Models of Psychopathology

Robert Fettgather, Ph.D. is a counselor, educator, writer and activist residing in Grass Valley, California.  He started as a special education teacher in an institutional setting where he worked with people with intellectual disability, autism and cerebral palsy. Robert Fettgather holds a doctorate in psychology and master degrees in both psychology and education, and teaches at Mission College. 

There are various models or perspectives that frame the field of abnormal psychology. You may recognize that many of them have been covered in earlier Posts.

The sociocultural model of abnormality takes into account the effect of culture on behavior and suggests that psychological disorders should be assessed within the realm of cultural relativity. Culture-bound syndromes are certain psychological disorders that are only found in particular cultures. The biological model of psychopathology proposes that psychological disorders arise from a physical or biological cause. 

The psychoanalytical model asserts that disorders are the result of repressed thoughts in the unconscious mind, and grounded in our past experiences. The behaviorist model explains disorders as a set of learned behaviors influenced by the environment. Cognitive psychologists have outlined the cognitive model which describes psychological disorders as resulting from errant patterns of thought. The biopsychosocial model is multi-faceted and asserts that abnormal behavior is the result of biological, psychological, cultural and social factors.

Studies of abnormal behavior, or psychopathology have considerable historic roots.  For example, archaeological evidence (3000 B.C.) of a practice called "trepanning", or drilling holes in the skull-this  showed concern for aberrant behavior with a radical intervention.

States Of Dissociation

An instructor at Mission college, robert Fettgather hassd taught Human Development, abnormal Psychology and other courses. Robert fettgather has also taught courses in psychology and education at San Jose State University and National University. 

Most of us have had the experience of "spacing out' as a kind of absent minded moment or even a pleasant day dream. On the other hand, dissociative disorders involve a break, or dissociation, in a person’s sense of identity. In dissociative amnesia, an individual cannot remember information contained in long-term memory such as her own name or where she lives. A dissociative fugue occurs when a person suddenly travels away from his home and afterwards cannot remember the trip or even his own identity. In dissociative identity disorder, formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder, a person seems to experience at least two or more distinct personalities.

For example, a woman called Hilary Stanton had considerable blanks in her memories of childhood. She recalled her "safe place" behind the barn, and how her "alters" began to protect her mind. Dr. Allan Schore has noted the physiological impact of dissociation in response to early trauma, and its effect on suicidality.

According to the psychoanalytical model, dissociation is a defense mechanism and is associated with emotional or physical trauma. Behaviorists believe that “not thinking” about certain events can be negatively reinforced by reducing anxiety and unpleasant feelings, while cognitive psychologists focus on the feelings of guilt, shame, or anxiety that may be avoided through “thought avoidance.” Biological reasoning for dissociative disorders is found in the scientific literature as well. For example, researchers have discovered that people with depersonalization disorder also have diminished brain activity in brain areas responsible for our experience of body sensations.