Models Of Abnormal Psychology

Our understanding of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning has allowed us to unlock many of the answers we sought to learn about human behavior. Classical conditioning is a technique of behavioral training, coined by Ivan Pavlov, which basically states that an organism learns through establishing associations between different events and stimuli. This helps us understand human behavior in an assortment of ways. It makes it clear that almost everything we do is based on patterns of stimulus and response. For example, if you were bitten aggressively by a dog as a child, you may be still scared of dogs today. That is because the dog caused you pain, which in turn caused you have anxiety towards dogs.

Classical and operant conditioning are two important concepts central to behavioral psychology. While both result in learning, the processes are quite different. In order to understand how each of these behavior modification techniques can be used, it is also essential to understand how classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ from one another. Both classical and operant learning are psychological processes that lead to learning. Here learning refers to the process by which changes in behavior, including actions, emotions, thoughts, and the responses of muscles and glands,

Classical conditioning refers to the learning through association. It involves learning a new behavior through the process of association

Classical Conditioning is the repeated use of stimuli in combination with a repeated significant psychological event to train the one being conditioned to anticipate the event in response to the stimuli. The most basic example of this type of conditioning is train an animal to expect treats by making use of their sense of sound and blowing a whistle or ringing a bell just before you give them a treat each time. This will train the animal to associate the sound of the whistle or bell with the reception of the forthcoming treat, and it will begin to salivate in anticipation of getting the treat whenever it hears the sound.

This essay will outline and compare both biological and behavioural perspectives on human behaviour. The history, major discoveries and theories will be discussed along with some of the most influential theorists in each of these two areas of psychology. This essay will also compare the two areas strengths and weaknesses in the field of psychology.

Today, several facts about the thoughts and behaviors of the human beings have been established. These owe their emergence to the development of the field of psychological theories. These theories have been advanced over time through learning and repeated evaluation; this resulting in the study of abnormal psychological. A person whose character and behavior are far different from the norm is considered to be abnormal. Therefore, abnormal psychology, simply addresses cases of unusual behavior observed within the society among the people (Comer, 2010). There is a thin line as concerning the normal verses abnormal and that which is good verses unhealthy. The subject of abnormal psychology focuses on the extent of distress and disruption that affects the behavior of a person, as opposed to the difference between normal and abnormal behavior. There are different perspectives involved in the field of psychological disorders, and this forms the basis for the treatment or action taken by the mental health professionals in understanding the patient.

However the psychodynamic model fails to take into consideration the effects of the environment as does the medical model both are concerned with the internal workings and defects. The Psychodynamic model has had a lot of opposition as it is difficult to define and research, as processes like the id, ego and superego operate on an unconscious level and therefore there is no real way of knowing for certain if they are indeed happening. Most of the evidence provided by this model has been individual case studies which in itself makes it difficult to generalise.

There are several models of abnormality in use today (Comer, 2009) lists “The Biological Model…”, “The Psychodynamic Model…”, The Behavioral Model…”, The Cognitive Model…”, The Humanistic-Existential Model…”, The Sociocultural Model…” (p.33). The biggest contrasts would be the Biological model, and the other models. Comparing the biological model, and the cognitive model will highlight those differences.

The biological theorists assumed human behavior was constitutionally or genetically determined. These theorists believed human behavior was passed on from generation to generation and that propensities inherited from more primitive developmental stages in the evolutionary process was of equal importance. The psychological theorists believed the individual was the main unit of analysis. These theorists assumed personality to be the major motivational element and that crimes resulted from inappropriately conditioned behavior. Furthermore, their belief was that abnormal mental processes may have been caused by a diseased mind, inappropriate learning or improper

Psychology, as a field, works to understand the complex inner-workings of the mind, and to make sense of why people behave the way they do. The use of psychology helps individuals gain a stronger comprehension of themselves and others. Abnormal psychology is a sect that puts a specific focus on individuals who exhibit rare behavior. The study of abnormal psychology examines why people exhibit such behavior by using specific models as a base for understanding. Abnormal psychology is the study of individuals who are "abnormal" in relation to other members of society.

Psychology is made up of many perspectives, such as, behavioural, biological, cognitive, social, humanistic and finally, psychodynamic. This essay will focus on the behavioural perspective and the biological perspective. According to J Walker (2012) the behavioural perspective is based on behaviourism and is the study of observing behaviour when in certain contexts and events. The biological perspective however, explains behaviour by focusing on the function of the nervous system, genes and the brain.

The field of abnormal psychology engages with the obscure line between normal and abnormal behaviour. This blur is as a result of the dissonance that occurs when the two terms are defined for example, when cultural perspectives are taken into consideration-where behaviour (for example sake, experiencing hallucinations) considered deviant in one population is normalcy in another. In attempt to make the field comprehensive a middle ground was determined by drawing on the common elements or patterns of “peculiar” conditions, and converging them to ascertain this definition of abnormality: behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are atypical and unexpected in their cultural context and associated with personal distress and

Classical conditioning is a form of learning whereby a conditioned stimulus becomes associated with an unrelated unconditioned stimulus to produce a behavioral response known as a conditioned response. Classical conditioning emphasizes the importance of grasping the environment. Classical conditioning helps to explain the behavior as complex behavior is divided into tiny stimulus.

Abnormal psychology has a troubled past; with a lack of understanding or research into the makings of the human mind and behaviors, people would assume it was the work of outside forces and would only worsen the individual instead of giving them the proper care to recover. Those who suffer(d) from mental health issues often receive incorrect care even in facilities designed to aid them in their healing.

Before discussing the definition of abnormal psychology, it is first important to identify the real meaning of the word “Abnormal”. For laymen to be asked of the definition of the word Abnormal, it is common to encounter answers such as people and behaviors that is weird, strange and odd. These characterizations are not enough to fully describe the true and deeper meaning of the word Abnormal. It is important to consider characteristics in defining abnormal such as whether the behavior is causing impairment in a person’s life, also if it hinders the person in functioning properly and successfully in different aspect of his or her life such as psychological, interpersonal and personal achievement and performance. When these actions and behaviors are present it is safe to say that it is a sign of an abnormal behavior that can later on develop in to an psychological disorder.