imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn....
TRANSCRIPT
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.
Mood DisordersMood DisordersChapter 14, Lecture 5Chapter 14, Lecture 5
“If someone offered you a pill that would makeyou permanently happy, you would be welladvised to run fast and run far. Emotion is acompass that tells us what to do, and a compassthat is perpetually stuck on NORTH is worthless.”
- Daniel Gilbert
Mood Disorders
Emotional extremes of mood disorders come in two principal forms.
1. Major depressive disorder
2. Bipolar disorder(a less extreme type of depressive state is
known as dysthymic disorder)
Major Depressive Disorder
Depression is the “common cold” of psychological disorders. In a year, 5.8%
of men and 9.5% of women report depression worldwide (WHO, 2002).
“Depression has been called the “commoncold” of psychological disorders – anexpression that effectively describes itspervasiveness but not its seriousness.”
- David Myers
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder occurs when signs of depression last two weeks or more and are
not caused by drugs or medical conditions.
1. Lethargy and fatigue2. Feelings of worthlessness3. Loss of interest in family &
friends4. Loss of interest in activities
Signs include:
Bipolar Disorder
Formerly called manic-depressive disorder. An alternation between depression and
mania signals bipolar disorder.
Multiple ideas
Hyperactive
Desire for action
Euphoria
Elation
Manic Symptoms
Slowness of thought
Tired
Inability to make decisions
Withdrawn
Gloomy
Depressive Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder
Many great writers, poets, and composers suffered from bipolar disorder.
During their manic phase creativity surged, but not during their depressed
phase.
Whitman Woolf Clemens Hemingway
Explaining Mood Disorders
Since depression is so prevalent worldwide, investigators want to develop a theory of depression that will suggest
ways to treat it. Lewinsohn et al., (1985, 1998) note that a theory of depression should explain the
following:1. Behavioral and cognitive
changes2. Common causes of depression
Theory of Depression
3. Gender differences
Theory of Depression
4. Depressive episodes self-terminate.5. Stressful events often precede
depression.6. Depression is increasing, especially in
the teens.
Post-partum depression
Desiree N
avarro/ Getty Im
ages
Suicide
The most severe form of behavioral response to depression is suicide. Each
year some 1 million people commit suicide worldwide.
Biological Perspective
Genetic Influences: Mood disorders run in families. The rate of depression is
higher in identical (50%) than fraternal twins (20%).
Linkage analysis and association studies
link possible genes and dispositions for
depression.
Jerry Irwin P
hotography
The Depressed Brain
PET scans show that brain energy consumption rises and falls with manic and
depressive episodes.
Courtesy of L
ewis B
axter anM
ichael E. P
helps, UC
LA
School of M
edicine
Depression is associated with lowered levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.
Social-Cognitive PerspectiveThe social-cognitive perspective suggests that depression arises partly from self-
defeating beliefs and negative explanatory styles.
Negative Thoughts and Moods
Explanatory style plays a major role in becoming depressed.
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:
1. Does the cause you describe reflect more about you or something more about other people or circumstances?
Internal or External?Internal or External?
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:
2. Is the cause something that is permanent or temporary; that is, is the cause likely to be present in the future?
Stable or Unstable?Stable or Unstable?
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:
3. Is the cause something that influences other areas of your life or only your checking account balance?
Global or Specific?Global or Specific?
Examples of Causal Explanations for the Event“My Checking Account is Overdrawn”
ExplanationStyle Internal External
Stable
Global “I’m incapable of doinganything right.”
“All institutions chronicallymake mistakes.”
Specific“I always have troublefiguring my balance.”
“This bank has always usedantiquated techniques.”
Unstable
Global “I’ve had the flu for aweek, and I’ve leteverything slide.”
“Holiday shopping makeslarge demands.”
Specific“The one time I didn’tenter a check is the onetime there’s a problem.”
“I’m surprised – my bankhas never made an errorbefore.”
Depression Cycle1. Negative stressful events.2. Pessimistic explanatory style.3. Hopeless depressed state.4. These hamper the way the individual thinks and acts,
fueling personal rejection.
p.621
HomeworkRead p.621-628
“Seligman contends that depression is commonamong young Westerners because the rise ofindividualism and the decline of commitmentto religion and family have forced young peopleto take personal responsibility for failure orrejection.” - David Myers