THEORIES OF MENTAL DISORDERS
1. Neurobiological Theory
 focuses on genetic factors, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and biological/circadian rhythms
 believes that mental illness is a brain disorder
 believes that all functions of the mind reflect functions of the brain
 KANDEL identifies five principles regarding the relationship of the mind and the brain:
a. All mental processes result from the operations of the brain.
b. Genes are important determinants of how neurons function.
c. Social and developmental factors modify the expression of genes.
d. Learning creates changes in neuronal connections.
e. Counseling and therapy can create long-term changes through learning.
 genomics, gender, neurotransmission, biological rhythms
2. Intrapersonal Theory
 focuses on the behaviours, feelings, thoughts, and experiences of each individual
 SIGMUND FREUD divided all aspects of consciousness into three categories:
a. conscious – thoughts, feelings, experiences that are easily remembered
b. preconscious – “subconscious”; thoughts, feelings that have been forgotten but can easily be
recalled
c. unconscious – thoughts, feelings and dreams that cannot be brought to conscious thought
 Freud theorized three components of personality:
a. id – biological and physical drives that a person is born with
b. ego – mediates the drives of the id with reality
c. superego – concerned with moral behaviour
 Freud defined anxiety as a feeling of tension, distress and discomfort produced by a threatened loss
of inner control  defense mechanisms (denying, misinterpreting, distorting reality) alleviate anxiety
 ERIK ERIKSON viewed personality as developing throughout the lifespan and was shaped by conflicts
between needs and culture Erikson’s eight developmental stages:
3. Social-Interpersonal Theory
 focuses on relationships and events in the social context
 HARRY STACK SULLIVAN believed that personality could not be observed apart from
interpersonal relationships
 He identified three principal components of the interpersonal sphere:
a. dynamism – long-standing pattern of behaviour
b. personification – image people have of themselves and others
c. cognitive processes – development of the thinking process
 ABRAHAM MASLOW viewed personality as self-actualizing; he identified basic physiological
needs and growth-related metaneeds
 HILDEGARD PEPLAU saw nursing as an interpersonal process with therapeutic nurse-client
relationship at its core
 Gender-Bias theory examines how gender roles limit the psychological development of people
and inhibit the development of mutually satisfying noncoercive intimacy
 Crisis theory provides another perspective for understanding people’s responses to certain life
events. (Crisis  turning point in one’s life)
4. Behavioural Theory
 focuses on a person’s actions, not on thoughts and feelings
 all behaviour is learned
 BF SKINNER emphasized the functional analysis of behaviour; reinforcements and punishments
o Reinforcements/rewards – consequences that lead to an increase in a behaviour
o Punishments – consequences that lead to a decrease in the behavior
5. Cognitive Theory
 explains how we interpret our daily lives, adapt and make changes
 JEAN PIAGET believed that intelligence grows by exposing children to the world around them;
he identified four stages of cognitive development:
a. Sensorimotor
b. Preoperational
c. Concrete operational
d. Formal operational
 AARON BECK focuses on how people view themselves and the world; he identified cognitive
schemas (personal controlling beliefs that influence the way people process data)