Abnormal Psychology Exam 1
Abnormal Psychology -
The scientific study of abnormal behavior undertaken to describe, predict, explain, and
change abnormal patterns of functioning
Norms -
A society's stated and unstated rules for proper conduct
Culture -
A people's common history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts
Definitions of abnormality -
Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger
*** These alone do not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality ***
Deviance -
Abnormal thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that are different from those that are
considered normal in society
Distress -
Unpleasant feelings or emotions that impact your level of functioning
Dysfunction -
Behavior that interferes with daily functioning; behavior that upsets, distracts, or
confuses people that they cannot care for themselves properly, participate in ordinary social
interactions, or work productively
Danger -
Behavior that is dangerous to oneself or others; individuals behaviors that are
constantly careless, hostile, or confused and putting themselves and others at risk
Stigma -
A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
-Associated with a devalued identity status
- Leads to judgment, discrimination and distancing from
persons with that status
- Leads to feelings of shame, anxiety and hopelessness
among stigmatized
Movements to combat stigma -
-Bring Change 2 Mind
- MSU is a stigma free campus
- Montclair is a stigma free town
- Changing the way we talk about mental illness
***Using "person first" language and avoiding casual use of mental health language ***
1|Page
,ex) He has a cognitive disability NOT He's mentally retarded
Treatment -
A systematic procedure designed to change abnormal behavior into more normal
behavior. Also called therapy
Trephination -
An ancient operation in which a stone instrument was used to cut away a circular
section of the skull, perhaps to treat abnormal behavior
History of Abnormality ( Phases ) -
- Greek & Roman times ( 500 B.C. - 500 A.D. )
- Middle Ages ( 500 - 1300 )
- Early Renaissance ( 1400 - 1500ish )
- Late Renaissance ( 1500ish - 1700s )
- Moral Treatment Movement ( early 1800s )
- Decline of Moral Treatment: Somatogenic and Psychogenic perceptions ( late 1800s - mid
1900s )
- Contemporary Models ( late 1900s - present )
Hippocrates and the Four Humors ( Greek and Roman Views and Treatment ) -
Illnesses had natural causes; abnormal behaviors as a disease arising from internal
physical problems;
- Yellow bile ( caused mania - a state of frenzied activity ), Black bile ( caused melancholia -
unshakable sadness ), Blood, and Phlegm
- Treatment: Biological
Humors -
According to the Greeks and Romans, bodily chemicals that influence mental and
physical functioning
Asylum -
A type of institution that first became popular in the 16th century to provide care for
persons with mental disorders
Europe in the Middle Ages: Demonology Returns -
- demonology views and practices
- power of the clergy increased
- religious beliefs dominated all aspects of life
*** behavior was interpreted as a conflict between good and evil, God and the devil ***
- a time for great stress and anxiety -- of war, urban uprisings, and plagues
*** outbreaks of madness, delusions, and hallucinations ***
- tarantism -- people would suddenly start to jump, dance, and go into convulsions
2|Page
, - lycanthropy -- people thought they were possessed by wolves or other animals
- Treatment: Exorcisms
Early Renaissance Period -
- flourishing cultural and scientific activity, decline of demonological views
*** Johann Weyer - German, the first physician to specialize in mental illness, believed that
the mind was as susceptible to sickness as the body was ***
*** Gheel in Belgium - religious shrine devoted to humane and loving treatment of people
with mental disorders, the forerunner of today's community mental health programs, and it
continues to demonstrate that people with psychological disorders can respond to loving care
and respectful treatment ***
- Treatment: at home or in the community
Late Renaissance Period -
- Converted hospitals and monasteries into asylums
- asylums became overcrowded, filthy, inhumane, and patients were chained and beaten;
virtual prision
*** Bethlehem Hospital, Bedlam, in London, is a good example of the cruelty within
asylums ***
Hysteria -
A psychological disorder (not now regarded as a single definite condition) whose
symptoms include conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms (somatization),
selective amnesia, shallow volatile emotions, and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior.
Hypnosis -
The induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power
of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction. Its use in therapy,
typically to recover suppressed memories or to allow modification of behavior by suggestion,
has been revived but is still controversial.
