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8.8 Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders

6 min readapril 17, 2023

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Dalia Savy

Dalia Savy

Emily Pedrazzi

Emily Pedrazzi

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Dalia Savy

Dalia Savy

Emily Pedrazzi

Emily Pedrazzi

As covered briefly in previous units, psychology can be approached from a variety of perspectives. Each perspective has unique methodologies to treat psychological disorders by focusing on different target areas.

The three general therapeutic approaches are:

  1. 💊 —drugs can be used to relieve physical or physiological pain

  2. 🛋️ —uses techniques from different types of therapies

  3. 🗣️ —a collection of approaches that involve talking to the client or group/family therapy

Different Perspectives

Behavioral Psychology

The basis of is identifying learned behaviors and using conditioning and or reinforcement for corrections. The past may be referenced in attempts to discover when the harmful behaviors were learned. 

uses , which is essentially using classical conditioning to create new conditioned responses. Through , undesirable reactions and behaviors can be replaced.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-jTGS48SjKLrW.png?alt=media&token=6cb00c43-d3ab-4225-a8ab-3de5ffb5d706

Image Courtesy of Dog Training Excellence.

Systematic Desensitization

Using the idea of , Mary Jones introduced and, specifically, . includes pairing a stimulus of fear with relaxation techniques and conditioning the subject to associate the stimulus with relaxation rather than fear.

uses hierarchies. Take an example where a patient has a phobia of bees. First, the therapist would engage the patient to determine why the patient finds bees frightening. Next, they would ask the client to relax and gradually work them through visualizing bees or examining pictures of them. Through repetition, the patient will experience greater relaxation when presented with a bee-related visual stimulus. 🐝

Once that happens, the client may be asked to imagine an anxiety-arousing scene with bees involved. The patient will return to the relaxation technique if moving up the hierarchy induces anxiety. Slowly over time, the aim of this approach is to help the patient acclimate to their phobia and learn coping skills to overcome it.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-S4y3Th6f4Ria.png?alt=media&token=511be61f-b464-4253-981a-72c81aa4142d

Systemic desensitization hierarchy for arachnophobia. Image Courtesy of Psychology4A.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

When an anxiety is too difficult to recreate with , therapists may use to help their patients interact with stimuli.

Aversive Conditioning

includes conditioning something unpleasant with one's addiction. For example, substance use disorders are very difficult to beat. If one uses to condition nausea with alcohol, the client will, eventually, no longer be inclined to drink alcohol due to associating it with feeling sick. 🤢

Behavior Modification

Using , therapists encourage wanted behaviors with reinforcement and discourage negative behaviors. Some use a , where clients earn a "token" for doing a desired behavior, and as the tokens accumulate, the client can exchange them for a reward.💰 Whether or not this is ethical is debated, but does not usually help with extreme psychological disorders.

Cognitive Psychology

Unlike , places emphasis on current thoughts, behaviors, and other parts of cognition. Cognitive therapists believe that thinking "colors" our feelings, so we must think differently to develop positive, normalized feelings. 🙃

Therapy may consist of working through problems in both real and hypothetical situations to develop problem-solving skills. An example of cognitive therapy is Rational-Emotive (REBT), which challenges people to think otherwise and enables healthier behaviors. Think of REBT as reversing irrational beliefs.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-XSH771csCQL5.png?alt=media&token=dcdd07fc-c0fd-4863-a9b2-816763ae871b

Image Courtesy of Psychodynamic Techniques.

Humanistic Psychology

provides more individualism in treatment planning than other approaches. This non-deterministic approach popularized by states that humans are innately good and capable of change. is the primary treatment method.

tries to grow the self-awareness of his patients, which in turn, grows self-acceptance. 🌠 Rather than focusing on one's disorder and curing it, he focuses on helping them reach self-actualization. Unlike Freud and his psychodynamic theory, Rogers focuses on the present and the future.

focuses on promoting in an accepting, genuine, and empathic environment. Don't forget ! is where Rogers would simply listen, repeat, restate, and clarify what the patient said. This makes it so they don't change the client's thoughts or perspectives on anything.

Psychodynamic Psychology

According to , behavior is influenced by unconscious motives through the id, superego, and ego. Freud believed that these unconscious, uncontrollable urges and motivations lead to disorders and irrational thinking. A person’s childhood may be analyzed to determine the root of current problems. This approach is one of the most important ones to know for the AP exam.

