ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
 an applied science
 A branch of Psychology that typically involves:
- Finding successful ways of changing behavior
- Thoughts and feelings of client through Applications of Empirically supported psychological
principles.
 Clinicians lessen their clients maladjustment or dysfunction or Increase levels of adjustments
 IN APPLYING INTERVENTIONS – it is important TO ASSES SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND
LEVELS OF MALADJUSTMENTS.
 EXTENT OF EVALUATION MUST GO BEYOND PRIMITIVE VIEWS (possession of demons/devils/spirits or
maladjustment in a state of sin)
 CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ARE CONSIDERABLY MORE SOPHISTICATED.

EARLY TREATMENTS
 ECT - ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY
 PSYCHOTROPICS (anti-psychotic, depressants, anti-anxiety)
This was viewed with skepticism and concern- after effects of meds.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS *P A S A
- Primal scream therapy
- Age regression therapy
- Skit/drama therapy
- Art therapy

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
 A specialty area of clinical Psychology
 Deals with the STUDY OF THE DEVT’ OF MENTAL DISORDERS, CAUSES OR FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
 PSYCHOPATHOLOGIST- are those that conducts the research
 ETIOLOGY: ORIGIN/CAUSAL PATTERN OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
Etiology and development of some addictions like alcohol & drug
- For tension reduction and self-awareness
- There is a predisposing factor
- Regular intervals
 SYMPTOM: is a single indicator of a problem (ABC) *SAF LP SEP
- AFFECT (SAF)
*Sad mood
*Anxiousness
*Fear
- BEHAVIORIAL
*Lethargy
*Problem sleeping
- COGNITION
- *Suicidal Thoughts
*Excessive worry
*Panics
 SYNDROME: a group or cluster of symptoms that occurs all together.
ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
 Equated with:
- Bizarre behavior
- Dangerous behavior
- Shameful behavior
 Maladaptive behavior detrimental to an individual or a group
 Why abnormal behavior is difficult to define?
 No single descriptive feature is shared by all forms of abnormal behavior.
 Not even one criterion is sufficient.
 No discreet boundary exists between normal and abnormal behavior.
 None of these behaviors that makes a person abnormal. (one behavior can’t make someone an
abnormal) --You cannot say that someone is abnormal just because of one behavior.

ELEMENTS OF ABNORMALITY- individual who has difficulties in the following areas are somewhat related to
some form of mental disorders.
 SUFFERING is a subjective distress: MUD
- Mental suffering caused by grief
- Unhappiness
- Discontentment.
 Depressed people and Anxiety Disorders:
* Unhappiness and conflicted
* Insensitive demands for attention
* Inconsiderate and frequent downright cruelty.
 Manic Behavior:
* Mood swings
* Excessive uncontrollable activity
If people suffer psychologically, we are inclined to consider this as indicative of abnormality.
For us to consider a behavior abnormal, SUFFICIENT CONDITION IS NEEDED WHICH MUST SHOW/MANIFEST
ALL CASES OF _____________________________
 MALADAPTIVENESS
- Poorly unable to adapt to a particular situation, function or purpose.
- This is often an indicator of abnormality; interferes with our well-being and with our ability to
enjoy our work and relationships.
 Bulimia: excessive intake/purging
 Anorexia: restrict intake of food
 Depression: withdrawal from friends and family; Unable to work for weeks/months
 Antisocial personality
 Con artist/ contract killers: ASPD but abnormality in the sense that their behavior is
maladaptive to society.
 DEVIANCY: Literally means “away” from
- STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY uses cut off points which are quantitative in nature. Labeling of behavior
is straightforward.
*CUT-OFF POINTS are presented by test and is based on statistical deviance from the mean score
obtained by “normal” samples of test takers.
*Scores at or beyond cutoff are considered clinically significant: abnormal of deviant
- INTUITIVE APPEAL: behaviors that we considered abnormal would be evaluated similarly with others
(pornography, paraphilia)
*We know one when we see one.
- CULTURAL RELATIVITY: what is deviant to one group is not necessarily for another.
*JUDGEMENT VARIES: non conformity vs. excessive conformity.
 - NUMBER OF DEVIATIONS: STANDARD NUMBER OF BEHAVIOR THAT ONE MUST HAVE TO BE
CONSIDERED DEVIANT.
 Joining an obscure religious sect
 the person has a total configuration to manifest unusual behavior such as CRUCIFIXES,
BIZARRE WAY OF DRESSING UP, TOO HEAVY MAKE UP, WITHDRAWAL, FASTING
 BOTH MENTAL RETARDATION (undesirable) and GENIUS (highly desirable)
- VIOLATION OF THE STANDARDS OF SOCIETY: ALL CULTURES HAVE RULES FORMALIZEDAS LAWS.
*others are NORMS and MORAL STANDARDS that we are taught to follow.
- SOCIAL DISCOMFORT: When someone violates a social rule, those around him/her may experience a
sense of discomfort or unease.
 Traveling on a bus alone with a driver then the bus stops, someone else gets in. The person
sits next to you even if there are plenty of empty seats.
- IRRATIONALITY AND UNPREDITABILITY: Unable to think clearly, we expect people to believe in a
certain ways.
 Schizophrenia patients are often irrational, has disordered speeches, disorganized behavior. -
--Unpredictable.
 Manic phases of bipolar: Sudden outburst of crying and laughing, lying on the floor flailing
wildly, hitting anything uncontrollably.

SEVERAL CRITERIAS THAT ARE USED TO DEFINE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR: AFIPA

 Abnormal behavior does not necessarily mean mental illness.

