MODEL OF ABNORMALITY

Model of Abnormality

Model of Abnormality

By the term "medical model" of abnormality we mean the biological model, what the individual is born with either with reference to their brain or even genetics. The biological explanation would suggest that the individual's mental disorder is a cause of biological malfunctioning. They see that environmental factors are of little importance when taking the biological approach. Reasons for abnormal behaviour could vary from possible genetic predisposition or an imbalance of brain chemistry. The two main treatments suggested by the biological model for abnormal behaviour are drugs and somatic intervention. To delve deeper into the biological model we must look at the human brain and also at genetics. Because the brain controls all aspects of human functioning, it is not difficult to conclude that damage or interruption of normal brain function and activity could lead to observable mental disorders. Genetically, to show a specific condition is inherited, researchers must show that it could not be caused by environmental factors. To provide evidence for abnormal behaviour being inherited through genes, we must look at correlational and twin studies. A "psychological model" of abnormality could be the cognitive model. Cognitive models are based on the assumption that conscious thought mediates an individual's emotional state or behaviour in response to a stimulus. (Bennett, 2003, 452-459)

The cognitive model suggests that people may even create their own problems through interpretation. The mediating process in which an individual will go through in deciding how they will cope with a stimulus is the key point in the cognitive model. It's the way an individual thinks, how they perceive things and their own personal self-evaluations. The individual's schema is what decides their response. A cognitive therapist would look at curing their patient through learning exercises. They must become aware of their thoughts, be aware of what stimulus's produce what responses, to look at the reasoning behind their automatic thoughts and also to learn to identify and alter the beliefs that pre-dispose them to distort their experiences,. These two models discussed differ hugely in content and suggestions. The first key difference is the point of the abnormal behaviour being either organic or non-organic. As mentioned above, the medical model states that environmental factors with reference to abnormal behaviour have very little influence. The abnormal behaviour therefore is a result of an underlying physical condition such as damage to the brain. In stating this, the treatment given is aimed at controlling the underlying disease by changing the individual's biochemistry. This approach does not account for the occasions in which no biological explanation can be found. Although strong biological evidence can be found for mental disorders such as bipolar and unipolar depression and schizophrenia there is little evidence to show that eating disorders and phobia's have a biological cause. They show more of a social cause and so this suggests that many disorders are probably a mix of predisposition and environment. The environment is a huge factor with reference to any mental ...