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| Theories of abnormality that focus on biological causes of abnormal behaviors. |
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Damage to areas of the brain, structural abnormalities of the brain.
Damage to areas of the brain can result in abnormal behavior. The location influences the specific psychological problems that result. |
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| An area of the brain involved in many of our most advanced thinking processes. Upper level of the brain. |
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Regulates eating, drinking, and sexual behavior. Abnromal behaviors in these areas are the result of dysfunction in the hypothalamus.
Also influences basic emotion, such as pleasure, pain, and unpleasantness (depending on the area in the hypothalamus). Central location inside |
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A collection of structures that are closely interconnected with the hypothalamus and appear to exert additional control over some of the instinctive behaviors regulated by the hyppothalamus, such as eating, sexual behavior, and reactions to stressful situation. Monkeys with damage here tend to be aggressive or excessively passive.
Hypothalamus (basic biological needs: hunger, thirst, temperature control), pituitary (regulates endocrine glands), amygdala (Important in the regulation of emotion and memory), and hippocampus (important for memory). |
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| Biochemical Causes of Abnormality |
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Definition
| The brain requires a number of chemicals to work efficiently and effectively. |
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| Biochemicals that act as messengers, carrying impulses from one neuron to another in the brain and in other parts of the nervous system |
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| Neurotransmitter Theories |
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Definition
| Too much or too little of certain neurotransmitters in the synapses cause specific types of psychopathology. |
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Definition
| Occurs when the initial neuron releasing the neurotransmitter into the synapse reabsorbs the neurotransmitter, decreasing the amount left in the synapse. |
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| Occurs when the recieving neuron releases an enzyme into the synapse that breaks down the neurotransmitter into other biochemicals. |
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| Neurotransmitter Caused Psychopathology |
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Definition
Caused by too much or too little of neurotransmitters
Caused by the number and functioning of the receptors for neurotransmitters on dendrites |
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Definition
| Regulates emotions and impulses such as aggression. Travels in many key areas of the brain. |
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Definition
A neurotransmitter that is prominent in the areas of the brain that regulate our experience of reinforcements or rewards. It is affected by substances, such as alcohol, that we find rewarding.
Dopamine is also important in muscle functioning and plays a role in muscle disorders such as Parkinson's. |
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| Norephinephrine (or Noradrenaline) |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that is produced mainly by neurons in the brain stem. Cocaine and amphetamines prolong the action of this by slowing its reuptake. When there is too little, the person's mood is depressed. |
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| GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) |
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Definition
Inhibits the action of other neurotransmitters.
Certain drugs have a tranquilizing effect because they increase the inhibitory activity of GABA.
May play an important role in anxiety symptoms. |
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Definition
A system of glands that produces many different hormones, which are released directly into the blood.
Hypothalamus (interacts with pituitary gland), Pituitary gland, Thyroid (produces hormones that regulate metabolic rate), Adrenal glands (control salt and carbohydrate metabolism; secrete hormones active in arousal and sleep), Pancreas (produces insulin and glucagon to control sugar metabolism), Gonads (Ovaries and testes produce hormones involved in development of secondary sex characteristics and reproduction) |
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Definition
| Chemicals that carry messages throughout the body, potentially affecting a person's moods, levels of energy, and reactions to stress. |
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One of the major endocrine glands, called the master gland, which produces hormones that influence secretions of the thyroid, pancreas, adrenals, and gonads. Also secrets growth hormones. It produces the largest number of different hormones.
Interacts with the hypothalamus for reactions to such things as stress, fear, anxiety, pain... |
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| The study of the genetics of personality and abnormality. Asks: to what extent are behaviors or behavioral tendencies inherited, and what are the processes by which genes affect behavior? |
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| A multi-gene process that takes multiple genetic abnormalities coming together in one individual to create a disorder. Most of the genetic models of the major types of mental disorders are polygenic, as well as many physiological disorders. |
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Definition
| Even when a person inherits all the polygenic factors for a disorder, they simply have a predisposition, or a tendency to develop the disorder. Another biological or environmental influences are needed for the individual to fully develop the disorder. |
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Definition
A study of the heritability of a disorder involving identifying people with the disorder (probands) and people without the disorder (control group) and then determining the disorder's frequency within each person's family (tracing the family pedigree or tree). A way to determine how heritable a disorder is.
Researchers are most interested in "first degree" relatives such as fully siblings, parents, and children because these relatives are most genetically similar to the subjects.
Problems: Families share environments and stresses. Twin studies solve this problem. |
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Definition
| Twins that share 100 percent of their genes because the come from a single fertilized egg, which splits into two identical parts. |
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| Twins that share, on average, 50% of their genes because they come from two separate eggs. They are like regular siblings. |
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Using pairs of twins to determine the contribution of genetics to many disorders.
Problems: DZ twins often do not look alike, and physical appearance can strongly affect other people's reactions to an individual. MZ twins may share talents that influence opportunities they are given in life. Finally MZ twins may simply be treated differently than DZ twins by parents. These problems are solved by Adoptions Studies. |
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| Twin Studies: Concordance Rate |
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Definition
| The probabilities that both MZ twins have a disorder. Will be 100% if both twins do. This rate is much lower among DZ twins. |
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Definition
A study of the heritability of a disorder by finding adopted people with a disorder and then determining the prevalence of the disorder among their biological and adoptive relatives in order to separate out contributing genetic and environmental factors.
Can be combined with the strategies of twin studies with split twins.
Sample sizes tend to be small because it is difficult to find large numbers of adopted people with a disorder of interest. |
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