Biopsychosocial approach and biological factors contributing to psychopathology
Genetic makeup may predispose people to have certain personality traits or characteristics
- Biological: genetics, brain structure, neurotransmitter levels, gut microbiome
- Psychological: thoughts, emotions, personality, learned experiences
- Sociocultural: family, social media, college stress, culture, socioeconomic status
Panic attacks and agoraphobia
- Panic attack: sudden, overwhelming rush of fear, like a heart attack, chest tightness, sweating shaking, short breath
- Agoraphobia: fear of being in places where escape might be hard or embarrassing if a panic attack happens, develops after a panic attack
- Panic attack happens in Walmart, avoids store completely in fear of panic attack, agoraphobia
Systems approach to therapy
- Therapy perspective that views people not as individuals alone, but as part of a larger system
- Problems are caused or maintained by patterns within a system, not just one person
- Family therapy works well because when one person experiences growth, it affects the rest of the group
Cognitive restructuring (CBT technique)
- Strategy in cognitive-behavior therapy where clients learn to identify distorted, negative or irrational through and reframe it, include other parts of situation you might not see, rearrange into neutral or even positive thinking
Systematic desensitization
- Gradually exposing person to something that triggers anxiety or a reaction while having the person practice relaxation techniques, reduces fear through slow, controlled, exposure
- Connected to classical conditioning
Antisocial personality disorder
- Person consistently violates others rights, lies, manipulates, acts aggressively, and feels no guilt or remorse
- Overlaps with psychopaths
Client-centered psychotherapy
- Helps them to understand their problems and works towards solutions to change client’s patterns of thoughts and behaviors and helps clients grow by:
o unconditional positive regards
o empathy
o genuineness - Safe environment helps clients understand themselves and self-actualization
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Incorporation of cognitive and behavior therapy to correct faulty thinking and maladaptive behaviors
- Changing harmful thoughts (cognitive)
- Changing harmful behaviors (behavioral)
- Most effective, especially for anxiety, depressive, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders
Most effective, especially for anxiety and mood disorders.
Internal vs. External Locus of Control
- People’s perceptions of whether they can control the rewards and punishments they experience influence development of personality
- Internal: believing your actions control outcomes
- External: believing outcomes are controlled by luck, fate, others
Yes, they can control = internal locus
No, they can not control = external locus
Social comparison and self-esteem
- Upward comparison: compare yourself to someone doing better; lower self-esteem
- Downward comparison: comparing yourself to someone doing worse; boost self-esteem
- Temporal comparison: comparing your now self to past self
Technology-based treatments for psychological disorders
- Therapies delivered through digital tools, including:
- Teletherapy, MH apps, VR exposure therapy, AI-assisted CBT
Anorexia nervosa
- Excessive fear of becoming fat
- Distorted body image
- Extreme restriction of food intake
- Number of serious health problems
- High mortality rate
Bulimia nervosa
- Cycle of dieting, binging and purging
- At weight or slightly overweight
Binge-eating disorder
- Repeated episodes of binge eating at least once a week, no purging
- Feels guilt, embarrassment, loss of control
Dark triad of personality traits
- Narcissism – entitlement, need for admiration
- Psychopathy – lack of empathy, impulsivity
- Machiavellianism – manipulation, selfish strategy
ADHD treatment with stimulant medication (e.g., Ritalin)
- Stimulant medications increase activity in brain regions responsible for attention and impulse control
- Improve focus and reduces hyperactivity
Trait approach to personality
- Personality is made of stable traits that exist on a continuum, traits predict behavior across situations
Self-serving bias
- Tendency for people to take personal credit for success but blame failure on external factors
- Plays into actor/observer bias
o Students who do well on exams explain it on their skills and hard work
o Students who do poorly blame it on arbitrary details and unfair exam
Narcissistic personality disorder
- Clinical form of narcissism
o Grandiosity
o Need for admiration
o Lack of empathy
o Fragile self-esteem
Modeling in behavioral therapy
- Modeling of positive behaviors in therapy by therapist, to show client how they can model positive behaviors
Evidence for genetic influence on personality
- Personality is partially inherited, certain genes linked to personality
- Identical > fraternal twins
Borderline personality disorder and history of trauma
- Involves unstable moods, identity, and relationships
- Strong relation to trauma and abuse, neglect
Humanistic approach to personality
- Focuses on personal growth, self-actualization, seeing humans as naturally good,
- Where people seek to fulfill their potential through greater self-understanding
Conditions of worth
- Personality is shaped by feeling valued when you meet certain standards or behave a certain way (of evaluations of others)
