Current Paradigms in Psychopathology and Therapy

1. Current Paradigms in Psychopathology and Therapy Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.

2. Current Paradigms • An overview: • Biological • Psychoanalytic • Humanistic & existential • Learning • Cognitive

3. Biological • Medical or disease model • Sprang from germ theory • Contemporary approaches • Behavioral genetics • Genotypes • Phenotypes • Diathesis • Twin studies (MZ v. DZ)

4. Biological • Biochemistry of CNS • Neurons • Neurotransmitters • Synapse • Evaluation • Physiology is tempting • Problems in reductionism

5. Psychoanalysis • Classical theory • Psyche • Id • Ego • Superego • Motivated by psychic energy • Libido • Unconscious

6. Psychoanalytic • Stages of psychosexual development • Oral (-18 months) • Anal (18- 36 months) • Phallic (age 3 - 5) • Latency (~6 – 12) • Genital (13 +) • Fixation can occur, and regression under stress

7. Psychoanalytic • Complexes • Oedipus • Electra • Some therapeutic aspects • Transference • Countertransference • Lengthy treatment

8. Psychoanalytic • Evaluation • Critical views, but fundamental aspects of psychoanalysis may be useful

9. Humanistic and Existential • Roger’s client-centered view • Positive view of human kind • Unconditional positive regard • Empathy • Genuineness • Gestalt therapy • Difficult to evaluate

10. Learning Theories • Behaviorism • Classical conditioning – Pavlov • Operant conditioning – Watson • Later developments • Thorndike • Mediational models • Behavior therapy • Strong empirical basis

11. Learning Theories • Behaviorism • Skinner’s Theoretical Contributions

12. Cognitive Theories • Basis • Refers to schema (cognitive set) • Developed by Beck, Ellis • Strong empirical basis for treatment

13. Attempts at Integration • Diathesis-stress model • Eclecticism