12.5 - Alternatives to the Medical Model
The behaviourist explanation of mental illness
The behaviourist perspective suggests that mental illness arises from learning processes. This approach focuses on how behaviours, including those linked to psychological disorders, are acquired and maintained through interactions with the environment.
Key mechanisms in behaviourist explanations
- Classical conditioning - Phobic responses can emerge when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a frightening event.
- Operant conditioning - Maladaptive behaviours can be strengthened through rewards or the removal of negative stimuli.
- Social learning theory - Dysfunctional responses can be learned by observing others.
The cognitive explanation of mental illness
The cognitive approach posits that mental illness stems from distorted or faulty thinking patterns.
Core concepts in cognitive explanations
- Beck's negative cognitive triad - This theory highlights how depression is linked to persistent negative thoughts about three key areas:
- The self (feeling worthless or inadequate).
- The world (perceiving life as overwhelmingly negative or hostile).
- The future (believing things will never improve).
- Ellis's theory of irrational beliefs - Emotional disturbances and mental illnesses are often caused by irrational thoughts.
The humanistic explanation of mental illness
The humanistic perspective focuses on personal growth and self-understanding.
Fundamental ideas in humanistic explanations
- Rogers' theory of incongruence - Psychological distress occurs when there is a mismatch between a person's self-concept and their actualizing tendency.
- Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Mental health issues can develop if basic needs are not fulfilled, impeding self-actualization.
The psychodynamic explanation of mental illness
Rooted in the ideas of Sigmund Freud, the psychodynamic approach views mental illness as a result of unconscious conflicts and imbalances.
Central themes in psychodynamic explanations
- Freud's hydraulic model - Unresolved conflicts or repressed emotions build up pressure in the unconscious mind, which can manifest as mental illness.
- Imbalances in id, ego, and superego - Mental disorders like schizophrenia may arise from a lack of balance between these three components of personality.
- Freud's theory of depression - Depression can result from internalised anger or unresolved grief over a loss.
The cognitive neuroscience explanation of mental illness
The cognitive neuroscience approach explores the biological underpinnings of mental illness by examining the relationship between brain function and cognitive processes.
Key aspects of cognitive neuroscience explanations
- Brain-imaging techniques - Tools such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are employed to study brain structure and activity.
- Neurological basis of mental illness - By investigating how cognitive functions relate to brain activity, researchers can better understand the origins of disorders.
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