Abnormal Psychology (A.K.A Psychological Disorders) Notes 1/20/15

1/20/15

Abnormal Psychology (A.K.A Psychological Disorders) 

**Def- A "harmful dysfunction in which behavior is judge to be a typical, disturbing, manipulative, and unjust.

• Early theories

-Abnormal behavior was "evil spirits"

• Perspective and Disorders

Psychology, school, perspective and causes of the disorder.

• DSMIV

          - Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders

          -DSMIV will classify disorders and describe the symptoms.

          -DSMIV will not explain the causes or possible cures

• 2 Major Classification in the DSM  

          1. Neurotic Disorders

                 -Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally

          2. Psychotic Disorders

                 - Person loses control with reality, experiences distorted perceptions

• Anxiety Disorders

- a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety of defenses against anxiety

- the patient fears something awful will happen to them

- they are in a state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear.   

• Phobia

-  a person experience sudden episodes of intense dread

- must be an irrational fear

• General Anxiety Disorder( GAD)
  -A anxiety disorder in which a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.

          -The patient s constantly tense and worried, feels inadequate, is oversensitive, can't concentrate and suffers from insomnia.

• Panic Disorder 

          - An anxiety disorder marked by a minute-long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, and other frightening sensations.

• Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder( OCD)  

- persistent unwanted thoughts(obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (Compulsive) to engage in a particular action.

-Obsession about dirt and germs may lead to compulsive hand washing

-Common OCD: washing, repeating, checking, touching

• Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder( PTSD)

 -Flashbacks or nightmares following a person's involvement in of an extremely stressful events.

-Memories of the event cause anxiety

• Somatoform Disorders

-Occurs when a person manifest a psychological problem through a physiological symptom

-2 Types

1. Hypochondria 

- Has frequent physical complaints for which medical doctors are unable to locate the cause.

-They usually believe that the minor issues(headache, upset stomach)  are indicative are more severe illnesses.

    

    2.  Conversion Disorder

-Report the existence of severe physical problems with no biological reason

-like blindness or paralysis      

Introduction to Psychology Notes 1/8/15

1/8/15

Introduction to Psychology Notes 

• Goals of psychology(5 Types)

1.  Observe
2.  Predict
3.  Explain
4.  Describe
5.  Control

• History of Psychology 

1. Mind and body are connected

             - The Hebrews
             - Aristotle
             - Augustine
     2. Mind and body are distinct
             -Socrates
             -Plato
             -Descartes
     3. Same ideas are in born
            -Socrato
            -Plato
     4. The mind is a blank state
            -Aristotle
            -Locke

• Edward Titchener ( Structuralism)

-Structuralism was the first school of psychology.
-Broke don mental processes into the most basic components.
(structures) of conscious experiences
-What did you see, hear, taste,smell, and feel?(Introspection)
-Based on this, how did you behave?

• William James (Functionalism) 

-Focus less on the how of sensation and perception, but rather the why.
-Emphasized the process of how the thoughts formed, change, and how they adapted.

• The Big 7

1. Neuroscience Perspective

-Focus on the how the physical body and brain creates our emotions, memories, and sensor experiences.

    2.   Evolutionary Perspective
- Focus on Darwinism
-We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors
-Thus the behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival

    3.   Psychodynamic Perspective
-Father by Sigmund Freud
- Our behavior comes from our unconscious drives
-Usually  stemming from our childhood

    4.   Behavioral Perspective
- Focus on our observable behavior
-Only cares about the behaviors that impair our living and attempts to change them.

    5.   Cognitive Perspective
- Focus on how we think(or encode information)
- How do we see the world?
-How do we learn to act to sad or happy events?
- Cognitive Therapists attempts to change the way you think.

    6.   Social- Cultural Perspective
-Focus on ho your cultural affects your behavior

    7.    Humanistic Perspective
- Focus on positive growth.
-Attempt to seek self-activation.
-Therapists use active listening and unconditional positive regard.