Human BehaviourHuman Behaviour

Problems and TherapiesProblems and Therapies

NEUROSESNEUROSES

are exaggerated defence mechanisms used to are exaggerated defence mechanisms used to escape feelings of anxiety. They are a category escape feelings of anxiety. They are a category of mild disorders and because they last longer of mild disorders and because they last longer than defence mechanisms, can interfere with the than defence mechanisms, can interfere with the enjoyment of life.enjoyment of life.neurotics show unusual fear and anxiety to neurotics show unusual fear and anxiety to escape certain situationsescape certain situationsneurotics understand the nature of their problems neurotics understand the nature of their problems but can’t resolve them themselvesbut can’t resolve them themselvessince a neurotic person is in touch with reality, it since a neurotic person is in touch with reality, it produces anxiety.produces anxiety.

Types of NeurosesTypes of Neuroses

Anxiety NeurosesAnxiety Neuroses

PhobiasPhobias

ObsessionsObsessions

Eating DisordersEating Disorders

Anxiety NeurosesAnxiety Neuroses

fear that dreadful things will happenfear that dreadful things will happenfears are so overpowering the person can not fears are so overpowering the person can not functionfunctionresult: anxiety attacks result: anxiety attacks symptoms include a symptoms include a pounding heart, faintness, numbness, chills, or pounding heart, faintness, numbness, chills, or flushed skinflushed skineven though everyone experiences anxiety, even though everyone experiences anxiety, there is usually some observable there is usually some observable cause( upcoming exam, car accident); neurotic cause( upcoming exam, car accident); neurotic anxiety occurs without any obvious cause.anxiety occurs without any obvious cause.ex: the concert pianist might find her hands ex: the concert pianist might find her hands paralysedparalysed

PhobiasPhobias

extreme fears of certain objects or extreme fears of certain objects or situationssituationsthey interfere with our livesthey interfere with our livesSkinner and other learning theorists Skinner and other learning theorists believe phobias stem from bad believe phobias stem from bad experiences and need to be treated with experiences and need to be treated with conditioning techniques that associate conditioning techniques that associate pleasant experiences with the feared pleasant experiences with the feared object or situationobject or situation

List of Phobias

ObsessionsObsessions

- a persistent, unwanted thought that comes - a persistent, unwanted thought that comes from some sort of anxiety.from some sort of anxiety.

- the person may know the fear is unreasonable, - the person may know the fear is unreasonable, but still cannot get rid of it.but still cannot get rid of it.

- the obsession is often followed by a - the obsession is often followed by a compulsioncompulsion to perform an act that will relieve to perform an act that will relieve the anxiety.the anxiety.

Ex: Ex: obsessionobsession fear of germs fear of germs

compulsion compulsion persistent washing of hands persistent washing of hands

Obsessions: Eating DisordersObsessions: Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosaAnorexia nervosa-- anorexics are obsessed with anorexics are obsessed with their body image and reduce food intake, use their body image and reduce food intake, use laxatives, vomit, and exercise compulsively to rid laxatives, vomit, and exercise compulsively to rid of any foods eaten.of any foods eaten.BulimiaBulimia- bulimics binge-eat, then induce - bulimics binge-eat, then induce vomiting or use laxatives and follow with vomiting or use laxatives and follow with starvation and fasting.starvation and fasting.in therapy patients explore why they feel in therapy patients explore why they feel compelled to control their body size and shape compelled to control their body size and shape and find healthier ways to deal with these and find healthier ways to deal with these personal conflictspersonal conflicts

PSYCHOSESPSYCHOSES

a serious mental illness that may prevent the a serious mental illness that may prevent the sufferer form functioning in day-to-day life.sufferer form functioning in day-to-day life.psychotics may distort reality through psychotics may distort reality through hallucinations or delusionshallucinations or delusionsthey lack understanding of their own behaviour they lack understanding of their own behaviour and believe their perceptions and distortions are and believe their perceptions and distortions are real.real.they may show great personality changes, they may show great personality changes, dramatic mood swings, strange emotional dramatic mood swings, strange emotional responses and confusion with respect to time, responses and confusion with respect to time, places or people.places or people.treatments include drug therapy, psychotherapy, treatments include drug therapy, psychotherapy, behaviour modification or hospitalization.behaviour modification or hospitalization.