He focused on four main things:

  1. Bringing unconscious thoughts into awareness, providing an insight into where the disorder may be coming from. This gets rid of the disorder from the inside. 💭

  2. Using , Freud would look for (stopping mid-thought to prevent saying something or changing the subject), which show resistance. ⚠️

  3. Freud would see these and how people tried to defend themselves, and he began to interpret why these blocks existed.

  4. Eventually, the patient would become more open and comfortable, expressing feelings with no problem (whether they be negative or positive). When the patient did this, Freud would think they are transferring thoughts experienced in the past into the present. This then provides insight to complete the cycle.

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic psychologists focus on fast therapy and providing immediate relief through understanding feelings and learning about yourself. Rather than thinking about the past, they focus on current relationships.

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology

The cognitive-behavioral approach uses concepts and theories from both the cognitive and behavioral approaches. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the primary type of therapy used in this approach due to its combination of perspectives. 

CBT

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most widely practiced therapies and most successful. It aims to change the way someone thinks and acts (hence its name).

Those who undergo CBT learn that their negative thoughts are irrational and begin to replace them with a positive way of thinking. CBT works with , , and .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-sDfYwmT9KGAL.png?alt=media&token=90c7f61c-c4cc-4d5c-a110-0c446d23ba60

Image Courtesy of Verywell Mind.

Rather than thinking negatively and extending their depression, people with begin to replace their thinking and redirect their energy in ways that reward them and make them feel good.

Sociocultural Psychology

contextualizes personal development within societal expectations and norms. The psychology of an individual is heavily shaped by those factors, as well as interactions between other people and cultures. 

Effectiveness of Approaches by Disorder

Approach

Best When Treating . . .

Behavioral

any disorders that lead to abnormalities in behavioral patterns or patients with a history of trauma

Cognitive

disorders where cognition behind thoughts and behaviors is affected or people who cannot rationally problem solve

Humanistic

interpersonal problems, , , or personality disorders

Psychodynamic

people with a history of unresolved trauma

Sociocultural

a broad range of disorders throughout a variety of different cultures

Factors of Treatment 

Treatment success is not only affected by the disorder and type of treatment, but also by many other variables. Cultural stigma of mental illness, socioeconomic status, life outlook, environment, and demographic information are all capable of impacting this!

Key Terms to Review (31)

Active Listening

: A communication technique used in counseling where the listener fully concentrates, understands, responds, and then remembers what is being said.

Anorexia

: Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-starvation, extreme thinness, and a distorted body image.

Anxiety Disorders

: These are types of mental health disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. Examples include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aversive Conditioning

: Aversive conditioning is a type of behavior modification that uses negative stimuli to discourage unwanted behaviors.

Behavior Modification

: Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach designed to change a particular undesirable negative behavior by using a system of rewards and consequences.

Behavior Therapy

: Behavior therapy is a therapeutic approach that applies principles of learning to help individuals change undesirable behaviors.

Behavioral Psychology

: Behavioral psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study of observable behaviors, including human actions and reactions. It emphasizes the role of environmental factors in influencing behavior.

Biomedical Therapy

: Biomedical therapy refers to the use of medical treatments, such as medications or procedures like surgery, to treat psychological disorders.

Carl Rogers

: An influential American psychologist who developed client-centered therapy (also known as Rogerian therapy) which emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-acceptance.

Client-centered talk therapy

: A form of psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Rogers that involves the therapist being non-directive and reflective, focusing on the individual's own thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

: A type of psychotherapy that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors. It's often used to treat a wide range of disorders, including phobias, addiction, depression, and anxiety.

Cognitive Psychology

: Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mind as an information processor - it involves studying how people perceive, remember, think about information & solve problems.

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology

: Cognitive-behavioral psychology is a branch of psychology that combines cognitive and behavioral approaches to treat mental disorders. It emphasizes how thoughts affect behavior and feelings.

Counterconditioning

: Counterconditioning is a behavioral technique used in therapy which involves replacing an unwanted response to a stimulus with a desired response.

Eclectic Approach

: The eclectic approach in psychology refers to integrating several therapeutic strategies and techniques based on what will be most beneficial for the client.

Exposure Therapy

: Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment that helps people confront and reduce fear and anxiety by gradually exposing them to the feared object, situation or traumatic memory in a safe environment.

