Understanding Psychological Disorders

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of a psychological disorder or problematic abnormal behavior?

A psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected

According to the passage, what does psychological dysfunction refer to?

Breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning

What is the implication of experiencing severe fear on every date, as mentioned in the passage?

Psychological dysfunction

What does the passage suggest about the three criteria defining a psychological disorder?

They were not easily arrived at and no single criterion fully defines a psychological disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a psychological disorder according to the passage?

Psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning Signup and view all the answers

Why is it mentioned that no one criterion has yet been developed that fully defines a psychological disorder?

To emphasize the difficulty in understanding psychological disorders Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what is one reason that just having a dysfunction is not enough to meet the criteria for a psychological disorder?

Suffering and distress are natural part of life and do not in themselves constitute a psychological disorder. Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage suggest about defining psychological disorder by distress alone?

It is often quite normal to be distressed, so distress alone does not define problematic abnormal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it mentioned that suffering and distress are natural parts of life?

To highlight the importance of distinguishing between normal and abnormal dysfunction. Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what contributes to a good definition of a psychological disorder?

Both suffering and distress, as well as impairment. Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage suggest about the criteria for defining a psychological disorder?

No single criterion fully defines a psychological disorder. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it mentioned that knowing where to draw the line between normal and abnormal dysfunction is often difficult?

To highlight the complex nature of psychological disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the passage make about the concept of impairment?

'Shy' or 'lazy' individuals are not considered abnormal despite impairment. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason given in the passage for distress alone not being enough to define problematic abnormal behavior?

'The human condition is such that suffering and distress are very much part of life.' Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage suggest about the concept of a continuum or dimension in relation to psychological disorders?

'Some of these problems are often considered to be on a continuum or a dimension rather than to be categories that are either present or absent.' Signup and view all the answers