GASTARDO, HETHER RODEZZA

BSP 2B

Abnormal Psychology
Activity 1: Self-Assessment (10 points each)

1. Explain the supernatural approach to understanding abnormal psychology.

-Prehistoric cultures often held a supernatural view of abnormal behavior and saw it as the work
of evil spirits, demons, gods, or witches who took control of the person. This form of demonic
possession was believed to occur when the person engaged in behavior contrary to the religious
teachings of the time. Treatment by cave dwellers included a technique called trephination, in
which a stone instrument known as a trephine was used to remove part of the skull, creating an
opening. They believed that evil spirits could escape through the hole in the skull, thereby ending
the person’s mental affliction and returning them to normal behavior. Early Greek,  Hebrew,
Egyptian, and Chinese cultures used a treatment method called exorcism in which evil spirits
were cast out through prayer, magic, flogging, starvation, noise-making, or having the person
ingest horrible tasting drinks.
2. Describe the early Greek contributions to the development of biological models of
psychopathology.
-The biological approach to psychopathology believes that disorders have an organic or physical
cause. The focus of this approach is on genetics, neurotransmitters, neurophysiology,
neuroanatomy etc. The approach argues that mental disorders are related to the physical structure
and functioning of the brain.
3. Explain the contribution of Emil Kraeplin in the development of abnormal psychology.
-Clinical observation led him to the hypothesis that specific combinations of symptoms in
relation to the course of psychiatric illnesses allow one to identify a particular mental disorder.
Today his concept of endogenous psychosis is regarded as Kraepelin's main achievement.
4. Give an account of insulin shock and electroconvulsive therapy.
-Insulin shock therapy has been almost completely replaced by psychoactive drugs and
electroshock therapy, since they produce a higher rate of improvement and more lasting results,
are less time-consuming, and involve far less danger to the patient.
5. Describe the Freudian topographic structure of personality.
-Freud believed that the majority of what we experience in our lives, the underlying emotions,
beliefs, feelings, and impulses are not available to us at a conscious level. He believed that most
of what drives us is buried in our unconscious.
6. Explain the importance of stages of psychosexual development in understanding
abnormal psychology.
-Each stage of development is marked by conflicts that can help build growth or stifle
development, depending upon how they are resolved. If these psychosexual stages are completed
successfully, a healthy personality is the result. If certain issues are not resolved at the
appropriate stage, fixations can occur.
7. Explain the basic assumptions of humanistic approaches to abnormal psychology.

8. As Carl Rogers explained, describe the role of self-concept and congruence in developing
an unhealthy personality.

9. Explain the assumptions of learning theories regarding maladaptive behavior.

 
10. Present an account of the theory of classical conditioning in explaining acquired fears
and anxiety.