Moral Treatment Movement -
France
- Asylum reforms; treat patients with kindness and respect
- Treatment & Causes: greater emphasis on social conditions
*** La Bicetre -- an asylum in Paris for male patients, as the first sight of asylum reform ***
*** Philippe Pinel -- chief physician at La Bicetre, unchained patients; patients should be
treated with sympathy; brought similar reforms for women in Paris, La Salpetriere ***
UK
*** William Tuke --brought similar reforms to England, English Quaker who founded the
York Retreat ***
*** York Retreat -- a rural estate in England for patients who were treated with a
combination of rest, talk, prayer, and manual work ***
3|Page
Abnormal Psychology -
The scientific study of abnormal behavior undertaken to describe, predict, explain, and
change abnormal patterns of functioning
Norms -
A society's stated and unstated rules for proper conduct
Culture -
A people's common history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts
Definitions of abnormality -
Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger
*** These alone do not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality ***
Deviance -
Abnormal thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that are different from those that are
considered normal in society
Distress -
Unpleasant feelings or emotions that impact your level of functioning
Dysfunction -
Behavior that interferes with daily functioning; behavior that upsets, distracts, or
confuses people that they cannot care for themselves properly, participate in ordinary social
interactions, or work productively
Danger -
Behavior that is dangerous to oneself or others; individuals behaviors that are
constantly careless, hostile, or confused and putting themselves and others at risk
Stigma -
A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
-Associated with a devalued identity status
- Leads to judgment, discrimination and distancing from
persons with that status
- Leads to feelings of shame, anxiety and hopelessness
among stigmatized
Movements to combat stigma -
-Bring Change 2 Mind
- MSU is a stigma free campus
- Montclair is a stigma free town
- Changing the way we talk about mental illness
***Using "person first" language and avoiding casual use of mental health language ***
1|Page
,ex) He has a cognitive disability NOT He's mentally retarded
Treatment -
A systematic procedure designed to change abnormal behavior into more normal
behavior. Also called therapy
Trephination -
An ancient operation in which a stone instrument was used to cut away a circular
section of the skull, perhaps to treat abnormal behavior
History of Abnormality ( Phases ) -
- Greek & Roman times ( 500 B.C. - 500 A.D. )
- Middle Ages ( 500 - 1300 )
- Early Renaissance ( 1400 - 1500ish )
- Late Renaissance ( 1500ish - 1700s )
- Moral Treatment Movement ( early 1800s )
- Decline of Moral Treatment: Somatogenic and Psychogenic perceptions ( late 1800s - mid
1900s )
- Contemporary Models ( late 1900s - present )
Hippocrates and the Four Humors ( Greek and Roman Views and Treatment ) -
Illnesses had natural causes; abnormal behaviors as a disease arising from internal
physical problems;
- Yellow bile ( caused mania - a state of frenzied activity ), Black bile ( caused melancholia -
unshakable sadness ), Blood, and Phlegm
- Treatment: Biological
Humors -
According to the Greeks and Romans, bodily chemicals that influence mental and
physical functioning
Asylum -
A type of institution that first became popular in the 16th century to provide care for
persons with mental disorders
Europe in the Middle Ages: Demonology Returns -
- demonology views and practices
- power of the clergy increased
- religious beliefs dominated all aspects of life
*** behavior was interpreted as a conflict between good and evil, God and the devil ***
- a time for great stress and anxiety -- of war, urban uprisings, and plagues
*** outbreaks of madness, delusions, and hallucinations ***
- tarantism -- people would suddenly start to jump, dance, and go into convulsions
2|Page
, - lycanthropy -- people thought they were possessed by wolves or other animals
- Treatment: Exorcisms
Early Renaissance Period -
- flourishing cultural and scientific activity, decline of demonological views
*** Johann Weyer - German, the first physician to specialize in mental illness, believed that
the mind was as susceptible to sickness as the body was ***
*** Gheel in Belgium - religious shrine devoted to humane and loving treatment of people
with mental disorders, the forerunner of today's community mental health programs, and it
continues to demonstrate that people with psychological disorders can respond to loving care
and respectful treatment ***
- Treatment: at home or in the community
Late Renaissance Period -
- Converted hospitals and monasteries into asylums
- asylums became overcrowded, filthy, inhumane, and patients were chained and beaten;
virtual prision
*** Bethlehem Hospital, Bedlam, in London, is a good example of the cruelty within
asylums ***
Hysteria -
A psychological disorder (not now regarded as a single definite condition) whose
symptoms include conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms (somatization),
selective amnesia, shallow volatile emotions, and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior.
Hypnosis -
The induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power
of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction. Its use in therapy,
typically to recover suppressed memories or to allow modification of behavior by suggestion,
has been revived but is still controversial.
Moral Treatment Movement -
France
- Asylum reforms; treat patients with kindness and respect
- Treatment & Causes: greater emphasis on social conditions
*** La Bicetre -- an asylum in Paris for male patients, as the first sight of asylum reform ***
*** Philippe Pinel -- chief physician at La Bicetre, unchained patients; patients should be
treated with sympathy; brought similar reforms for women in Paris, La Salpetriere ***
UK
*** William Tuke --brought similar reforms to England, English Quaker who founded the
York Retreat ***
*** York Retreat -- a rural estate in England for patients who were treated with a
combination of rest, talk, prayer, and manual work ***
3|Page
