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Chapter Objectives
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1.0 The Purpose of Theoretical Perspectives in Abnormal Psychology

1.1 Describe the purpose of theories as the basis for understanding and treating abnormal behavior.

2.0 Psychodynamic Perspective

2.1 Describe the main concepts of Freud's theory, including the structure of personality, psychodynamics, defense mechanisms, stages of psychosexual development, and Freud's place in history.

2.2 Describe the theories of other psychodynamic theorists, including Jung, Adler, Horney, Erikson, and the object relations theorists, such as Winnicott and Mahler.

2.3 Explain the essential features of Freudian psychoanalysis, and differentiate this form of therapy from other psychodynamic treatments.

2.4 Describe the criticisms of Freud's theory.

2.5 Discuss the research on the role of psychosocial factors and attachment in early personality development, as well as the growth of new therapeutic models.

3.0 Humanistic Perspective

3.1 Explain the main concepts of the person-centered approach of Rogers.

3.2 Outline the main features of Maslow's self-actualization theory.

3.3 Describe treatment based on the humanistic perspective.

3.4 Indicate how humanistic theories have contributed to education, industry, and the provision of psychotherapy.

4.0 Sociocultural Perspective

4.1 Explain the family systems perspective approach to understanding and treating psychological disorders.

4.2 Distinguish between the intergenerational, structural, strategic, and experimental approaches to understanding how families and systems can contribute to the development of mental illness.

4.3 Explain how experiencing gender, race, or age discrimination can cause psychological problems.

4.4 Describe how general societal forces and historical events can have an impact on psychological functioning.

4.5 Outline the methods of family therapy.

4.6 Describe the methods of group therapy and milieu therapy.

4.7 Evaluate the contributions of the sociocultural perspective to understanding and treating psychological disorders.

5.0 Behavioral and Cognitively Based Perspectives

5.1 Explain how principles of classical conditioning have been applied to analysis of the causes of psychological disorder.

5.2 Distinguish operant conditioning from classical conditioning and show how the principle of reinforcement can be applied to understanding the development of symptoms.

5.3 Describe the social learning and social cognitive approaches to psychological disorder, including the more recent focus of this approach on self-efficacy.

5.4 Indicate how cognitive-behavioral theories account for psychological disorders, and how faulty cognitions are seen as the cause of emotional distress.

5.5 Differentiate among the behavioral forms of treatment including, conditioning techniques such as counterconditioning and desensitization, assertiveness training, contingency management, modeling, and self-efficacy training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and behavioral medicine.

5.6 Describe the general methods of cognitive therapy, including cognitive restructuring and REBT.

5.7 Describe the evidence in support of the effectiveness of cognitive and behavioral approaches to understanding and treating psychological disorders.

6.0 Biological Perspective

6.1 Outline the structure and functions within the central nervous system, the neuron and synapse, neurotransmitters, the structures within the brain, and the autonomic nervous system.

6.2 Explain basic concepts in genetics, such as genes, chromosomes, genotype, and phenotype.

6.3 Indicate the major models of genetic transmission of inherited traits and diseases, as well as the diathesis-stress model.

6.4 Outline the forms of biologically based therapies, including psychosurgery, ECT, medication, and biofeedback.

6.5 Evaluate the contributions of the biological perspective, including the search for genetic causes to understanding and treating mental disorders.

7.0 Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Theories and Treatments: An Integrative Approach

7.1 Explain how integrative models of psychotherapy put together the concepts and methods of the major perspectives in abnormal psychology.

8.0 Chapter Boxes

8.1 Discuss some of the major factors in the case of William Styron.







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