Models of abnormality
Okay kiddo, let's talk about how we understand people who might act or feel differently than everyone else. It's called "abnormality."
There are different ways that people try to explain why someone might have a mental or emotional problem. We can think of these ways as "models."
One way to explain abnormality is called the "medical model." Just like a doctor diagnoses and treats a physical illness like the flu, this model says that mental illnesses are like a sickness that need to be diagnosed and treated too. This model also believes that abnormal behavior comes from something going wrong in the body or the brain, like a chemical imbalance or a genetic disorder.
Another way to explain abnormality is the "psychological model." This focuses on the mind and behavior. It says that, like anything else we do, our behavior and emotions are shaped by our experiences and how we think about things. So, if someone has had a really tough time, that could explain why they might feel depressed or anxious. This model also looks at things like personality and unconscious thoughts to understand abnormal behavior.
Then there's the "sociocultural model." This one looks at how the society and culture around someone might be causing them to act abnormally. For example, if someone is living in poverty or in a very violent environment, that could make them more likely to have mental health issues.
Finally, some people use the "biopsychosocial model." This one combines all the different models we talked about. It says that abnormal behavior is usually caused by a combination of things, like physical issues, psychological factors, and cultural or social factors.
So, there are different ways that people try to explain why someone might have a mental or emotional problem. They're called "models," and they can help us understand how to help people who might be struggling.
There are different ways that people try to explain why someone might have a mental or emotional problem. We can think of these ways as "models."
One way to explain abnormality is called the "medical model." Just like a doctor diagnoses and treats a physical illness like the flu, this model says that mental illnesses are like a sickness that need to be diagnosed and treated too. This model also believes that abnormal behavior comes from something going wrong in the body or the brain, like a chemical imbalance or a genetic disorder.
Another way to explain abnormality is the "psychological model." This focuses on the mind and behavior. It says that, like anything else we do, our behavior and emotions are shaped by our experiences and how we think about things. So, if someone has had a really tough time, that could explain why they might feel depressed or anxious. This model also looks at things like personality and unconscious thoughts to understand abnormal behavior.
Then there's the "sociocultural model." This one looks at how the society and culture around someone might be causing them to act abnormally. For example, if someone is living in poverty or in a very violent environment, that could make them more likely to have mental health issues.
Finally, some people use the "biopsychosocial model." This one combines all the different models we talked about. It says that abnormal behavior is usually caused by a combination of things, like physical issues, psychological factors, and cultural or social factors.
So, there are different ways that people try to explain why someone might have a mental or emotional problem. They're called "models," and they can help us understand how to help people who might be struggling.