Models of Abnormality Homework 2

GENERAL INFORMATION: The models of abnormality help us understand the whys of mental illness - why do people experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction? Please take the time to digest in depth the four evidence-based models presented in your text and the Powerpoint slides. Here is a short summary/guide for your review.

Keep in mind: No one model provides an explanation for all types of abnormal behavior. Most (but not all) types of abnormal behavior are a result of the influence of multiple models of abnormality. It is unusual for the cause of a given individual's abnormal behavior to be precisely identified. Most of the time, contributing factors are hypothesized but cannot be definitively proven.

Biological Model: The biological model suggests that biological factors, such as genetics, brain structure differences, and neurotransmitter imbalances, are the drivers of abnormal behavior. To identify this model in action, a clinician might look for factors such as family history of a disorder (genetic cause), evidence of trauma to the brain (change in brain anatomy), or evidence of related neurological issues that would result from a change to the brain structure. A biological cause for abnormality might be supported if psychotropic medications are prescribed and successfully reduce the individual's symptoms. Some disorders are known to have strong biological causes, such as Alzheimer's Disease, thus no specific case evidence may be needed to ascribe the model to the case.

Behavioral Model: The behavioral model purports that abnormal behavior arises from learning due to classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning. To identify classical conditioning in action, a clinician might look for a history of a neutral and aversive stimulus being paired together (e.g., a loud sound and the danger of getting shot) such that the neutral stimulus unconsciously produces the response that would be natural for the aversive stimulus (e.g., becoming very afraid/hiding when hearing a loud sound like a door slamming). To identify operant conditioning in action, a clinician might look for instances of reinforcement (rewards that encourage a behavior) and/or punishment (consequences that discourage a behavior) from the individual's environment. For example, bullying in school may serve as a punishment that discourages school attendance and causes social anxiety. Lastly, social modeling may be occurring when an individual models their own behavior from others' behavior, and when they witness others experiencing rewards/consequences as a result of their actions. For example a child may become afraid of spiders after watching his mother jump back in fear (modeling), or after watching his brother get a nasty spider bite (witnessing someone else being punished).

Cognitive Model: The cognitive model suggests that inaccurate and unhelpful patterns of thinking, or cognitive distortions, cause abnormal behavior. Cognitive distortions are erroneous and/or unhelpful interpretations of events, assumptions about the world, and/or beliefs about the self. For example, a person who thinks "I'm too fat for anyone to date me. I'm going to die miserable and alone." may go on to develop more severe symptoms of depression or an eating disorder. A clinician might identify these thoughts through conversation with the individual or through thought logging.

Socio-Cultural Model: The socio-cultural model suggests that features of an individual's social or cultural context can contribute to abnormal behavior. This model attempts to explain systematic differences in the frequency and expression of abnormal behavior across social/identity groups. For example, women are more likely to experience depression than men within a wide variety of cultural contexts, potentially because of differences in gender role expectations (e.g., women are socialized to care for others rather than themselves, women are often tasked with the majority of child-rearing and household responsibilities, as well as participating in out of home employment). As another example, South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world, possibly because of high levels of pressure to achieve academically (suicide rates spike around college entrance exam times), stigma around mental health issues, and the notion of "saving-face" in response to failure by committing suicide.

YOUR TASK:

Find and describe one example of abnormal behavior being portrayed in the popular media. Your example must be publicly viewable, either with a website describing the instance in detail, or a YouTube video summarizing the case. The example can be fictional (e.g., from a movie) or nonfictional (e.g., a famous person). Your example must include information relevant to one of the models. In other words, your example must mention at least one reason why the behavior is occurring. Highlight this rationale for the abnormal behavior, and explain how it relates to the model.