One may have a
hard time defining mental illness or abnormal psychology since there are many
different avenues that need to be taken into consideration. The norms that humans elect to live by makes
it difficult for a clear and straightforward interpretation. The norms are a detailed set of rules set by
which a society lives within defining who, how, what is right versus wrong, and
where to do any given thing. The larger
the society, the more complicated the norms can be and sadly the harder some
find it to be to comply with those standards.
While the other side of this is that most customs are easy to follow
sometimes can be taken for granted. One
needs to recall that rules differ from one society to another and most do not
even recognize that there are differences (Butcher, Mineka & Hooley, 2010). Hopefully there will be a clearer
understanding of abnormality, abnormal psychology and what mental illness is
during the reading of this paper. In
addition, one can receive an indication of how abnormal psychology evolved and
how they are applied to mental illness today. Theoretical models will be
addressed and a clearer understanding of how they are all related to mental
illness and abnormal psychology.
Origins of Abnormal
Psychology and Mental Illness
Mental illness and
abnormal psychology sadly is what someone deals with on a daily basis. These are seen in things such as bookstores, local
newspapers, and magazines everyday. It is definitely something that is in the
forefront of the medical field since it is a rather new field and one that is
forever changing. Many of his or her
ancestors can trace back where one was labeled as possessed by the devil or
influenced by spirits when in actuality they were mentally ill. In early times one would have had an exorcism
preformed as a method of treating the ill.
This was done because no one understood the abnormal behavior thus
leading to the wrong treatment, and leading to many deaths. It took Greeks and
the studies of Hippocrates to suggest that one’s abnormality was because of
‘natural’ other than some workings of the devil, thus the understanding
began. After many philosophers began
having interest on mental illness, and abnormal psychology the mind and body
became more well documented and studied.
By the eighteenth century, there were asylums however; they were not as
they are today’s asylums. Asylums in the
early stages were horrific and cruel.
Leaving some patients undressed and cowering in corners. While the intent was there to help those who
needed help, they lacked the skill and knowledge with which to do so. When someone would begin to show signs of
mental illness or anguish often times they were shunned and ridiculed. Once there was an indication that reform had
to come, many developed special wards based on any given ailment. Leading figureheads such as Dorothea Dix
(1802-1887) and Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) were instrumental in helping improve
care for the mentally ill. Many
recognized as the knowledge grew that most did not need to be under 24-hour
care. After understanding this, many to include Freud, to seek out new ideas
such as psychotherapy (Nevid,
Rathus & Greene, 2008).
Origins of Abnormal
Psychology
Prior to Sigmund
Freud, those that contributed to the development of mental illness and abnormal
psychology included the Greeks and William Wundt. Wundt taught physiology and launched the
first scientific laboratory that strictly focused on the study of
psychology. Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926)
was a German psychiatrist that came after William Wundt, and applied all of his
into psychopathology. Because of Kraepelin
determination, he initiated the opening of the first American Laboratory for
the mentally ill. Not too much after the opening, Morton Prince wrote an entire
journal about abnormal psychology. Anton
Mesmer (1733-1815) was an Austrian physician that discovered hypnosis after
studying the mentally ill. Many followed
after Mesmer’s death such as Ambrose-Auguste Liebeault (1823-1904) as well as
Hippolyte-Marie Bernheim (1840-1919) that honed the craft of hypnosis treating
and provoking hysteria creating the “Nancy school.” The foundation of this school was for
experimental research in psychopathology and the development of psychoanalysis (Nevid, Rathus & Greene, 2008).
It is difficult to
place a label on abnormality and mental illness as there are no clear
guidelines available however the tools that are available to researchers now
are vast as compared to a hundred years ago when abnormal psychology was in its
infancy. When one tries to define abnormal
psychology, one has many acronyms to aid one in completing a diagnosis. “HIDES”, for one aids in classifying,
explaining, treating the mental illness or abnormal behavior. DSM-IV-TR also can assist in the diagnosis of
mental disorders (Hansell &
Damour, 2008). DSM-IV was first publised
with the definition of a mental disorder in 1994, and then later revised in
2000 (Butcher, Mineka & Hooley, 2010).
Various Models
Contributed to Abnormal Psychology and Mental Illness
There are various
theoretical approaches that are assigned to assisting someone’s understanding
of abnormal psychology leading to its continued growth and development. These approaches include sociocultural,
biological/medical and psychosocial because one can draw them back to
psychopathology. As in the psychosocial
model, it takes psychosocial stressors when one attempts to define why a person
acts a way they do. This model takes
into consideration one’s psychological development, and one’s social
environment when one is being evaluated.
Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development focuses on
socially orientated concepts and defining them as healthy or unhealthy
behaviors. Most of Erikson’s views were motivated by psychopathology which
accepts that behavior can be odd at times, however this is not uncommon as it
is something that one goes through from time to time every time he or she “passing
through the period of identity crisis” (Bronson, 1959, p. 414). Biological/medical models focus on one’s
bio-chemical functioning and finds that mental illness and abnormality stem
from one’s brain. As the information becomes more available and one learns
different aspects of psychology the more one can see how vital the
biological/medical models are. There are
many different mental illnesses that one can relate back to biological roots;
understanding them is key when one is seeking a diagnosis to better aid one in
treatment. One needs to remember that in
order to have a correct diagnosis, these things need to be taken into
consideration, genetics, the nervous system, and heredity. Understanding the biological/medical viewpoint
can help prevent certain mental illnesses.
Based on the right timing, which could “be before the conception, after
the conception, by prenatal engagement, by neonatal screening and analysis of
genetic-environmental balance for prevention of the disease and condition at a
later age,” (Ninkovich, 2004, p. 185).
Sociocultural theoretical model is a conglomeration of sociology and
psychology. One can see how one’s mental
state could come into play due to circumstances like poverty. Research done on lower and middle class
Americans report that the, “lower-class
populations have disproportionately high rates of mental illness” (Heller, Carmen &
Chalfant, 1979, p. 109). So, this model
expresses that family is important when contemplating a mental disorder.
Conclusion
Understandably so,
abnormal psychology and mental illness cannot be seen and defined less than one
set of guidelines. Understanding that
defining abnormal psychology and mental illness by just one group of words is
very complex. It is easy to diagnose the
wrong ailment leading to mistreatment of mental disorders. There are steps in place today that aid
psychologist to make informed and educated decisions concerning mental
illness. It is well known that understanding
the history is necessary to understand this course, therefore there are many
avenues in which one can chose to encourage making an informed decision.
References
Bronson, G. (1959). Identity
diffusion in late adolescents. Journal of Abnormal
& Social
Psychology, 59(3), 414-417. Retrieved from SocINDEX with Full Text
database.
Butcher, J, N, Mineka, S. &
Hooley, J., M. (2010). Abnormal psychology
(4th.ed).
Boston, MA: Pearson Education,
Inc.
Hansell, J., & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd. ed.).
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
&
Sons,Inc.
Heller, P., Maria del Carmen, R.,
& Chalfant, H. (1979). Socioeconomic class,
classification of
'abnormal' behavior and perceptions of mental health care. Sociology of
Health & Illness, 1(1), 108-121.
doi:10.1111/1467-9566.ep11006805.
Nevid, J., S., Rathus, s., A & Greene,
b., A. (2008). Abnormal psychology in a changing
world.(7th. ed.). Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Education, Inc.
Ninkovich, D. (2004). Biological
foundation of human abnormal growth and
development
.Journal of Special Education & Rehabilitation, (3/4), 179-187.
Retrieved
from Education Research Complete database.
No comments:
Post a Comment