Types of PsychosesTypes of Psychoses

Organic PsychosisOrganic Psychosis

Manic DepressionManic Depression

Disassociative Identity DisorderDisassociative Identity Disorder

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

PsychopathPsychopath

Organic PsychosisOrganic Psychosis

result of damage to the brain tissue caused by result of damage to the brain tissue caused by injury, untreated syphilis (venereal disease), or injury, untreated syphilis (venereal disease), or long-term heavy use of drugs or alcohol.long-term heavy use of drugs or alcohol.

Manic DepressionManic Depression

suffers from extreme mood changessuffers from extreme mood changes

the the manic stagemanic stage is marked by confused and is marked by confused and aggressive behaviour. The mood may appear to aggressive behaviour. The mood may appear to be one of joy, but is really exaggerated gaiety. A be one of joy, but is really exaggerated gaiety. A person in the manic stage may seem to have person in the manic stage may seem to have unlimited energy or difficulty sleeping.unlimited energy or difficulty sleeping.

- the - the depressed statedepressed state is one of extreme fatigue, is one of extreme fatigue, sadness and futility. In this state a person may sadness and futility. In this state a person may become extremely withdrawn and even consider become extremely withdrawn and even consider suicide.suicide.

Disassociative Identity Disorder Disassociative Identity Disorder (formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder)(formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder)

Involves a disturbance in both the memory and identity of an individual Involves a disturbance in both the memory and identity of an individual DID is the presence of two or more distinct personalities within one DID is the presence of two or more distinct personalities within one body. (Average of 8-13 personalities)body. (Average of 8-13 personalities)Caused by extreme sustained physical, sexual, emotional or Caused by extreme sustained physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse (usually a combination of all four) over a psychological abuse (usually a combination of all four) over a prolonged period of time. prolonged period of time. Usually beginning before the age of five and often occurring in infancy.Usually beginning before the age of five and often occurring in infancy.Most people with DID start to show signs in their 20’s and 30’s. Most people with DID start to show signs in their 20’s and 30’s. 9 times more women than men receive therapy for DID 9 times more women than men receive therapy for DID 97% of the individuals with DID have been physically and/or sexually 97% of the individuals with DID have been physically and/or sexually abused .abused .People with DID may experience any of the following: depression, People with DID may experience any of the following: depression, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, panic attacks and mood swings, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, panic attacks and phobias alcohol and drug abuse, compulsions and rituals, psychotic-phobias alcohol and drug abuse, compulsions and rituals, psychotic-like symptoms (including auditory and visual hallucinations), and eating like symptoms (including auditory and visual hallucinations), and eating disorders. disorders.

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

there are several forms of schizophrenia. Some there are several forms of schizophrenia. Some simply withdraw into themselves. losing interest simply withdraw into themselves. losing interest in the world and become completely apathetic.in the world and become completely apathetic.some have hallucinations and delusions; one some have hallucinations and delusions; one patient was convinced that his neighbour was patient was convinced that his neighbour was shooting harmful rays at him through the walls of shooting harmful rays at him through the walls of his house.his house.research has increasingly suggested a genetic research has increasingly suggested a genetic cause for schizophrenia, but some psychologists cause for schizophrenia, but some psychologists believe it may be attributed to early environment believe it may be attributed to early environment or chemical imbalances.or chemical imbalances.

PsychopathPsychopath

the psychopath has no conscience or superego.the psychopath has no conscience or superego.this type of person feels no remorse or guilt after doing this type of person feels no remorse or guilt after doing something immoral or criminal.something immoral or criminal.they behave antisocially and irresponsibly.they behave antisocially and irresponsibly.they find it difficult to form meaningful or lasting they find it difficult to form meaningful or lasting relationshipsrelationshipsthey have little or no insight into their own behaviourthey have little or no insight into their own behavioursome psychologists believe this disorder is the result of a some psychologists believe this disorder is the result of a childhood lacking love and acceptance because the child childhood lacking love and acceptance because the child learns that there is nothing to lose by behaving learns that there is nothing to lose by behaving antisocially; others believe it is the result of giving in to antisocially; others believe it is the result of giving in to the child’s every whim.the child’s every whim.