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Questions and Answers
What is abnormal psychology?
What is abnormal psychology?
The branch of science of psychology that deals with the nature, description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior patterns.
Which of the following is a characteristic of mental disorders?
Which of the following is a characteristic of mental disorders?
Normal behavior is defined as behavior that deviates from societal norms.
Normal behavior is defined as behavior that deviates from societal norms.
False
What are the 4 D's of psychological disorders?
What are the 4 D's of psychological disorders?
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Psychopathology is the scientific study of ______.
Psychopathology is the scientific study of ______.
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What determines if a behavioral change is considered abnormal?
What determines if a behavioral change is considered abnormal?
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Study Notes
Abnormal Psychology Defined
- Abnormal psychology explores the characteristics, causes, and treatments of unusual behavior, emotions, and thought patterns.
- It focuses on patterns that may or may not indicate an underlying condition.
- It's a branch of psychology that distinguishes between regular fluctuations in mood, thought, and behavior and those that are persistent and pervasive.
Defining Abnormal Behavior
- Abnormal behavior can be considered pathological when it deviates from the expected behavior according to societal or cultural standards.
- It's important to consider the context and duration of the behavior when determining if it's abnormal.
Criteria for Abnormal Behavior
- Psychological Dysfunction: Refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning.
- Distress or Impairment: The behavior causes significant distress or impairment in an individual's life.
- Atypical or Not Culturally Expected: The behavior deviates from the average or the norm of the culture. It's important to consider cultural differences in defining what is considered abnormal.
- Dangerousness: The behavior poses potential harm to the individual or others.
- Duration: The behavior is sustained, persistent, and pervasive across contexts and situations. Experts use a duration cut-off to define abnormality.
Related Terms
- Psychopathology: The scientific study of mental disorders.
- Clinical Psychology: An applied branch of psychology that focuses on understanding, assessing, and treating mental conditions in a clinical setting.
- Normal Behavior: A behavior that aligns with societal expectations and cultural norms.
- Normality: Can be defined as social conformity, personal comfort, or a process of continual adaptation.
Clinical Assessment
- A clinical assessment is a systematic process designed to evaluate an individual's psychological, emotional, and behavioral well-being.
- It involves gathering information through interviews, psychological tests, and observations to understand the individual's concerns and their impact on their life.
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Description
This quiz delves into the fundamentals of abnormal psychology, examining the features, causes, and treatment methods for atypical behaviors and thought processes. It emphasizes the importance of context and duration in identifying abnormal behavior as well as the criteria for determining psychological dysfunction and distress.
