Clinical psychologyLesson 3 of 9 in the course Psychological Disorders

Explanations of Psychological Disorders: Supernatural and Diathesis-Stress Perspectives

5 flashcards · 4 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson explores how psychological disorders have been explained through supernatural beliefs and examines the historical phenomenon known as dancing mania. Understanding these perspectives shows how cultural beliefs shape interpretations of unusual behavior.

A supernatural perspective attributes psychological disorders or unusual behavior to forces beyond scientific understanding. For centuries, people sometimes believed that those experiencing distress were possessed by spirits or had practiced black magic. These explanations reflected the religious and cultural beliefs of their time rather than systematic scientific evidence.

All flashcards

What is a supernatural perspective on psychological disorders?
It explains disorders or unusual behavior through forces beyond scientific understanding, such as spirits or curses.
What was dancing mania?
Reported episodes in Western Europe in which groups danced uncontrollably, sometimes for days or weeks.
What is social contagion in Waller’s explanation of dancing mania?
The spread of behavior or expectations through a group, influencing how people respond to distress.
What is a diathesis?
An underlying vulnerability or predisposition, which may be biological or psychological.
What does the psychosocial perspective emphasize?
The effects of learning, stress, thinking patterns, and environmental conditions.

Quiz questions

  1. How were frenzied episodes reported in some sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European convents commonly interpreted at the time?Answer: As possession by devilish forces.
  2. Which three factors did historian John Waller combine in his account of dancing mania?Answer: Psychological distress, social contagion, and belief in supernatural forces.
  3. In the diathesis-stress model, how might two people exposed to the same stressful event differ?Answer: The person with greater vulnerability may be more likely to develop a disorder, but the outcome is not certain.
  4. Which biological factors are investigated as possible contributors to psychological disorders?Answer: Genes, brain structure and function, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

Based on Psychology 2e by Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, Marilyn D. Lovett (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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