"the scientific study of the human mind and its
functions, especially those affecting behaviour
in a given context" (Dictionary.com, 2015)
Abnormal Psychology
"a division of psychology that studies people who are
"abnormal" or "atypical" compared to other members of a
given society" (SimplyPsychology.org, 2014)
Aaron T. Beck
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a form of psychotherapy developed by
Aaron Beck. It uses different types of techniques to help the patient
identify and solve their problems.
CBT is a common form of therapy used to help patients overcome disorders such
as depression, anxiety, and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). A common
method used in CBT is to go back and review situations where said disorder was
triggered. The model of CBT is to look at the thoughts, feelings, and behaviour
present in the situation. By breaking those down, patients find themselves more
relieved and to start feeling better.
CBT has affected many patients going through stages
of mental disorders. It helps people find the root of
their issues, and find a way to conquer them. With CBT
many disorders can be either minimized or stopped
completely.
The University of California, Los Angeles, has recently conducted research on the
effects of CBT in OCD patients. CBT is the most common therapy method for OCD
patients, but it does not always work for all cases. UCLA's research was on how an
MRI of the brain can help psychologists determine whether or not cognitive
therapy will help that specific patient, and if not which form of therapy would most
benefit the patient.
Developmental Psychology
"a branch of psychology that studies changes
in human behaviour from early life to death"
(Dictionary.com, 2015)
Mary Ainsworth
In the 1970's, Ainsworth
developed an
assessment called the
Strange Situation Classification (SSC).
The SSC was a test designed for
infants between the age of nine
and 18 months to test their levels
of attachment to their caregivers.
Based on the results Ainsworth
gathered from the Strange Situation
Classification, she came to the
conclusion that there were three
different types of attachments
infants had to their caregivers.
These attachments were Secure Attachment, Insecure
Avoidant Attachment, and Insecure Ambivalent Attachment.
She found that infants with secure attachments had mothers
that tended to their needs, infants with avoidant attachments
had mothers who were insensitive and rejective of their needs,
and infants with ambivalent attachments had mothers who
were inconsistent with their level of care
She found that infants with secure
attachments had caregivers who paid
attention to them, and responded to their
requests for help.
She found that infants with avoidant attachments have
caregivers who do not respond to the infants cries for
help
She found that infants with
insecure-ambivalent attachments had
caregivers who were very inconsistent
with their level of care and attention.
Worked together at the Tavistock
Clinic in England in the 1950's. Both
Ainsworth and Bowlby researched
attachments.
All three of these psychologists were
involved in studying children or the
effects of childhood.
Both believed that certain
thoughts/actions come from childhood
experiences such as neglect and
frightening situations.
John Bowbly
Bowlby developed a theory of attachment in the 1960's
that stated children were born with a biological preset
ability to form attachments in order to survive
He believed that the ability to make
attachments was activated by a
threatening situation in which
interacting is required to survive.
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a disorder that may occur in
people who were neglected as children and are therefore unable to
form a secure attachment with anyone. Fifteen year-old Roksana
Sikorski was adopted along with her sibling from Poland. She was four at
the time and it is said that she suffered abuse. This lead to her diagnosis
of RAD. Both her and her boyfriend, Michael Rivera, are being charged
with attempted murder and conspiracy for plotting to kill her family. She
is being charged as an adult and is set to go to trial on October 26, 2015.
This supports Ainsworth's theory that children who are neglected have a lot
of trouble forming attachments with anyone and this can lead to unusual and
aggressive behavior.
Behavioural Psychology
Sigmund Freud
Though Freud did not come up with it,
he popularized the theory of the
unconscious mind.
This research suggested that there were three levels of the mind,
conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. He believed that fears and
other unexplained actions come from the unconscious mind and is
affected by childhood memories which are no longer stored by ones
conscious mind.
Freud believed that personality was made up of
three parts, the id, the ego, and the super-ego
He believed that the id controlled your
desires, and that it constantly looked for
fulfillment regardless of whether it will
affect others or not.
He believed that the super-ego controlled
ones conscience, and that it always aimed for
perfection.
Freud believed that the ego was the voice of
reason in ones personality. It learns that one
cannot always get what they want, and make
everyone happy. He also believed that it was the
only part of ones personality that they are
aware of.
Freud believed that the ego was the voice of
reason in ones personality. It learned that one
can't always get what they want and make
everyone happy. He also believed that it was the
only part of ones personality that they are
aware of.
He believed that the id controlled your
desires, and that it constantly looked for
fulfillment regardless of whether it will
affect others or not.
He believed that the super-ego controlled
ones conscience, and that it always aimed for
perfection.
All of these theories relate to the topic of nature vs. nurture.
Ainsworth and Freud's theories have to do with nurture.
Childhood experiences and how the child was cared for affect
how it behaves and thinks. While Bowbly's theory suggests that
children are born with a preset ability to make attachments and
does not necessarily relate to how the caregiver treats it.
Both Freud and Bowlby believed that
behavioural and mental health problems could
be associated with early childhood.
Freud's work falls into the
branches of both behaviourism
and abnormal psychology.
"the psychological perspective primarily concerned with
observable behavior that can be objectively recorded and
with the relationships of observable behavior to
environmental stimuli" (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2002)
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a disorder that may occur in people
who were neglected as children and are therefore unable to form a secure
attachment with anyone. Fifteen year-old Roksana Sikorski was adopted
along with her sibling from Poland. She was four at the time and it is said
that she suffered abuse. This lead to her diagnosis of RAD. Both her and
her boyfriend, Michael Rivera, are being charged with attempted murder
and conspiracy for plotting to kill her family. She is being charged as an
adult and is set to go to trial on October 26, 2015.
This relates to Freud's theory of the unconscious mind. Sikorski had had a traumatic
childhood experience that was kept in her unconscious mind and thus explains her actions.
She was abused at a very young age and that made her very angry with her family when she
got older. This caused aggression and was the reason she wanted to kill them, even though
this family never abused her.