*MENTAL ILLNESS refers to a large class of frequently observe syndromes that are comprised of
certain abnormal behaviors or features.
 Final decision for treatment must be based on VALUE SYSTEM. It does not reside in psychiatry or
psychology.
 INEVITABLE CONCLUSION: the definition of abnormality, maladjustment, and psychopathology involves a
SET OF VALUE JUDGEMENT (from someone who can assert and decide that the person needs treatment.
 PROFESSIONAL HELP: evaluates, deliver an opinion; provide treatment that can best affect the desired
changes.

 ABNORMALITIES tend to co-vary or occur together in the same individual.

 Major depression: a widely recognized M.I with features: EXTREME SADNESS, SLEEP,
APPETITE DISTURBANCE AND SUICIDAL IDEATIONS can occur in one person. 1 or 2
features does not qualify an individual as mentally ill.
*ONE CAN MANIFEST A WIDE VARIETY OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIORS AND YET DO NOT RECEIVE A
MENTAL DISORDER DIAGNOSIS.

MENTAL ILLNESS
MENTAL ILLNESS
 As defined by DSM-IV TR
 Conceptualized as clinically behavioral or syndrome or patterns that occurs in an individual and is associated
with the following:
 Present distress/ Mental Suffering
- Physical Pain
- Unhapiness
- Grief
- Anxiety
 Disabilities: Impairment in one or more areas of functioning
 A significantly increased risk of suffering, death, pain and disabilities.
 Important loss of freedom
 This syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular
event. *eg. Death of a love one.
Its original cause must currently be considered as a manifestation of a behavioral, PSYCHOLOGICAL,
BIOLOGICAL dysfunction in the individual.
Neither deviant behavior nor conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society are mental
disorders unless the deviance or conflicts is a symptom of dysfunction in the individual.

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE DEFINITION

 The syndrome or cluster of abnormal behaviors must be associated with distress, disability or
increased risk of problems.
 Mental disorder is considered to represent a dysfunction within the individual.
 Not all deviant behavior or conflicts with society are signs of mental disorders.

DIFFERENT MODELS IN IDENTIFYING THE ETIOLOGY OF A.B & M.I --Theoretical Models: to understand what
factors may cause abnormal behavior and mental illness.
 BIOLOGICAL MODELS: B E
 Model theories:
*Biologically based factor (OCEAN)
*Evolutionary Theory: Genetic Determinism, Nature/Nurture
- CNS Processes: Excess/ Imbalance of substance/ Neuro-transmitters, hormonal imbalances.
- Genetic factors such as: Illness in the family members, The overall physiological body functioning
- Physical impairment, medical illness
- Effects of medical treatment: Many medications have psychological sequel, a disease resulting
from another disease.
- Drugs and Alcohol use
-
 PSYCHODYNAMIC MODEL: H I P P P P O
 Model theories:
Humanistic psychoanalysis (fromm)
Individual Psychology (adler)
Psychoanalytic (jung)
Psychoanalysis (freud)
Psycho-analytic social theory (horney)
Post-Freudian Theory (Erikson)
Object relation (klein)
- Intra-psychic conflicts are inner mental struggles from the interplay of id, ego, and superego
(striving for different goals); unconscious and consciousness.
- Phobia is due to the displacement of an intra-psychic conflict into an external object that can
be avoided.

 LEARNING THEORY MODEL --BC

 Model theories:
Behavioral analysis: Reinforcement (Skinner)
Social Cognitive: Observational and Modeling (Bandura)
- Abnormal behavior is learned the same way as normal behavior is learned.
- Mental Illness can be learned
- Environmental factors can influence the development of a mental illness
- Specific Phobia can be learned through classical conditioning (EXTINCTION-UNLEARNING)
 COGNITIVE THEORY MODEL --CPC
 Model Theories:
Cognitive Social Learning: Behavior Potential, Expectancy, Reinforcement Value (Rotter &
Mischel)
Psychology of Personal Construct: Person as a scientist, scientist as Persons
Constructivist/Interpretation of the world Alternativism (Kelly)
 - Abnormal behavior is due to a maladaptive cognition – detrimental to well-being.
- Depression results from negative views about oneself, the world and the future.
 HUMANISTIC MODEL --HEP
 Model Theories:
Hollistic-Dynamic Theory: Hierarchy of needs; Self Actualizing Person (Maslow)
Existential Psychology: Intentionality/Purpose, Freedom
Person-Centered: Becoming a Person, The self and self-actualization/Awareness (Rogers)
- Abnormal Behavior is a relative neglect of one’s own self-review and overreliance on the
appraisals of others when two are incongruous (inconsistent)
- GAD reflects this overreliance and incongruity.
 DIATHESIS-STRESS MODEL
 A more general model of etiology that accommodates a variety of theoretical viewpoints (not
wedded to any school of thought in psychopathology)
 It refers to a vulnerability of predisoisition to developing the disorder in question which includes:
biological, psychological and environmental factors
- BIOLOGICAL
* Genetic predisposition
* Deficit or excess of neuro transmitters
- PSYCHOLOGICAL
* Malapadtive Cognitive schema
* Personality style
- ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
*Family Dynamics
*Neighborhood
 A diathesis is necessary but not sufficient to produce a mental disorder however it also increases
the likelihood of developing the disorder but does not guarantee the outcome.
 WHAT IS REQUIRED TO A DIATHESIS is sufficient environmental stress
- Poor nutrition
- Malignant family environment
- Traumatic life even
*This will produce the disorder in question.
 The nature of diathesis and stress vary from disorder to disorder and their interaction is likely
disorder specific.
 Classification systems are necessary to abstract similarities and differences among events of
people’s experience
 DSM system will continue to use for consultation and practice