Pathology and It’s Origins – Multifaceted?

Finding the root cause of a pathology can be difficult and the emphasis is largely determined by the theorectical approach of the counselor. Currently, most counselors tend to believe that psychopatholgies and/or mental illnesses are multifaceted (Davidson, Neale & Kring, 2004), caused by both biological and external factors, but this was not always the case. Some of the earliest accounts of abnormal behavior or pathology can be found in written in the teaching of the bible (Mark 5:8-13). It is here that we are first introduced to the belief that pathology is caused by possession, as Christ cures a man by casting out the devil spirits that haunt him. Later, during the Greek and Roman civilizations, a more biological view to pathology begins to emerge. It is during this time that the Greek philospher, Hippocrates purposes that mental illness is caused by an imbalance of fluids, or humours, in the body, and therefore suggests that the cure to abnormal behavior is a simiply a change in diet (Hansell & Damour, 2005). Eventually, theorists began to debate the influences of nurture and nature as it applies to the development of disorders. Freud’s psychoanalytical approach purposes that disorders were caused by imbalances of the Id, Ego, and Superego, or in a lack of fulfillment of one’s sexual drive, thus viewing individuals as innately dysfunctional (Ziegler, 2002). The phenomenological approach believes that all humans are born basically good and have the potential to become full-functioning, goal-oriented (Burger, 1997), experts of their life and experiences, and capable of change. However, while the phenomenological approach emphasizes the importance of one’s “self,” it also considers the influence of external influences, or nurture, as playing a role in one’s personality formation (Ziegler, 2002). Traits theorists purport that nature and nurture play a significant role in one’s mental health. In fact, Eysenck “was one of the first personality psychologists to explore in detail the biological basis of personality traits,” (Pervin, Cervone & Oliver, 2005, p. 243) finding that individual differences were caused by both hereditary and environmental factors. And in a final contrast, Social-Cognitivists such as Ellis and Beck, find that environmental influences and past experience play a significant role in the development of one’s self-concept and world schemas. They emphasize learned behaviors and modeling as a means for developing and altering one’s perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors, maladaptive or otherwise.

Unfortunately, this writer can see merit in almost all of these theories. She views most pathologies as being complex, created by a combination of biological and environmental factors. She purports that presenting symptoms are often a result of other psychosocial issues and are thus intertwined with psychological domains such as thinking, feeling, and acting and the social domains of work, friendship, and intimate relationships. It has been shown that biology has a significant role “in the development of many mental disorders, including Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, and most Mood Disorders” (Seligman, 2005, p. 52). Pervin, Cervone and Oliver (2005) also summarize psychopathology “as arising from distorted, incorrect, maladaptive cognitions concerning the self, others, and events in the world. Different forms of pathology are viewed as resulting from different cognitions or ways of processing information” (p. 322). Further, it is the contention of social-cognitivists that, people do what they learn, and act in ways that work. Pathologies can also arise as result of inner cognitive thoughts. Ewen (2003), quotes Bandura (1986), “many human dysfunctions and ensuing torments stem from problems of thought. This is because, in their thoughts, people often dwell on painful pasts and on perturbing futures of their own invention…. They drive themselves to despondency by harsh self-evaluation… And they often act on misconceptions that get them into trouble” (p. 376). And a final contention, according to social-cognitive theory is that “maladaptive behavior results from dysfunctional learning” (Pervin, Cervone & Oliver, 2005, p. 328). It is this learner’s belief that all the above influences act together is the formation of pathology, and while a single influence, even in the case of biological factors, could cause one to develop a mental illness, it is quite unlikely. Instead, she contends that while a predisposition for mental illness may exist, onset may often be exacerbated by one or more maladaptive social, cultural, or trauma related experiences; areas that must be explored throughout treatment.

Stephanie Lowrance-Henckel

References

Burger, J.M. (1997). Personality. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Davidson, G.C., Neale, J.M., & Kring, A.M. (2004). Abnormal Psychology (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Ewen, R.B. (2003). An Introduction to Theories of Personality (6th ed.). Mahwah, New Jersey; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Hansell, J. & Damour, L. (2005). Abnormal Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Pervin, L., Cervone, D., & Oliver, J. (2005). Theories of Personality (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Seligman, L. (2005). Principals of psychopathology: Diagnosis and treatment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ziegler, D.J. (2000). Basis assumptions concerning human nature underlying rational emotive behavior therapy (Rebt) personality theory. Journal of Rational – Emotive & Cognitive – Behavior Therapy, 18(2), 67-85.