PSY 370 FINAL STUDY GUIDE
4 D's of abnormality - Answers - deviance:
-abnormal behavior is behavior that is viewed as different, extreme, unusual, or even
bizarre
-judgements of deviance, and abnormality, vary from society to society (because each
society has different cultures and thus different norms)
distress:
-according to many clinical theorists behavior, ideas, or emotions have to cause distress
to be labeled as abnormal
-but, it is not always the case that the abnormal individual finds his or her thoughts and
behaviors unpleasant or upsetting
dysfunction:
-abnormal behavior tends to be dysfunctional, it interferes with daily functioning
-presence of dysfunction alone does not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality
danger:
-abnormal behavior may become dangerous to oneself or others (behavior may be
careless, hostile, or confused)
-although often cited as a feature of psychological abnormality, research suggests that
dangerousness is the exception rather than the rule
Behavioral - Answers - -Using conditioning
*Classical conditioning
*Modeling
*Operant conditioning
-Therapists, as teachers, seek to help replace problematic behaviors with more
appropriate behaviors
Cognitive - Answers - -Focuses on maladaptive thinking processes
*Inaccurate/disturbing assumptions
*Illogical thinking
-Therapists help clients recognize, challenge, and change problematic thinking
Cognitive-behvioral - Answers - Focuses on maladaptive behaviors and/or cognitions in
understanding and treating psychological abnormality
Shares key principles between behavioral and cognitive perspectives
Cognitive-behavioral interplay:
-Behavioral and cognitive components are interwoven in most contemporary theories
and therapies
,Cognitive - Pathological engendering thoughts or beliefs lead to abnormal feelings and
behaviors.
Behavioral - Problematic learned behaviors lead to abnormal labels
Strengths:
-Very popular among practitioners
-Politically powerful with funding sources
-Theories lend themselves to research
-Comer's favorite
weaknesses:
-Role of cognition in abnormality has been found
-Well researched psychotherapy & fairly easy to implement
Changes to fit with Positive Psychology
-Acceptance and commitment therapy (not fighting with thoughts but accepting them)
-Mindfulness-based techniques (stress reducing techniques taken from Budism)
Psychodynamic - Answers - Freud (1856-1939) developed theory of
psychoanalysis:
-Proposed person's behavior determined
largely by underlying unconscious, dynamic, psychological forces
-Suggested abnormal symptoms are the result of conflict among these forces
Three forces shape personality: instinctual needs, rational thinking, and moral
standards:
-Id: Pleasure principle, instinctual needs, unconscious
-Ego: Reality principle, rational thinking, primarily conscious
-Superego: Morality principle, entirely suppress Id, both conscious & unconscious
Conflicts:
-Some degree of conflict
-Healthy personality = balance
-Dysfunction = excessive conflict
Freud's proposed developmental stages:
-New events and pressures require adjustment in the id, ego, and superego at each
stage
-If successful → personal growth
-If unsuccessful → fixation at early developmental stage, leading
to psychological abnormality
Despite differences, each subsequent theory posits human functioning is shaped by
dynamic (interacting) forces
, Strengths:
-First to recognize the importance of psychological theories and systematic treatment
for abnormality
-Saw abnormal functioning nested in the same processes as normal functioning
-Viewed childhood as a particularly vulnerable time
Weaknesses:
-Weak research; All primitive case study
-Non-observable concepts
-Inaccessible to human subjects (unconscious)
Seek to uncover past trauma and inner conflicts with the therapist acting as a guide:
-Free association
-Therapist interpretation
*Resistance
*Transference
*Dream interpretation
-Catharsis
-Working through
Current trends:
-Short-term psychodynamic therapies
-Relational psychoanalytic therapy
Sociocultural - Answers - Abnormal behavior includes social and cultural forces that
influence an individual
Address norms and roles in society
Includes two major perspectives
-Family-social perspective
-Multicultural perspective
How do family-social theorists explain abnormal functioning?
-Proponents argue that theorists should concentrate on forces that operate directly on
an individual
-Social labels and roles; diagnostic labels
-Social connections and supports
-Family structure and communication
-Family systems theory
-Enmeshed; disengaged structures
How Do Multicultural Theorists Explain
Abnormal Functioning?
