PSYC 2030U Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Neuropathology, Emotional Contagion, Twin Study
Document Summary
Lecture 7 mood disorders & suicide extra notes. Depression and other mood disorders involve interplay of multiple factors. Consistent with the diathesis stress model depression may reflect an interaction of biological factors, such as genetic factors, neurotransmitter irregularities, or brain abnormalities. These biochemical and structural abnormalities make it more difficult for a person to cope effectively and bounce back from stressful life events. And lingering biochemical changes and feelings of depression may exacerbate feelings of helplessness, which belong to the psychological factors. The other factors include social and environmental stressors, such as divorce or loss of a job. These may have a depressing effect by reducing neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Sociocultural factors may be major sources of stress that affect the development of mood disorders, factors including poverty, overcrowding, exposure to racism, sexism, violence in the community, family disintegration, etc. Behavioural treatment approaches presume that depressive behaviours are learned and can be unlearned.
