genetics

Genetic influence can be studied using: FAMILY STUDIES - studying symptoms across family members who differ in genetic similarity. Test for a concordance - the probability of symptoms occurring is related to the degree to which different family members share genes in common. TWIN STUDIES - comparing the probability that MZ and DZ twins will both develop symptoms. Genetics would predict a greater concordance in MZ twins due to 100% shared genetic material. CHILDREN OF MZ AND DZ TWINS - if one MZ twin develops symptoms and the other does not, any genetic element should still show up in the children of either twin. This rules out the role of a shared enironment.

The DIATHESIS STRESS MODEL suggests symptoms develop due to an interaction between a genetic predisposition and our interactions with the environment e.g. a stressful experienceHeritability = a measure of the degree to which symptoms can be accounted for by genetic factors. Ranges from 0-1, the nearer to 1 the score is, the more important genetic factors are.Epigenetics = the study of changes in organisms caused by the modification of gene expression rather than the alteration of the genetic code. Has recently shown that the way that parents behaved or what they ate can affect the behaviour of their offspring by influencing their genetic heritage.

Neuroscience

Brain Structure and Function frontal lobes have often been implicated to have deficits or abnormalities in many types of psychopathology the limbic system is also associated with some disorders due to emotion and learning functions - particularly the amygdala Brain Neurotransmitters a number of different neurotransmitters are implicated in psychopathology, including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) serotonin - linked to mood disorders dopamine - linked to schizophrenia/psychotic symptoms norepinephrine/GABA - linked to anxiety

Psychological Models

855780ef-5c99-4d71-b04f-ed50b4c3434b (image/png)

286b14be-2f7f-49d7-bc0b-7be5c52c1027 (image/png)

Psychoanalytical

suggests various psychological mechaniss help to defend against anxiety and depression by repressing memories and thoughts that might cause conflicts and stress to the id, superego and ego if the id, ego and superego are in conflict, behaviour may begin to exhibit signs of psychopathology use defense mechanisms to prevent the experience of stress and anxiety if the stages of development are not correctly negotiated and an individual becomes fixated at one stage, they would display characteristic behaviours and symptoms of psychopathology

Behavioural

many examples of psychopathology reflect learnt reactions to life experiences used learning theory to describe how dysfunctional behaviour can be acquired based on principles of classical and operant conditioning  classical conditioning used to explain acquisition of emotional disorders including phobias, where the individual has learned to associate the object with a traumatic experience operant conditioning can explain substance abuse/dependency led tot the development of important behavioural treatment methods e.g. behaviour therapy and behaviour modification

Cognitive

considers psychopathology to be the result of individuals acquiring irrrational beliefs, developing dysfunctional ways of thinking, and processing information in biased ways emotional distress is caused primarily because people develop a set of irrational beliefs that they judge their behaviour by e.g. 'i must be loved by everyone' Beck (1967) developed a highly successful cognitive therapy for depression based on the view that depressed individuals have these irrational thoughts about themselves EVAL: dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs may just be a symptom not the cause of a psychopathology

Humanist-existential

an individual must gain insight into their own life from a broad range of perspectives before any insights into emotional and behavioural problems people don't just experience emotional distress and psychological conflicts, they also have the ability to gain self-awareness, develop values, a sense of meaning, and pursue freedom of choice if these abilities are positively developed and encouraged, psychopathology can be resolved the aim is to resolve psychological problems through insight, personal development and self-actualisation relatively uninterested in the origins of psychopathology, focus more on alleviating the symptoms through personal development client-centred therapy - stresses goodness of human nature, assumes that if individuals are unrestricted by fears and conflicts, they will develop into well-adjusted, happy individuals  therapist creates supportive climate, client is helped to acquire positive self-worth. use of empathy, unconditional positive regard hard to evaluate - most controlled studies indicate that individuals undergoing client-centred therapy tend to fair no better than those undergoing non-therapeutic control treatments