Recap: - Structuralism - Functionalism - Gestalt Psychology

Recap
• Structuralism
• Functionalism
• Gestalt psychology
Perspective/Model/Approach
A distinct way of describing,

observing, understanding, and
predicting any given psychological
phenomena
Includes assumptions about what

drives human behavior, how disorders
develop, and treatment prescriptions
Biological /Medical Perspective:
Based on the assumption of

materialism i.e.,all behavior has a
physiological basis
i. An understanding of biochemical
processes will give an understanding
of psychological and social
phenomena
ii. Physical structures and hereditary
processes determine behavior or
behavior potential
iii. Physical/physiological interventions
can alter mental processes and
behavior
iv. Root cause of abnormalities and
disorders lies in biology and
requires medical intervention
Historical Background
HIPPOCRATES: (460-377B.C)
• Greek physician/philosopher
• Regarded as the “Father of Medicine”
• Talked about basis for medical problems
GALEN: (129-199 A.D)
• Born to Greek parents in Asia Minor
• Great physician with an empirical approach
• Known for anatomical studies on animals
and observations of human body
JULIEN OFFROY de LA METTRIE
1709-1751
• French priest turned physician
• Noticed that his fever and the resulting
physical condition affected his mental
state as well his physical state
• Body is like a machine and the soul is no
different from mind

• Mind was a part of the body
CABANIS
• French physician
• Consciousness was a function of brain
and was proved by the fact that
guillotine victims were not conscious
after beheading
PHILIPPE PINEL 1745-1826

• French physician
• Believed that abnormal behavior is
caused by some hereditary defects or
nervous system defects
WILHELM GRIESINGER:(1817-
1868):
•German psychiatrist
• Believed that the best way to understand
mental disorder is to assume that they are
caused by brain pathology
PAUL BROCA: 1824-1880
• French surgeon and anthropologist
• Localization of function; specific areas 0f
brains are responsible for specific
functions
• Discovered speech center in brain
EMIL KRAEPELIN (1856-1926)
• German psychiatrist
• Stressed the likely physical cause of
mental illness
CHARLES DARWIN: (1809-1882)
• British scientist
• “The Origin of Species” (1859)
• Variations among individuals of a
species would occur by chance, but
could in turn be passed on
• “Survival of the Fittest” ;only those
variations which helped the individuals
survive long enough to breed would be
passed on
Biological/Medical
Theories
Genetic
Theories Diathesis-stress
Theory
Biochemical Theories
Genetic Theories
Gregor Johann Mendel:

Charles Darwin: (1822-1884)
Theory of Evolution Genes=fundamental
units of heredity,Laws
of genetics
DIATHESIS-STRESS THEORY:
• Predisposition = diathesis(including
genes) and stressful environment
combine together to cause abnormal
behavior
• Traits are influenced by genes and by
environment
BIOCHEMICAL THEORY:
• Very small amounts of certain chemicals
in the body can cause profound changes
in behavior
Focus of Study
Heredity/ Endocrine Glands/

Genes Hormones
Nervous System/
Neurotransmitters
NEUROTRASMITTERS:
“The synapse of the neuron releases a
special chemical called
“neurotransmitters”
• existence of neurotransmitters known
since 1920’s but their relationship with
psychological disorders evident since
1950s
• More than 50 neurotransmitters exist in
human body
NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND
THEIR ROLE
• Acetylcholine : learning, memory and
Muscle control
• Dopamine : Motor activity,coordination,
emotion and memory
• Epinephrine: Emotion, stress
• GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid):
Anxiety, arousal,learning
• Serotonin : Sensory processing, sleep,
arousal
• Glutamate: Anxiety, mood
ENDOCRINE GLANDS:
“The body’s “slow” chemical

