5.2 Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders

Explaining why disorders develop: multiple perspectives

Psychologists explain disorders through different lenses. The medical model views disorders as illnesses with physical causes needing treatment. The psychoanalytic/psychodynamic perspective blames unconscious conflicts from early experiences. The behavioral perspective points to learned associations (conditioning). The cognitive perspective focuses on distorted or maladaptive thinking patterns.

More perspectives: humanistic, sociocultural, and biological

The humanistic perspective sees disorders arising from blocked personal growth and low self-actualization. The sociocultural perspective emphasizes environmental, cultural, and social context (poverty, discrimination, family dynamics). The biological/neuroscience perspective examines genetics, brain structure/chemistry, and neurotransmitter imbalances as causes.

The biopsychosocial model and etiology

Etiology refers to the causes/origins of a disorder. Most modern clinicians use the biopsychosocial model, integrating biological (genes, chemistry), psychological (thoughts, emotions, learning), and social (relationships, culture) factors together, recognizing that disorders rarely have a single cause.

Key terms

Etiology

The causes or origins of a psychological disorder.

Biopsychosocial model

An integrative approach explaining disorders through biological, psychological, and social factors together.

Behavioral perspective on disorders

Views disorders as resulting from learned associations via classical or operant conditioning.

Cognitive perspective on disorders

Attributes disorders to distorted, irrational, or maladaptive thought patterns.

Humanistic perspective on disorders

Sees disorders as stemming from blocked personal growth and failure to achieve self-actualization.

Try an AP-style question

The diathesis-stress model says disorders result from…

1. stress alone
2. genes alone
3. a predisposition plus stress
4. bad parenting only