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Psychological Disorders. An Introduction 453-460. Is this a sign of a disorder?. What about this?. Or this…??. Psychological Disorder. A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be: Atypical – not shared by many members of the population
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Psychological Disorders An Introduction 453-460
Psychological Disorder • A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be: • Atypical – not shared by many members of the population • Disturbing – to self and others. Ex: Zoo or pedophilia • Maladaptive – potentially harmful behavior to the individual • Unjustifiable – doesn’t make sense. Ex: sobbing continuously for years after death of spouse
What is abnormal, disturbing, maladaptive and unjustifiable depends on: • Time period • Culture • Individual person
Early Theories • Afflicted people were possessed by evil spirits.
Early Theories • Music or singing was often used to chase away spirits. • In some cases trephening was used: Cutting a hole in the head of the afflicted to let out the evil spirit.
History of Mental Disorders • In the 1800’s, disturbed people were no longer thought of as madmen, but as mentally ill. They were first put in hospitals. Did this mean better treatment?
Early Mental Hospitals • They were nothing more than barbaric prisons. • The patients were chained and locked away. • Some hospitals even charged admission for the public to see the “crazies”, just like a zoo.
Philippe Pinel • French doctor who was the first to take the chains off and declare that these people are sick and “a cure must be found!!!”
Current Perspectives • Medical Perspective: psychological disorders are sicknesses and can be diagnosed, treated and cured.
Current Perspectives • Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective: assumes biological, psychological and sociocultural factors combine to interact causing psychological disorders. Used to be called Diathesis-Stress Model: diathesis meaning predisposition and stress meaning environment.
Classifying Psychological Disorders • DSM- V (to be published in May): Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders.
The DSM • Changes made in the past: • homosexuality removed • ADHD added • Aspberger’s syndrome is NOT a separate disorder, on the Autism spectrum *DSM contains symptoms to make a diagnosis, not etiology = causes of disorders.*
Neurotic Disorders • Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally
Psychotic Disorders • Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions