Psychology 2310A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Somatic Symptom Disorder, Demonic Possession, Conversion Disorder

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2310A/B
• Professor: Jack Martin

Document Summary

Dissociative and somatoform disorders are classified separately in the dsm4. Used to be lumped together with anxiety disorders under category of neuroses but anxiety was not an observed characteristic (shift in emphasis from etiology to observable beh in dsm) This theory was replaced by supernatural explanations of demonic possession (treatment: exorcism) Pierre janet was first to systematically study concept of dissociation which he viewed as a pathological breakdown in the normal integration of mental processes, occurring as a result of exposure to traumatic experiences. 2: freud believed this was fabricated to protect individuals from unacceptable sexual impulses. Freud viewed conversion symptoms as expressions of unconscious psychological conflicts: the avoidance of conflict = primary gain (primary reinforcement maintaining somatoform symptoms, hysterical symptoms helped patients avoid responsibility and gain attn. + sympathy = secondary gains (reinforcement as well) Today, researchers believe dissociative disorders were over-diagnosed in the past.