Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

Diathesis-Stress Model

• Psychological disorders develop due to a genetic vulnerability in combination with stressful life experiences.

• Psychological disorders are solely caused by environmental factors.

• Psychological disorders are inherited without any influence from life experiences.

• Psychological disorders are a result of poor lifestyle choices.

Behavioral Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive learned associations between or among responses to stimuli.

• Mental disorders are primarily caused by genetic factors and biological processes.

• The behavioral perspective emphasizes the role of unconscious thoughts and feelings in mental disorders.

• Mental disorders are solely the result of environmental influences without any learned behaviors.

Cognitive Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on biological factors such as genetics and brain chemistry.

• The causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions.

• The causes of mental disorders are primarily due to environmental stressors and life events.

• The causes of mental disorders are solely based on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences.

Evolutionary Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on behaviors and mental processes that reduce the likelihood of survival.

• Mental disorders are solely caused by genetic factors.

• Mental disorders are unrelated to evolutionary processes.

• The causes of mental disorders are primarily environmental.

Sociocultural Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics.

• Mental disorders are solely caused by biological factors.

• Mental disorders are primarily a result of individual choices and behaviors.

• Mental disorders are unrelated to social and cultural influences.

Biopsychosocial Model

• A model that only considers biological factors in psychological problems.

• A model that suggests psychological problems are solely due to sociocultural factors.

• Any psychological problem potentially involves a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

• A model that ignores psychological factors in understanding mental health.

Eclectic Approach

• Using a single psychological perspective for treatment.

• Using more than one psychological perspective.

• Focusing solely on behavioral therapy.

• Emphasizing the importance of medication in treatment.

Psychodynamic Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on unconscious thoughts and experiences, often developed during childhood.

• Mental disorders are primarily caused by genetic factors and biological processes.

• The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes the role of social and cultural influences on behavior.

• Cognitive processes are the main focus in understanding mental disorders.

Humanistic Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on a lack of social support and being unable to fulfill one’s potential.

• Mental disorders are primarily caused by genetic factors and brain chemistry.

• The humanistic perspective emphasizes the role of unconscious processes in behavior.

• Mental disorders are best understood through behavioral conditioning.

Biological Perspective

• The causes of mental disorders focus on physiological or genetic issues.

• Mental disorders are solely caused by environmental factors.

• Mental disorders are a result of poor lifestyle choices.

• Mental disorders are unrelated to biological factors.