Perspectives on Psychological Disorders

 

1. Supernatural Perspectives

Historically, people often believed that mental illness was caused by supernatural forces that were not scientifically understood.

Possible explanations included:

• Demonic possession

• Black magic

• Spiritual curses

• Other supernatural or religious explanations

People experiencing unusual behavior or psychological symptoms were often viewed as possessed or spiritually affected rather than mentally ill.

Historical Examples

• Dancing mania: Episodes in which groups of people reportedly danced uncontrollably for extended periods.

• European convent frenzies: Historical reports of unusual behaviors occurring among groups of nuns in convents.

These examples show how psychological and behavioral symptoms were sometimes interpreted through supernatural beliefs rather than medical or psychological explanations.

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2. Biological Perspectives

The biological perspective explains psychological disorders in terms of biological processes within the body and brain.

Possible biological factors include:

• Genetics: A person's genes can increase their vulnerability to certain psychological disorders.

• Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers in the brain may play a role in some disorders.

• Brain structure: Differences or abnormalities in brain structures may contribute to psychological disorders.

• Brain function: Changes in how different areas of the brain function may also be involved.

Genetics and Psychological Disorders

Genetics can have a significant influence on the likelihood of developing some disorders.

For example, schizophrenia has a much higher concordance rate among identical twins than among less closely related individuals. Estimates often place the risk for an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia at around 48%.

However, genetics do not mean that a person is guaranteed to develop a disorder. Other biological, psychological, and environmental factors can also influence whether a disorder develops.

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3. The Diathesis-Stress Model

The diathesis-stress model combines biological and psychosocial explanations for psychological disorders.

Diathesis

A diathesis is an underlying vulnerability or predisposition to developing a psychological disorder.

This vulnerability may come from factors such as:

• Genetics

• Biology

• Personality

• Early experiences

Stress

Stress refers to an environmental, psychological, or life event that can contribute to triggering a disorder.

Examples might include:

• Trauma

• Major life changes

• Abuse

• Loss

• Chronic stress

How the Model Works

The basic idea is:

Vulnerability (diathesis) + Stress → Possible development of a psychological disorder

A person may have a biological or psychological vulnerability but never develop the disorder unless significant stress or other contributing factors occur.

Key Point

The diathesis-stress model shows that psychological disorders are often not caused by one single factor. Instead, biological vulnerability and environmental or psychological experiences can interact.

Quick Revision

Perspective	Main Explanation
Supernatural	Mental illness was historically attributed to possession, curses, magic, or other supernatural forces.
Biological	Disorders may be influenced by genetics, neurotransmitters, and brain structure or function.
Diathesis-Stress	A person's underlying vulnerability may interact with stressful experiences to contribute to the development of a disorder.