Free Association

: Free association is a method used in psychoanalysis where patients are encouraged to share whatever comes into their mind, regardless of how irrelevant or nonsensical it may seem. This technique aims to uncover hidden thoughts and feelings that might be causing psychological distress.

Humanistic Psychology

: Humanistic psychology is an approach that emphasizes empathy and stresses the good in human behavior. It strives to help people fulfill their potential and maximize their well-being.

Id, Superego, Ego

: Id - Represents innate desires; it demands immediate satisfaction. Superego - Acts as moral compass; strives for perfection. Ego - Balances conflict between id (pleasure principle) & superego (morality).

Mental Blocks

: Mental blocks are an inability or difficulty in thinking or understanding something. They can be caused by various reasons such as stress, anxiety or simply being overworked.

Mood Disorders

: These are mental health disorders characterized by significant disturbances in mood or emotional state such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Psychodynamic Psychology

: This is a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior. It's rooted in Freud’s theories.

Psychodynamic Theories

: Psychodynamic theories are psychological theories that explain behavior as driven by unconscious forces and conflicts within an individual.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

: An active-directive form of psychotherapy aimed at resolving emotional and behavioral problems and disturbances. It helps individuals to understand that the power of their emotions comes largely from their own beliefs, evaluations, interpretations, and reactions to life situations.

Sociocultural Psychology

: Sociocultural psychology is the study of how social and cultural factors influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Systematic Desensitization

: A type of behavioral therapy used to help effectively overcome phobias and other anxiety disorders. It involves a patient learning relaxation skills and gradually being exposed to the situation causing anxiety.

Talk Therapy

: Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is a method of psychological treatment where a therapist and client communicate verbally to solve emotional and behavioral problems.

Token Economy

: A token economy is a system of behavior modification based on the systematic positive reinforcement of target behavior. The reinforcers are symbols or "tokens" that can be exchanged for other reinforcers.

Transference

: Transference is a phenomenon characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to another. In therapy context, it refers to patients redirecting emotions and desires for significant people in their lives onto the therapist.

Unconditional Positive Regard

: This is a concept developed by Carl Rogers that involves accepting and respecting others without judgment or evaluation - basically showing complete support for someone no matter what they say or do.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

: This is a method for reducing fears and phobias where individuals are immersed in virtual environments representing feared real-world scenarios.

8.8 Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders

6 min readapril 17, 2023

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Dalia Savy

Dalia Savy

Emily Pedrazzi

Emily Pedrazzi

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Dalia Savy

Dalia Savy

Emily Pedrazzi

Emily Pedrazzi

As covered briefly in previous units, psychology can be approached from a variety of perspectives. Each perspective has unique methodologies to treat psychological disorders by focusing on different target areas.

The three general therapeutic approaches are:

  1. 💊 —drugs can be used to relieve physical or physiological pain

  2. 🛋️ —uses techniques from different types of therapies

  3. 🗣️ —a collection of approaches that involve talking to the client or group/family therapy

Different Perspectives

Behavioral Psychology

The basis of is identifying learned behaviors and using conditioning and or reinforcement for corrections. The past may be referenced in attempts to discover when the harmful behaviors were learned. 

uses , which is essentially using classical conditioning to create new conditioned responses. Through , undesirable reactions and behaviors can be replaced.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-jTGS48SjKLrW.png?alt=media&token=6cb00c43-d3ab-4225-a8ab-3de5ffb5d706

Image Courtesy of Dog Training Excellence.

Systematic Desensitization

Using the idea of , Mary Jones introduced and, specifically, . includes pairing a stimulus of fear with relaxation techniques and conditioning the subject to associate the stimulus with relaxation rather than fear.

uses hierarchies. Take an example where a patient has a phobia of bees. First, the therapist would engage the patient to determine why the patient finds bees frightening. Next, they would ask the client to relax and gradually work them through visualizing bees or examining pictures of them. Through repetition, the patient will experience greater relaxation when presented with a bee-related visual stimulus. 🐝

Once that happens, the client may be asked to imagine an anxiety-arousing scene with bees involved. The patient will return to the relaxation technique if moving up the hierarchy induces anxiety. Slowly over time, the aim of this approach is to help the patient acclimate to their phobia and learn coping skills to overcome it.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-S4y3Th6f4Ria.png?alt=media&token=511be61f-b464-4253-981a-72c81aa4142d

Systemic desensitization hierarchy for arachnophobia. Image Courtesy of Psychology4A.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

When an anxiety is too difficult to recreate with , therapists may use to help their patients interact with stimuli.