communication system; a set of
ductless glands that secrete hormones
(special chemicals) into the
bloodstream
ENDOCRINE
Hormones
GLANDS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS and
ABNORMALITY:
• Low secretions of the thyroid produce
anxiety like symptoms such as irritability
and tension
• Low level of pituitary secretions produce
depression like symptoms—Fatigue,
apathy etc.
• Abnormal secretions of hormones may
cause major depression
THERAPUTIC TECHNIQUES
IN
BIOLOGICAL MODEL
PHARMACHOLOGICAL
TREATMENT/ NON-PHARMACHOLOGICAL/
PSYCHOTROPIC SOMATIC
MEDICATIONS TREATMENT
PHARMACHOLOGICAL
TREATMENT/
PSYCHOTROPIC
MEDICATION
NARCOSIS CHEMOTHERAPY
PROLONGED NARCOANALYSIS
NARCOSIS
TRANQUILIZERS ENERGIZERS
Pharmacological Treatment:
•“Pharmacology is the science of the study
of drugs to treat a wide range of less
severe psychological disorders”.
I.NARCOSIS:
The word “Narcosis” is derived from the
Greek word meaning “be numb”.
a.Prolonged Narcosis:
•Person sleeps for15-24 hours a day and is
kept under constant observation
• Prolonged narcosis is difficult and
dangerous to administer, because a
number of physiological complications
develop under prolonged sleep
• Seldom used today
b.Narcoanalysis:
• Drugs are given in amounts that produce a
state of “grogginess”
II.CHEMOTHERAPY:
• “It is the type of therapy that treats mental
and behavioral disorders with drugs and
chemicals”
a. Tranquilizers:
• Drugs that produce soothing and
calming effects
b. Energizers:
• They are used with the depression
sufferers who are not helped by
sedatives
Types Of Drugs:
• Stimulants: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine
• Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates
• Anti-anxiety drugs: Benzodiazepines:

diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan)
• Antidepressants: phenezine (Nardil),

paroxatine (Paxil)
• Hallucinogens: lysergic acid (LSD), MDMA

(Ecstasy)-in large doses, cannabis
(marijuana)-in large doses
NON-PHARMACHOLOGICAL
SOMATIC TREATMENT
INSULIN-
SHOCK PSYCHO-SURGURY
THERAPY
ELECTRO-CONVULSIVE
THERAPY
Non-pharmacological Somatic
Treatment:
• In 1930’s,several therapies were
developed which draw considerable
attention.They are;
I. Insulin-Shock Therapy:
• Developed by MANFRED SAKEL to cure
psychological disorders by
administrating insulin to produce a state
of comma
• Comma is caused because of a reduction
in blood sugar level
b. Depression of metabolic processes tissues
and cells
• Found to be effective with schizophrenics,
addicts etc.,if used with psychotherapy
• Now rarely used as a method of treatment
II. ELECTRO-CONVULSIVE
THERAPY:
• A biochemical therapy for severely
depressed patients in which a brief electric
current is sent through the brain of the
anesthetized patient
• This controversial therapy is applied to
severely depressed patients
III.PSYCHO-SURGURY:
• It involves brain surgery which is used
in the treatment of severe psychotic
patients who have resisted all other
forms of treatments
Merits of Biological
Approach:
• Although psychological causes are
significant,biological causes are worthy of
examination and study too
• Research work is rapid,producing valuable
new information
Demerits Of Biological
Approach:
• Explains human behavior in biological
terms , treats with the help of biological
methods, and ignores psychological
factors
• Mental life is an inter play of both
biological and non-biological
(environmental) factors; biological has
been emphasized at the cost of ignoring
the non biological

Recap: - Structuralism - Functionalism - Gestalt Psychology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Recap: - Structuralism - Functionalism - Gestalt Psychology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Recap: - Structuralism - Functionalism - Gestalt Psychology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Recap

A distinct way of describing,

Includes assumptions about what

Based on the assumption of

different from mind

PHILIPPE PINEL 1745-1826

Gregor Johann Mendel:

Heredity/ Endocrine Glands/

“The body’s “slow” chemical

• Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates

• Anti-anxiety drugs: Benzodiazepines:

• Antidepressants: phenezine (Nardil),

• Hallucinogens: lysergic acid (LSD), MDMA

You might also like