Saul McLeod (2018) defines the term “abnormality” as deviation from statistical norms, ideal mental health, social norms, or failure to function adequately. Abnormality is characterized by various symptoms, such as depression, hatred, rage, suicide, and jealousy (McLeod, 2018). A model on the other hand may be defined as an attempt of events clarification. There are six main models of abnormality. The six models of abnormalities include biological, cognitive behavioral, social-cultural, psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, and the developmental psychopathology perspective. This paper focuses on the six models of abnormalities displayed in human functionalities and processes, such as thinking, learned, unconscious, and biological processes. In addition, the paper provides specific and current examples to demonstrate the application and treatment for each of the six abnormalities.
Biological Model of Abnormality
The biological model, also known as the medical model of psychopathology, examines the brain’s functionality with the aim of establishing if it is actually the main cause of the abnormality. For instance, mental disorders have been branded as among the key contributors of neuron to neuron communication difficulties (McLeod, 2018). In fact, it has been found that mental disorders are closely related to the physical structures and the brain’s way of functioning. Besides, the brain’s structural abnormalities may be attributed to evolution, genetics, and viral infections.
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There are three current and applicable treatment types used by biological practitioners to correct the biological model of abnormality. The first is drug therapy; which includes use of therapeutically drugs such as antidepressants, anti-bipolar, anxiety, and antipsychotic (McLeod, 2018). The second treatment is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); in which two electrodes are placed on either of the foreheads where electric current is then passed through the brain with the aim of correcting the brain’s abnormality (McLeod, 2018). The final treatment is psychotherapy; which is applicable in the cases of prolonged severe disorders (McLeod, 2018).
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Abnormality
The cognitive behavioral point of view takes into account that personal behaviors are influenced by their thoughts (Gotter, 2016). Given that all body information is processed in the brain, people exhibiting psychological challenges tend to have negative thoughts and their cognitions are inaccurate. Thus, cognitive behavioral abnormality may lead to two possible outcomes; change in the individual’s perception of things or lead to cognitive triad (Gotter, 2016). Therefore, mental disorders are caused by the way individuals’ think about a problem; and not necessarily the problem itself.
There are various treatment options for cognitive behavioral abnormality. One of the applicable treatments is cognitive behavioral therapy; which combines cognitive therapy with behavioral therapy in order to offer long-term goals for changing a person’s thinking behavioral patterns to healthier ones (Gotter, 2016). Cognitive behavioral play therapy is another treatment for cognitive behavioral abnormality. This therapy is mostly applicable with children where the children’s play behaviors are used to improve the children’s way of communication (Gotter, 2016). System desensitization on the other hand is used in the treatment of phobia with relaxation responses (Gotter, 2016). Finally, aversion therapy is applicable in the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse.
Social-Cultural Abnormality
Just like the way the name suggests, social-cultural model views abnormality from the social and cultural contexts. For instance, social-cultural model of abnormality suggests that abnormality is a societal direct function criteria and that defines the appropriate behavior within a society (McLeod, 2018). In this regard, the model views abnormality as social, and not medical or psychological. One unique feature of social-cultural abnormality that distinguishes it from the other types of abnormalities is that it takes into account the cultural variations in accepted behavioral patterns (McLeod, 2018). Therefore, issues such as racism, cultural backlash, and ethnicity are the leading drivers of social-cultural abnormalities.
Treatment of social-cultural abnormalities involves addressing the social cultural issues within the society ( Stewart, Simmons, & Habibpour, 2012 ). For instance, the best treatment and prevention of social-cultural abnormality is offering multicultural counseling and therapy that aims at provision of both helping role as well as processes that utilizes modalities and definition of goals in line with the clients’ experiences and cultural values ( Stewart, Simmons, & Habibpour, 2012 ). The main aim here is to help the clients appreciate their identities of individualism, group, and the surrounding society, thus fosters their healing.
Psychodynamic Model of Abnormality
The psychodynamic model of abnormality is based on the work of Sigmund Freud and holds that abnormality is as a result of psychological causes and not physical causes (McLeod, 2018). Therefore, id, ego, and superego are viewed as potential causes of abnormality. For example, a person of weak ego means that his or her personality will depend on the strength of his or her id and superego (McLeod, 2018). For instance, a person with strong superego will be deprived of his or her socially accepted pleasures; as such individuals normally exhibit symptoms of anxiety disorder including phobia and obsessions.
The current and the most effective cure for psychodynamic model of abnormality are simply giving the client a free association (McLeod, 2018). This entails allowing the client to speak freely while the psychiatrist jots down while trying to interpret the patient’s points of trouble (McLeod, 2018). In order to increase the patient’s recovery process, the patient should be encouraged to speak freely regarding the issues vital for the cure.
Humanistic-Existential Model of Abnormality
Humanistic-existential model of abnormality is a combination of humanistic psychology and existential psychology models (Fritz, 2018). While the humanistic psychology emphasizes on self-acceptance, personal values, personal meaning, and individual choice, existential psychology emphasizes on choice, individual responsibility, and determination (Fritz, 2018). Thus, it is believed that every individual has his or her own obstacles that hinder him or her from reaching their fullest potential.
The humanistic-existential model of abnormality’s treatment involves rapid formulation of therapeutically alliances in comparison to long-term treatment modalities (Rockville, 1999). The therapies used under this scope aims at addressing factors that shape drugs and substance abuse (Rockville, 1999). The factors addressed therapeutically alliances include lack of meaning in life, alienation from others, fear of death or failure, and spiritual emptiness (Rockville, 1999). Therefore, the counselors play an important role in helping patients recover from the humanistic-existential model of abnormality.
Developmental Psychopathology Perspective Model of Abnormality
Developmental psychopathology model is one of the commonly used approaches to understanding the origins of mental disorders among children and adolescents (Psychiatry, 2017). The model emphasizes on psychological vulnerabilities in line with the environmental risk factors shaping the developmental procedures pertaining psychology (Psychiatry, 2017). The developmental notion cascades assert that early emerging issues in the personal development may affect the spread of multiple functions in a multiplicity over a long time (Psychiatry, 2017). This offers promising directions for building developmental models for pathways of cascading effects.
An effective treatment for individuals suffering from developmental psychopathology is the patient going through a variety of trials of medicines ( Rutter & Sroufe, 2000 ). Some of the drugs used in this treatment include psycho-stimulants , beta blockers , atypical antipsychotics , lithium , alpha-2 agonists , traditional antipsychotics , SSRIs , and anticonvulsant mood- stabilizers ( Rutter & Sroufe, 2000 ). Therefore, there is no known effective medicine for the abnormality, but going through a trial of the combined form of the available drugs may be useful to the patients.
References
Fritz, R. (2018). The Humanistic-Existential Model and Abnormal Functioning: Chapter 8 / Lesson 1. (Online). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-humanistic-existential-model-and-abnormal-functioning.html
Gotter, A. (2016). Behavioral Therapy: Healthline. (Online). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/behavioral-therapy
McLeod, S. (2018). Abnormal Psychology: Simply Psychology. (Online). Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html
Psychiatry, W.J. (2017). Developmental psychopathology: A primer for clinical pediatrics. 7(3): 159-162.
Rockville, MD. (1999). Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 34.) Chapter 6 --Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies. (Online). Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64939/
Rutter, M., & Sroufe, L.A (2000). Developmental psychopathology: Concepts and challenges: Development and Psychopathology. 12: 265–296.