Aversive Conditioning

includes conditioning something unpleasant with one's addiction. For example, substance use disorders are very difficult to beat. If one uses to condition nausea with alcohol, the client will, eventually, no longer be inclined to drink alcohol due to associating it with feeling sick. 🤢

Behavior Modification

Using , therapists encourage wanted behaviors with reinforcement and discourage negative behaviors. Some use a , where clients earn a "token" for doing a desired behavior, and as the tokens accumulate, the client can exchange them for a reward.💰 Whether or not this is ethical is debated, but does not usually help with extreme psychological disorders.

Cognitive Psychology

Unlike , places emphasis on current thoughts, behaviors, and other parts of cognition. Cognitive therapists believe that thinking "colors" our feelings, so we must think differently to develop positive, normalized feelings. 🙃

Therapy may consist of working through problems in both real and hypothetical situations to develop problem-solving skills. An example of cognitive therapy is Rational-Emotive (REBT), which challenges people to think otherwise and enables healthier behaviors. Think of REBT as reversing irrational beliefs.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-XSH771csCQL5.png?alt=media&token=dcdd07fc-c0fd-4863-a9b2-816763ae871b

Image Courtesy of Psychodynamic Techniques.

Humanistic Psychology

provides more individualism in treatment planning than other approaches. This non-deterministic approach popularized by states that humans are innately good and capable of change. is the primary treatment method.

tries to grow the self-awareness of his patients, which in turn, grows self-acceptance. 🌠 Rather than focusing on one's disorder and curing it, he focuses on helping them reach self-actualization. Unlike Freud and his psychodynamic theory, Rogers focuses on the present and the future.

focuses on promoting in an accepting, genuine, and empathic environment. Don't forget ! is where Rogers would simply listen, repeat, restate, and clarify what the patient said. This makes it so they don't change the client's thoughts or perspectives on anything.

Psychodynamic Psychology

According to , behavior is influenced by unconscious motives through the id, superego, and ego. Freud believed that these unconscious, uncontrollable urges and motivations lead to disorders and irrational thinking. A person’s childhood may be analyzed to determine the root of current problems. This approach is one of the most important ones to know for the AP exam.

He focused on four main things:

  1. Bringing unconscious thoughts into awareness, providing an insight into where the disorder may be coming from. This gets rid of the disorder from the inside. 💭

  2. Using , Freud would look for (stopping mid-thought to prevent saying something or changing the subject), which show resistance. ⚠️

  3. Freud would see these and how people tried to defend themselves, and he began to interpret why these blocks existed.

  4. Eventually, the patient would become more open and comfortable, expressing feelings with no problem (whether they be negative or positive). When the patient did this, Freud would think they are transferring thoughts experienced in the past into the present. This then provides insight to complete the cycle.

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic psychologists focus on fast therapy and providing immediate relief through understanding feelings and learning about yourself. Rather than thinking about the past, they focus on current relationships.

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology

The cognitive-behavioral approach uses concepts and theories from both the cognitive and behavioral approaches. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the primary type of therapy used in this approach due to its combination of perspectives. 

CBT

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most widely practiced therapies and most successful. It aims to change the way someone thinks and acts (hence its name).

Those who undergo CBT learn that their negative thoughts are irrational and begin to replace them with a positive way of thinking. CBT works with , , and .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-sDfYwmT9KGAL.png?alt=media&token=90c7f61c-c4cc-4d5c-a110-0c446d23ba60

Image Courtesy of Verywell Mind.

Rather than thinking negatively and extending their depression, people with begin to replace their thinking and redirect their energy in ways that reward them and make them feel good.

Sociocultural Psychology

contextualizes personal development within societal expectations and norms. The psychology of an individual is heavily shaped by those factors, as well as interactions between other people and cultures. 

Effectiveness of Approaches by Disorder

Approach

Best When Treating . . .

Behavioral

any disorders that lead to abnormalities in behavioral patterns or patients with a history of trauma

Cognitive

disorders where cognition behind thoughts and behaviors is affected or people who cannot rationally problem solve

Humanistic

interpersonal problems, , , or personality disorders

Psychodynamic

people with a history of unresolved trauma

Sociocultural

a broad range of disorders throughout a variety of different cultures

Factors of Treatment 

Treatment success is not only affected by the disorder and type of treatment, but also by many other variables. Cultural stigma of mental illness, socioeconomic status, life outlook, environment, and demographic information are all capable of impacting this!

