CLPSY - Psychological Perspectives and Treatments of Disorders Lesson

Learning Targets: 

  • Describe major treatment orientations used in therapy and how those orientations influence therapeutic planning.
  • Summarize the effectiveness of specific treatments used to address specific problems. 
  • Discuss how cultural and ethnic context influence the choice and success of treatment (e.g., factors that lead to premature termination of treatment).
  • Describe prevention strategies that build resilience and promote competence. 

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

Psychological Therapies

Approaches to Investigating and Treating Disorders

Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Disorders: Study the chart to learn how biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors can come together to cause disorders.

Causes of PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS: BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES: EVOLUTION, INDIVIDUAL GENES, BRAIN STRUCTURE AND CHEMISTRY PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES: STRESS, TRAUMA, LEARNED HELPLESSNESS, MOOD-RELATED PERCEPTIONS & MEMORIES SOCIAL-CULTURAL INFLUENCES: ROLES, EXPECTATIONS, DEFINITIONS OF NORMALITY & DISORDER

Depending on how psychologists view the etiology of psychological disorders or diseases, they may prefer specific treatment options over others or use an interactive or eclectic treatment method. Specific treatment options follow the guidelines from psychological perspectives or theories. The eclectic approach is the most popular form of therapy and is a smorgasbord in which the psychologist uses a combination of techniques from different schools of psychology.

Cultural Influence on Psychological Treatment                          

The cultural and ethnic context has a significant impact on the choice and treatment of psychological disorders. It is important toCultural Influence.png recognize that different cultures have different beliefs and attitudes toward mental illness and treatment. These beliefs and attitudes may influence how individuals seek help, what type of treatment they prefer, and their willingness to adhere to treatment plans.

For example, in some cultures, mental illness may be stigmatized, which may discourage individuals from seeking help or disclosing their symptoms. Additionally, some cultures may have different beliefs about the cause of mental illness, which may influence their preference for traditional healing practices over Western treatments.

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