Abnormal Psychology PDF

Abnormal Psychology Instructor: Ms. Danielle Fuertes Abnormal Psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders. The topics and problems within the field of abnormal psychology surround us every day. Abnormality It may come as a surprise to you that...

Abnormal Psychology Instructor: Ms. Danielle Fuertes Abnormal Psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders. The topics and problems within the field of abnormal psychology surround us every day. Abnormality It may come as a surprise to you that there is still no universal agreement about what is meant by abnormality or disorder. This is not to say we do not have definitions; we do. Abnormal behavior: It is a psychological dysfunction within an individual that is associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected However, a truly satisfactory definition will probably always remain elusive (Lilienfeld et al., 2013; Stein et al., 2010). Abnormality Psychological Dysfunction - refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. Indicators of Abnormality A major problem is that there is no one behavior that makes someone abnormal. However, there are some clear elements or indicators of abnormality (Lilienfeld et al., 2013; Stein et al., 2010). No single indicator is sufficient in and of itself to define or determine abnormality. 1. Subjective distress If people suffer or experience psychological pain, we are inclined to consider this as indicative of abnormality. Although subjective distress is an element of abnormality in many cases, it is neither a sufficient condition nor even a necessary condition, for us to consider something as abnormal. Indicators of Abnormality 2. Maladaptiveness Maladaptive behavior is often an indicator of abnormality. Maladaptive behavior interferes with our well-being and with our ability to enjoy our work and our relationships. 3. Statistical Deviancy The word abnormal literally means “away from the normal.” But simply considering statistically rare behavior to be abnormal does not provide us with a solution to our problem of defining abnormality. Ex. Intellectual Disability is statistically rare and represents a deviation from normal. However, there are somethings that are undesirable but statistically common. 4. Violation of the standards of society All cultures have rules Some of these are formalized as laws. Others form the norms and moral standards that we are taught to follow. When someone fails to follow rules, we may consider their behavior abnormal. Indicators of Abnormality 5. Social discomfort Not all rules are explicit. And not all rules bother us when they are violated. Nonetheless, when someone violates an implicit or unwritten social rule, those around him or her may experience a sense of discomfort or unease. 6. Irrationality and unpredictability We expect people to behave in certain ways. However, a little unusual behavior sometimes we consider it as abnormal behavior. 7. Dangerousness When you think that someone might be a danger you or you will be a danger to someone, might possibly be considered as psychologically abnormal BUT we cannot assume all person with mental health problems are dangerous. Abnormality Abnormal behavior always involve social judgments and are based on the values and expectations of society at large. This means that culture plays a role in determining what is and is not abnormal. The DSM-5 and the Definition of Mental Disorder In the United States, the accepted standard for defining various types of mental disorders is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although the DSM is widely used, it is not the only psychiatric classification system. The International Classification of Diseases (called ICD-10 because it is now in its 10th revision) is produced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The DSM-5 and the Definition of Mental Disorder In the United States, the accepted standard for defining various types of mental disorders is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although the DSM is widely used, it is not the only psychiatric classification system. The International Classification of Diseases (called ICD-10 because it is now in its 10th revision) is produced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The DSM-5 and the Definition of Mental Disorder Within DSM-5, a mental disorder is defined as a syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive functioning. These disturbances are thought to reflect a dysfunction in biological, psychological, or developmental processes that are necessary for mental functioning.