-All behavior and treatment are best understood in the context of culture, cultural
values, and external pressures in that context
4 D's of abnormality - Answers - deviance:
-abnormal behavior is behavior that is viewed as different, extreme, unusual, or even
bizarre
-judgements of deviance, and abnormality, vary from society to society (because each
society has different cultures and thus different norms)
distress:
-according to many clinical theorists behavior, ideas, or emotions have to cause distress
to be labeled as abnormal
-but, it is not always the case that the abnormal individual finds his or her thoughts and
behaviors unpleasant or upsetting
dysfunction:
-abnormal behavior tends to be dysfunctional, it interferes with daily functioning
-presence of dysfunction alone does not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality
danger:
-abnormal behavior may become dangerous to oneself or others (behavior may be
careless, hostile, or confused)
-although often cited as a feature of psychological abnormality, research suggests that
dangerousness is the exception rather than the rule
Behavioral - Answers - -Using conditioning
*Classical conditioning
*Modeling
*Operant conditioning
-Therapists, as teachers, seek to help replace problematic behaviors with more
appropriate behaviors
Cognitive - Answers - -Focuses on maladaptive thinking processes
*Inaccurate/disturbing assumptions
*Illogical thinking
-Therapists help clients recognize, challenge, and change problematic thinking
Cognitive-behvioral - Answers - Focuses on maladaptive behaviors and/or cognitions in
understanding and treating psychological abnormality
Shares key principles between behavioral and cognitive perspectives
Cognitive-behavioral interplay:
-Behavioral and cognitive components are interwoven in most contemporary theories
and therapies
,Cognitive - Pathological engendering thoughts or beliefs lead to abnormal feelings and
behaviors.
Behavioral - Problematic learned behaviors lead to abnormal labels
Strengths:
-Very popular among practitioners
-Politically powerful with funding sources
-Theories lend themselves to research
-Comer's favorite
weaknesses:
-Role of cognition in abnormality has been found
-Well researched psychotherapy & fairly easy to implement
Changes to fit with Positive Psychology
-Acceptance and commitment therapy (not fighting with thoughts but accepting them)
-Mindfulness-based techniques (stress reducing techniques taken from Budism)
Psychodynamic - Answers - Freud (1856-1939) developed theory of
psychoanalysis:
-Proposed person's behavior determined
largely by underlying unconscious, dynamic, psychological forces
-Suggested abnormal symptoms are the result of conflict among these forces
Three forces shape personality: instinctual needs, rational thinking, and moral
standards:
-Id: Pleasure principle, instinctual needs, unconscious
-Ego: Reality principle, rational thinking, primarily conscious
-Superego: Morality principle, entirely suppress Id, both conscious & unconscious
Conflicts:
-Some degree of conflict
-Healthy personality = balance
-Dysfunction = excessive conflict
Freud's proposed developmental stages:
-New events and pressures require adjustment in the id, ego, and superego at each
stage
-If successful → personal growth
-If unsuccessful → fixation at early developmental stage, leading
to psychological abnormality
Despite differences, each subsequent theory posits human functioning is shaped by
dynamic (interacting) forces
, Strengths:
-First to recognize the importance of psychological theories and systematic treatment
for abnormality
-Saw abnormal functioning nested in the same processes as normal functioning
-Viewed childhood as a particularly vulnerable time
Weaknesses:
-Weak research; All primitive case study
-Non-observable concepts
-Inaccessible to human subjects (unconscious)
Seek to uncover past trauma and inner conflicts with the therapist acting as a guide:
-Free association
-Therapist interpretation
*Resistance
*Transference
*Dream interpretation
-Catharsis
-Working through
Current trends:
-Short-term psychodynamic therapies
-Relational psychoanalytic therapy
Sociocultural - Answers - Abnormal behavior includes social and cultural forces that
influence an individual
Address norms and roles in society
Includes two major perspectives
-Family-social perspective
-Multicultural perspective
How do family-social theorists explain abnormal functioning?
-Proponents argue that theorists should concentrate on forces that operate directly on
an individual
-Social labels and roles; diagnostic labels
-Social connections and supports
-Family structure and communication
-Family systems theory
-Enmeshed; disengaged structures
How Do Multicultural Theorists Explain
Abnormal Functioning?
-All behavior and treatment are best understood in the context of culture, cultural
values, and external pressures in that context
