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Introduction To Abnormal Psychology
• Instructor: Ray Hawkins, Ph.D.
– Office: SEA 2.208, MWF(10-11 am & by
appointment)
– Phone: 232-3354
• TA: Pamela Krones
• Syllabus
• Web page:
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/cl
ass/Psy352/Hawkins
Psychopathology
• Psychopathology examines the nature
and development of abnormal
– Behavior, Thoughts, Feelings
• Definitions of abnormality vary widely
and may not capture all aspects of
psychopathology
– Psychopathological aspect (causes,
mechanisms)
– Clinical aspect (assessment, treatment)
Ch 1.1
Defining Abnormal Behavior I
• Case of Ernest H. (D&N, p.2)
• Statistical infrequency suggests that rare
behaviors are abnormal
– Normal curve indicates that behaviors are common
while others are rare
• Common behaviors are at middle of normal curve
• Rare behaviors fall at the tails of the curve
– Temperament variations
• Violation of norms suggests that abnormality is
relative to a cultural/societal norm
Ch 1.2
Fig 1.1
Defining Abnormal Behavior II
• Personal distress suggests that behaviors
that are accompanied by distress are
abnormal
• Disability/dysfunction argues that
impairment of life function can be a
component of abnormal behavior
• Unexpectedness asks whether the
responses of a person to an environmental
stressor are appropriate, or adaptive
Ch 1.3
Abnormal Behavior in Context
• Epidemiology (e.g., National
Comorbidity Survey (1994)(D&N, p.112)
– Prevalence, Incidence within a population
– Course of disorder (chronic, or time limited)
– Onset of disorders (acute or insidious)
• Etiology (the study of why a disorder
begins)
• Maintaining factors
Early Views of
Psychopathology
• Demonology (Supernaturalism) is the view
that abnormal mental function is due the
occupation by an evil being of the mind of a
person
– Treatment requires exorcism
• Somatogenesis is the view that disturbed
body function produces mental abnormality
• Psychogenesis is the belief that mental
disturbance has psychological origins
Demonology During the Dark
Ages
• The Dark ages were marked by a decline
in Greek and Roman civilizations and by
an increase of influence of churches
• Church authorities came to view witchcraft
as an explanation of abnormality
– Witches were in the league with the Devil
– Torture was required to elicit “confessions” of
witchcraft; death by fire was required to drive
out supposed demons
Ch 1.5
Asylums
• Asylums were created in the 15th century for the
care/treatment of the mentally ill.
– Asylums were meant to be a place of refuge
– Care and treatment within an asylum was not always
humane or effective
• Pinel (1793) advocated for humane treatment of
patients in asylums (“moral treatment”)
– Removed shackles, improved diet, better treatment
• Texas State Lunatic Asylum (“From Curer to
Custodian” 1857-1880; Sitton, 1999) and
Whitaker (2002) for an historical overview
Ch 1.6
Modern Approaches to Mental
Illness
• Systems of classification were developed
which argued that mental illness has a
biological cause
– Kraepelin suggested that clusters of
symptoms form a syndrome
– Each syndrome has its own unique cause,
course, symptoms, treatment, and outcome
Ch 1.7
Causation of Mental Illness
• Physical disorder: general paresis involves
paralysis and cognitive changes
– General paresis was linked to brain destruction brought
on by the infection related to syphilis
• Psychogenesis is the view that psychological
issues can produce mental disorder
– Breuer used hypnosis to induce patients to recall their
troubled past; some patients experienced mental relief.
– Breuer’s technique is the cathartic method
Ch 1.8
Scientific Paradigms
• Paradigms are conceptual frameworks that
scientists use to study the world
– “Zeitgeist” (spirit of the times)
– Paradigms include assumptions about science and
methods
– Paradigms dictate what will and will not be studied
(e.g. few scientists study ESP today)
– Paradigms can dictate the methods used by a
scientist (introspection versus experimentation)
Ch 1.9
• One-Dimensional Models
ONE CAUSE
 Multidimensional
MANY CAUSES
DISORDER
Models
Social
Influences
Biological
Influences
Behavioral
Influences
Cognitive & Emotional
Influences