Running head: MODELS OF ABNORMALITY
MODELS OF ABNORMALITY
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MODELS OF ABNORMALITY
Biological and Psychodynamic Models of Abnormality
Introduction
Psychologists have been coming up with concepts and assumptions to try and understand
people's abnormal behaviors. These assumptions and concepts help the psychologist explain the
bizarre behavior based on what they observe. These perspectives on abnormality are called
models of abnormality, which act as a guide for psychologist to follow in terms of what to
investigate, interpret the information based on observation of behavior, and explore the subject
(Durand & Barlow, 2017). Therefore they give psychologists a guideline to help treat abnormal
behavior in patients. Today psychologists have classified abnormality in to six major models
which include humanistic-existential, sociocultural, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and
biological models. However, each model has its negatives and positives and uses when
understanding and treating abnormal behavior. In this essay, I will discuss the biological and
psychodynamic models of abnormality
Biological Model of Abnormality
The biological model entails a medical perspective by suggesting that abnormal behavior
is caused by genetics, viral infections, or evolution (Comer, 2007). A person's gene influences an
individual's traits and characteristics, which is inherited from the parents. Inherited genes can
also involve inheriting skills which the person's parents possessed. Gene can also cause a person
to be prone to other diseases. Hence this model suggests that genes also contain abnormal
functioning behaviors passed to a child from a parent. The model's main argument is that mental
disorders can be attributed to the brain's physical structure and functioning. One disorder well
explained by the biological model is schizophrenia, where it is believed that it can be started as
MODELS OF ABNORMALITY
early as from the fetus stage. According to Mansfield, eugenics can develop abnormal behavior
in a child from as early as during fetus development. In this model, the therapist's role is to
pinpoint the physical source of dysfunction before choosing a suitable treatment method. The
main treatment options in this model include psychosurgery, brain stimulation, and drug therapy
Drug therapy is the most common approach for this model, which entails prescription
psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotic, antibipolar, and anti-anxiety medication.
Psychodynamic Model
The psychodynamic model was developed by Sigmund Freud, which explains that a
person's behavior is influenced by forces that are there unconsciously (Comer, 2007). According
to Freud, human functions are influenced by dynamic interacting forces, which we are unaware
of. Fred also attributes three central forces, namely instinctual need, rational thinking, and moral
standards, as the leading influencers of a person's personality.
The main form of treatment in this model is psychoanalysis, which entails discovering
what is hidden in a person's unconscious part of the brain. In this theory, the therapist's role is to
listen to the patient, drawing conclusions, and sharing the interpretations when they feel that the
patient is cooperative and ready to listen to them. Here the therapist guides the patient to uncover
inner conflicts or uncover trauma, leading to abnormal behavior. Freud proposed a