Models of Psychopathology
models— a set of assumptions and concepts that help scientests
explain and interpret observations
-also called a paradigm
the biological model
-biological theorists view abnormal behavior as an illness brought about by
malfunctioning parts of the organism
-typically, they point to problems in brain anatomy, brain chemistry, and/or
brain circutry as the cause
brain anatomy and abnormal behavior
-the brain is made up of aprox. 86 billion nerve cells— neurons
-thousands of billions of support cells— glia
-within the brain, large groups of neurons form distinct regions called brain structures
-the neurons in each of these brain structures help control important functions
-clinical researrches have linked particular psychological disorders to problems in
specific structures of the brain
huntingtons disease— disorder marked by involuntary body
movements, violent emotional outburts, memory loss, suicidal
behavior, and absurd beliefs
-loss of cells in the basal ganglia and cortex
brain chemistry and abnormal behavior
-information communicated through the brain in the form of electrical impulses that
travel from one neuron to others or one
-electrical impulse travels down the sending neurons axon to its nerve ending,
where neurotransmitters are released and carry the message across the synaptic
, space to the dendrites of a recieving neuron
-neurotransmitters play a key role in moving information through the brain
-abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters is sometimes tied to mental
disorders
-depression has been linked in part to low acticity of the
neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine
-mental disorders are sometimes related to abnormal chemical activity in the body’s
endocrine system
-endocrine glands work along with neurons to control growth, reproduction, heart
rate, and stress response
-the glands release hormones into bloodstream, which propels the body into
action
-adrenal glands secrete the hormone cortisol to help the body deal with stress
-abnormal secretions of this chemical have been tied to
anxiety and depression
brain circutry and abnormal behavior
brain circut— a network of particular brain structures that work
together, triggering each other into action to produce a distinct
behavioral, cognitive or emotional reaction
-most infomrative to look at the operation of the entire circut to fully understand
human functioning
proper interconnectivity (communication)— among the
structures of a circut tend to result in a healthy psychological
functioning
-flawed interconnectivity may lead to abnormal functioning
fear circut— studies suggest that this circut functions
improperly in people suffering from anxiety disorders
models— a set of assumptions and concepts that help scientests
explain and interpret observations
-also called a paradigm
the biological model
-biological theorists view abnormal behavior as an illness brought about by
malfunctioning parts of the organism
-typically, they point to problems in brain anatomy, brain chemistry, and/or
brain circutry as the cause
brain anatomy and abnormal behavior
-the brain is made up of aprox. 86 billion nerve cells— neurons
-thousands of billions of support cells— glia
-within the brain, large groups of neurons form distinct regions called brain structures
-the neurons in each of these brain structures help control important functions
-clinical researrches have linked particular psychological disorders to problems in
specific structures of the brain
huntingtons disease— disorder marked by involuntary body
movements, violent emotional outburts, memory loss, suicidal
behavior, and absurd beliefs
-loss of cells in the basal ganglia and cortex
brain chemistry and abnormal behavior
-information communicated through the brain in the form of electrical impulses that
travel from one neuron to others or one
-electrical impulse travels down the sending neurons axon to its nerve ending,
where neurotransmitters are released and carry the message across the synaptic
, space to the dendrites of a recieving neuron
-neurotransmitters play a key role in moving information through the brain
-abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters is sometimes tied to mental
disorders
-depression has been linked in part to low acticity of the
neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine
-mental disorders are sometimes related to abnormal chemical activity in the body’s
endocrine system
-endocrine glands work along with neurons to control growth, reproduction, heart
rate, and stress response
-the glands release hormones into bloodstream, which propels the body into
action
-adrenal glands secrete the hormone cortisol to help the body deal with stress
-abnormal secretions of this chemical have been tied to
anxiety and depression
brain circutry and abnormal behavior
brain circut— a network of particular brain structures that work
together, triggering each other into action to produce a distinct
behavioral, cognitive or emotional reaction
-most infomrative to look at the operation of the entire circut to fully understand
human functioning
proper interconnectivity (communication)— among the
structures of a circut tend to result in a healthy psychological
functioning
-flawed interconnectivity may lead to abnormal functioning
fear circut— studies suggest that this circut functions
improperly in people suffering from anxiety disorders
