Abbnormality

Approach

Explanation

Strengths and weaknesses + online studies

Psychodynamic approach

Abnormality is based on conflict during development

·         Imbalance of ID: Addiction/psychopathology

Or Ego: OCD/Anorexia

·         Stages of development: Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

·         Repressed childhood thoughts cause mental conflicts in adults and adolescents

-          Unconscious mind cannot be tested

-          Based on the interpretation – has little backing from science

-          Used case studies for approach (low generalizability)

+    Give explanation for the importance of childhood trauma

(Hammersley et al) http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/182/6/543.full

(Fergusson et al )   

http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=172867

Behavioural Approach

Abnormal behaviour/mental illnesses are learnt:

Classical Conditioning (Phobias (white rat))

Operant conditioning (Consequential (positive/negative reinforcement)

-          Does not explain genetic influences for mental influences

+    Shows how mental illness can be found throughout a family that live together 

+  classical and operate conditioning is widely accepted, Pavlov dogs

(Watson + Rayner) Little Albert

Biological

genetic inheritance, neuroanatomy, biochemistry, and viral infection

(McGuffin) identical twins 40% either had depression or didn’t compared to 11% of non-identical twins

(Wender)- found that the biological parents of an adoptive child who suffers from depression are 7 times more likely to suffer from depression too compared to the adopted parents of the child.

Cognitive

Faulty Thinking

Mental illness is the result of inappropriate, disordered thinking.

Over-generalisation: a conclusion is reached on the basis of one event or incident. E.g failing a test means you’re a failure at life.

Maximisation: maximising failures, e.g failing a puzzle and thinking general stupidity.

Minimisation: minimising successes, putting good grade down to luck.

-          Blames patient rather than circumstances

-          What comes first unhealthy thoughts then mental health issues or do mental health issues cause unhealthy thoughts?

Psychoanalysis

-          Expensive and time consuming

-          False memories-…