are all psychological processes biological

ARE ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES BIOLOGICAL HOW TO

The graph in Figure 15.8 shows heritability estimates for schizophrenia.įigure 15.8 A person’s risk of developing schizophrenia increases if a relative has schizophrenia. Evidence from many sources indicates that most psychological disorders have a genetic component in fact, there is little dispute that some disorders are largely due to genetic factors. The biological perspective views psychological disorders as linked to biological phenomena, such as genetic factors, chemical imbalances, and brain abnormalities it has gained considerable attention and acceptance in recent decades (Wyatt & Midkiff, 2006). Biological Perspectives of Psychological Disorders Thus, during periods of extreme physical and mental distress, all it took were a few people-believing themselves to have been afflicted with a dancing curse-to slip into a spontaneous trance and then act out the part of one who is cursed by dancing for days on end. Waller indicated that anthropological studies and accounts of possession rituals show that people are more likely to enter a trance state if they expect it to happen, and that entranced individuals behave in a ritualistic manner, their thoughts and behavior shaped by the spiritual beliefs of their culture. Waller argued that various disasters of the time (such as famine, plagues, and floods) produced high levels of psychological distress that could increase the likelihood of succumbing to an involuntary trance state.

Historian John Waller (2009a, 2009b) has provided a comprehensive and convincing explanation of dancing mania that suggests the phenomenon was attributable to a combination of three factors: psychological distress, social contagion, and belief in supernatural forces. Such beliefs in supernatural causes of mental illness are still held in some societies today for example, beliefs that supernatural forces cause mental illness are common in some cultures in modern-day Nigeria (Aghukwa, 2012).įigure 15.7 Although the cause of dancing mania, depicted in this painting, was unclear, the behavior was attributed to supernatural forces.

Similarly, grievous fits by young girls are believed to have precipitated the witch panic in New England late in the 17th century (Demos, 1983). Although, today, these cases would suggest serious mental illness at the time, these events were routinely explained as possession by devilish forces (Waller, 2009a). For example, convents throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries reported hundreds of nuns falling into a state of frenzy in which the afflicted foamed at the mouth, screamed and convulsed, sexually propositioned priests, and confessed to having carnal relations with devils or Christ. Those afflicted were thought to be practitioners of black magic or possessed by spirits ( Figure 15.6) (Maher & Maher, 1985). Supernatural Perspectives of Psychological Disordersįor centuries, psychological disorders were viewed from a supernatural perspective: attributed to a force beyond scientific understanding.

ARE ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES BIOLOGICAL HOW TO

Different perspectives provide alternate ways for how to think about the nature of psychopathology. Each perspective explains psychological disorders, their causes or etiology, and effective treatments from a different viewpoint. The specific perspective used in explaining a psychological disorder is extremely important. Scientists, mental health professionals, and cultural healers may adopt different perspectives in attempting to understand or explain the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the development of a psychological disorder. Describe the diathesis-stress model and its importance to the study of psychopathology.Identify which disorders generally show the highest degree of heritability.Describe modern biological and psychological perspectives on the origin of psychological disorders.Discuss supernatural perspectives on the origin of psychological disorders, in their historical context.By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Are all psychological processes biological