the synapse, where it induces the release of biochemical substances called neurotransmitters. These molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft to transfer the nerve impulse to another neuron. Numerous different transmitters have been identified.
Of course, aberrant brain structure or biochemical processes could result in abnormal behavior. However, in addition to somatogenic influences, psychogenic factors may also underlie the mental disorders. Psychogenic perspectives relate mental diseases to different psychological malfunctions (Davison & Neale, 1994, pp. 5-26). In truth though, probably both somatogenic and psychogenic influences contribute to these illnesses.
Wakefield (1992) described mental disorders as involving some harmful dysfunction. Clearly, before "abnormal" functioning can be classified, normal functioning must be defined (Davison & Neale, 1994, pp. 5-26). Abnormal behavior has several components. General though, in addition to causing disability, abnormal behavior also tends to be infrequent, unexpected, and often results in personal distress.
More recently, various broad points of view have been employed to try and describe the mental problems. For example, the biological paradigm is closely related to somatogenic perspectives. Secondly, according to the medical paradigms, "abnormal behavior may be likened to a disease (Davison & Neale, 1994, pp. 28-57)." Moreover, the learning paradigm postulates that abnormal behavior has been learned in some way. Perhaps the most widespread paradigm, however, is the psychoanalytic or psychodynamic paradigm. Originally developed by Sigmund Freud, this perspective assumes that "psychopathology is caused by unconscious conflict (Davison & Neale, 1994, pp. 28-57)." Such points of view additionally have important implicatio
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