Introduction to Psychopathology and Research Methodology
Defining Abnormal Behavior
Criteria for Abnormal Behavior
- Unusual or infrequent behavior
- Socially unacceptable or violations of social norms
- Misperceptions or misinterpretations of reality
- Severe personal distress
- Maladaptive or self-defeating behavior
- Dangerous behavior
Psychological Disorder
- A state of severe distress like depression or anxiety
- Impaired behavior or inability to function
- Branch that studies this: Abnormal Psychology
Historical and Cultural Perspectives
Ancient Views
- Supernatural Causes: Abnormal behavior attributed to evil spirits; e.g., trepanation
- Hippocrates: Abnormal behavior caused by imbalance of bodily fluids (phlegm, black bile, blood, yellow bile)
Medieval Times
- Possession: Dominance of exorcism as a cure by the Catholic Church
- Witch Hunts: Psychiatric disorders often mistaken for witchcraft
Asylums and Mental Hospitals
- 15th-17th Century: Asylums with dreadful conditions
- 19th Century: Moral therapy reforms improving treatment conditions (e.g., Jean-Baptiste Pussin and Philippe Pinel)
- Dorothea Dix: Advocacy in the U.S. leading to establishment of mental hospitals
20th Century to Present
- Development of community mental health centers (CMHCs)
- Issues with deinstitutionalization leading to insufficient care and homelessness
- Modern state hospitals more focused on medication and psychiatry
Contemporary Perspectives
Biological Perspective
- Explains abnormal behavior through biological defects: neurotransmitter imbalances, brain damage, diseases like syphilis, Alzheimer's
Psychological Perspective
- Includes various models: psychoanalytic (Freud), behavioral, humanistic, cognitive
Socio-cultural Perspective
- Explains abnormal behavior through social ills: unemployment, poverty, injustice
Biopsychosocial Perspective
- Integrates biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors for a holistic view
Common Mental Disorders
Major Depression
- Biological: Disruption in sleep, appetite, weight
- Psychological: Sadness, hopelessness
- Social: Withdrawal from activities and social relationships
Anxiety Disorders
- Symptoms: Physical (racing heart), cognitive (unrealistic worry), behavioral (avoidance)
Schizophrenia
- Symptoms: Biological (odd facial expressions, monotone voice), Psychological (delusions, hallucinations), Social (difficulty identifying emotions)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Includes autism and Asperger syndrome
- Biological: Neurological development issues
- Psychological: Repetitive behaviors
- Social: Impaired communication and understanding of others' feelings
Research Methods in Psychology
Objectives of Scientific Approach
- Description
- Explanation
- Prediction
- Control
Steps of the Scientific Method
- Formulating a research question
- Framing the question as a hypothesis
- Testing the hypothesis
- Drawing conclusions
- Reporting results
Ethical Principles in Research
- Informed Consent: Participants know what to expect and can withdraw anytime
- Confidentiality: Privacy of participants maintained
Research Methods
- Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in natural settings
- Correlational Research: Exploring relationships between variables
- Longitudinal Research: Studying subjects over long periods
- Experimental Method: Manipulating independent variables to observe effects on dependent variables
- Epidemiological Method: Studying rates of abnormal behavior in populations using surveys
- Kinship Studies: Exploring genetic vs environmental influences
- Case Studies: In-depth examination of individual cases
Validity in Research
- Internal Validity: Reflects accurate cause-and-effect relationships
- External Validity: Results can generalize to other settings
- Construct Validity: Whether treatment effects are due to theoretical mechanisms
This concludes the first lecture on abnormal psychology. Next, we'll explore the history and methodology of psychological studies.