5.3.B—Explain how psychological perspectives define psychological disorders

Explain how psychological perspectives define psychological disorders.

• Most psychologists employ an eclectic approach (using more than one psychological perspective) when diagnosing and treating clients.
• The behavioral perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive learned associations between or among responses to stimuli.
• The psychodynamic perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on unconscious thoughts and experiences, often developed during childhood.
• The humanistic perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on a lack of social support and being unable to fulfill one’s potential.
• The cognitive perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions.
• The evolutionary perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on behaviors and mental processes that reduce the likelihood of survival.
• The sociocultural perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics.
• The biological perspective proposes that the causes of mental disorders focus on physiological or genetic issues.