Conceptualizing Abnormal

Psychology
By:
Justine Louie D. Sanguyo

One-Dimensional vs.
Multidimensional Models
One-Dimensional- posits that cause of

psychological disorder originates from a

single cause.
Multidimensional- posits that the cause of

psychological disorder is originated from

multiple influences/factors.

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
Biological- genetic endowment,

neurotransmitter imbalances, brain injury

etc.
1. Interaction of genes and the environment

a. Diathesis-stress model
b. Reciprocal gene-environment model
c. Epigenetic and non-genomic inheritance
of behaviour (turned on or off by a cellular
material)

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
2.Neurotransmitters (agonist, antagonist and
inverse agonist)
*Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and
Glutamate- known as the chemical
brothers
- GABA inhibits (regulates) transmission of
information and action potential.
- Low GABAergic activity result to anxiety
(GAD), aggression, insomnia and hostility.
(agonist-Benzondiazipines)
- tea, fermented foods (yoghurt, cheese,
kimchi), fortified foods (germinated brown
rice and some soy base products)

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
* Serotonine (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5HT)influence a great deal of out behaviour,
particularly the way we process information
- Regulates our behaviour, moods, and
thought process.
- Low levels of serotonine activity has been
associated with aggression, depression
(SAD), suicide, impulsive eating and
excessive sexual behaviour.
- Proteins and oils (turkey, beans, eggs &
fatty fish), fruits and vegetables (kiwi,
plantains, sour cherries, tomatoes &plums),
grains (vit. B6 rich cereals, rice & bread).

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
* Norepinephrine- basic bodily functions
- Beta-blockers are used to regulate hypertension ,
heart rate and PD/A. (antagonist-Beta-blokers)
- For vigilant concentration and cognitive alertness.
- For the fight or flight response.
- Regulate or modulate certain behavioural tendencies.
- Meat and fish (shrimp, lobster, tuna, pork, chicken &
snapper), dairy products, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
*Dopamine- Major neurotransmitter in the
monoamine class
- High activity levels result to schizophrenia,
disorders of addiction, depression and ADHD
(antagonist-Reserpine)
- Low activity levels result to Parkinsons
disease (agonist-L-dopa)
- Emotion of love (3 years)
- Antioxidants (green and orange vegetables,
pepper, orange, strawberry, broccoli, carrots,
tea, banana)

EMOTIONAL INFLUENCE
Emotional- mood, anxiety, depression
1. Emotional phenomenon- it is an action

tendency to behave in a certain way elicited

by an external event and a feeling state and
accompanied by a physiological response.
2. Physiology and purpose of fear- affects our
cardiovascular system. Blood vessels
constrict thereby diminishing blood flow to
the extremities of out body (toes, fingers)
also altering the colour of our skin (white).
Shivering and piloerection occurs as well.

EMOTIONAL INFLUENCE
3. Components of emotions
*Behavior- exhibiting emotions in a fundamental
way thru facial expressions and body languages.
*Physiology- exhibiting emotions is a primary
brain function (allows emotional activation w/o
the influence of higher cognitive process.
Ex.- crying, blushing, piloerection

EMOTIONAL INFLUENCE
* Cognitive- Changes in a persons
environment are appraised in terms of their
potential impact on that system.

SOCIAL INFLUENCES
Social- social, cultural, interpersonal
1. Beliefs- evil eye (black magic in Latin America),

voodoo death (Haiti)

2. Gender- different disorders may vary from
gender roles
Ex. Substance and drug abuse disorders (mostly
men), Specific phobias (mostly women)
3. Social effects on health and behavior- the
greater the number and frequency of social
relationships and contacts, the longer you are
likely to live.

BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE

SCIENCE
Cognitive science- how we acquire and

process information and how we store and

ultimately retrieve it.
1. Conditioning- pairing of stimulus and response
2. Learned helplessness- encounter conditions over
which they have no control of the situation. Behavior
has no effect on the environment. Attribution and
learned optimism
3. Social learning- modeling or observational learning:
requires a symbolic integration of the experiences of
others with judgments of what might happen to
oneself. Still depends on the interaction of other
people us.
4. Prepared learning- we have become highly
prepared for learning about certain types of objects or
situations over the course of evolution because this

DEVELOPMENTAL
INFLUENCES
Changes caused by aging
Equifinality- we must consider the various

paths to a particular outcome, not just the

result.

Conclusion
Psychological disorders DO NOT have just

one cause. They have many causes-these

causes all interact with one another-and we
must understand this interaction to
appreciate fully the origins of psychological
disorders.

Thank you and God

bless!!!