Key Terms to Review (31)

Active Listening

: A communication technique used in counseling where the listener fully concentrates, understands, responds, and then remembers what is being said.

Anorexia

: Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-starvation, extreme thinness, and a distorted body image.

Anxiety Disorders

: These are types of mental health disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. Examples include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aversive Conditioning

: Aversive conditioning is a type of behavior modification that uses negative stimuli to discourage unwanted behaviors.

Behavior Modification

: Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach designed to change a particular undesirable negative behavior by using a system of rewards and consequences.

Behavior Therapy

: Behavior therapy is a therapeutic approach that applies principles of learning to help individuals change undesirable behaviors.

Behavioral Psychology

: Behavioral psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study of observable behaviors, including human actions and reactions. It emphasizes the role of environmental factors in influencing behavior.

Biomedical Therapy

: Biomedical therapy refers to the use of medical treatments, such as medications or procedures like surgery, to treat psychological disorders.

Carl Rogers

: An influential American psychologist who developed client-centered therapy (also known as Rogerian therapy) which emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-acceptance.

Client-centered talk therapy

: A form of psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Rogers that involves the therapist being non-directive and reflective, focusing on the individual's own thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

: A type of psychotherapy that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors. It's often used to treat a wide range of disorders, including phobias, addiction, depression, and anxiety.

Cognitive Psychology

: Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mind as an information processor - it involves studying how people perceive, remember, think about information & solve problems.

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology

: Cognitive-behavioral psychology is a branch of psychology that combines cognitive and behavioral approaches to treat mental disorders. It emphasizes how thoughts affect behavior and feelings.

Counterconditioning

: Counterconditioning is a behavioral technique used in therapy which involves replacing an unwanted response to a stimulus with a desired response.

Eclectic Approach

: The eclectic approach in psychology refers to integrating several therapeutic strategies and techniques based on what will be most beneficial for the client.

Exposure Therapy

: Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment that helps people confront and reduce fear and anxiety by gradually exposing them to the feared object, situation or traumatic memory in a safe environment.

Free Association

: Free association is a method used in psychoanalysis where patients are encouraged to share whatever comes into their mind, regardless of how irrelevant or nonsensical it may seem. This technique aims to uncover hidden thoughts and feelings that might be causing psychological distress.

Humanistic Psychology

: Humanistic psychology is an approach that emphasizes empathy and stresses the good in human behavior. It strives to help people fulfill their potential and maximize their well-being.

Id, Superego, Ego

: Id - Represents innate desires; it demands immediate satisfaction. Superego - Acts as moral compass; strives for perfection. Ego - Balances conflict between id (pleasure principle) & superego (morality).

Mental Blocks

: Mental blocks are an inability or difficulty in thinking or understanding something. They can be caused by various reasons such as stress, anxiety or simply being overworked.

Mood Disorders

: These are mental health disorders characterized by significant disturbances in mood or emotional state such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Psychodynamic Psychology

: This is a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior. It's rooted in Freud’s theories.

Psychodynamic Theories

: Psychodynamic theories are psychological theories that explain behavior as driven by unconscious forces and conflicts within an individual.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

: An active-directive form of psychotherapy aimed at resolving emotional and behavioral problems and disturbances. It helps individuals to understand that the power of their emotions comes largely from their own beliefs, evaluations, interpretations, and reactions to life situations.

Sociocultural Psychology

: Sociocultural psychology is the study of how social and cultural factors influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Systematic Desensitization

: A type of behavioral therapy used to help effectively overcome phobias and other anxiety disorders. It involves a patient learning relaxation skills and gradually being exposed to the situation causing anxiety.

Talk Therapy

: Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is a method of psychological treatment where a therapist and client communicate verbally to solve emotional and behavioral problems.

Token Economy

: A token economy is a system of behavior modification based on the systematic positive reinforcement of target behavior. The reinforcers are symbols or "tokens" that can be exchanged for other reinforcers.

Transference

: Transference is a phenomenon characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to another. In therapy context, it refers to patients redirecting emotions and desires for significant people in their lives onto the therapist.

Unconditional Positive Regard

: This is a concept developed by Carl Rogers that involves accepting and respecting others without judgment or evaluation - basically showing complete support for someone no matter what they say or do.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

: This is a method for reducing fears and phobias where individuals are immersed in virtual environments representing feared real-world scenarios.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.