Abnormal Psychology Lesson 1 PDF

**[Lesson 01]** **[Introduction to Abnormal Psychology]** **[Topic: 1-3]** **[Topic 01: Abnormal Psychology: An Introduction]** Abnormal psychology can be defined in a number of ways. Many definitions of Abnormal Psychology have been proposed, but yet none has won total acceptance. It can be def...

**[Lesson 01]** **[Introduction to Abnormal Psychology]** **[Topic: 1-3]** **[Topic 01: Abnormal Psychology: An Introduction]** Abnormal psychology can be defined in a number of ways. Many definitions of Abnormal Psychology have been proposed, but yet none has won total acceptance. It can be defined as per the following: - Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of abnormal behavior. - An effort to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of human functioning. **"The Four Ds":** Most of the definitions of abnormal psychology, although they are different, overlap in general and have certain features common in nature. Among those are the following four Ds. **Deviance** Deviance is to deviate, which is different, extreme, unusual, and perhaps even bizarre. This is a deviation from societal rules which are expected from members of society. Deviance from behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that differ markedly from a society\'s ideas about proper functioning and deviation from social norms i.e. stated and unstated rules for proper conduct. Judgments of abnormality vary from society to society as norms are culture-specific. One thing which is considered right in one society may be considered wrong in another. They also depend on specific circumstances as norms are different in each society. When a behavior deviates from the normal, it is labeled as abnormal. **Distress** Distress is a hallmark of psychological disorders. It is something that is unpleasant and upsetting to an individual. If a person is upset and agitated and is experiencing some distress, it may indicate the abnormality of certain behavior. Behavior, ideas, or emotions usually have to cause distress before they can be labeled abnormal. But it may not always be due to a psychological problem as different other reasons may also cause distress for example toothache, pains, etc. Such surgical distresses will not be considered an abnormality. **Dysfunction** Another salient feature of abnormality is dysfunction. Abnormal behavior tends to be **dysfunctional** -- it interferes with daily functioning. If a certain problem is interfering with the person's ability to conduct daily activities constructively, it shows that things with that person are not fine. For example, as a student, you cannot successfully carry out your educational tasks, and if you are employed somewhere, you cannot successfully do your official tasks. If someone has phobia, you will tend to avoid a certain situation, for example, a receptionist having social phobia may not be able to carry out his/her task of attending to people successfully. Dysfunction alone does not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality as it could be for many other reasons. So an overall view of behavior must be taken to label it as abnormal. **Danger** Not necessarily in every behavior, but in many abnormal behaviors, the person tends to harm himself or the society. Abnormal behavior may become dangerous to oneself or others. Behavior may be consistently careless, hostile or confused. For example, abnormal behavior, a depressed individual may have suicidal ideation. Same as a patient may be homicidal i.e. causing danger for other people for example in schizophrenia and borderline personality. **DSM-5 Definition of Abnormal behavior:** DSM stands for Diagnostic and statistical manual for psychological disorders.  It defines abnormal behavior as: "It is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual\'s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in psychological, biological or developmental processes underlying mental functioning." Mental disorders are usually associated with significant disturbance in social, occupational, or other important activities. **[Topic 02: Different Criteria of Abnormality]** There are different criteria of abnormality that you may find overlapping with the definition of abnormal behavior. The following are four major criteria to label a behavior abnormal **Statistical Criteria** Under this definition of abnormality, a person\'s trait, thinking or behavior is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual. Generally, it is considered that majority is right. But if there is a marked difference in behavior, thought and emotions from a society's idea about proper functioning, the person may be labeled as odd; as you are different from most of the people. This criterion has been criticized as it is not always necessary that all people who are on extreme sides of frequency curve can be labeled as abnormal.   **Personal Distress** That is, a person's behavior may be classified as disordered if it causes him or her great distress. Behaviors, ideas, or emotions have to cause distress to be labeled as abnormal. Let's say, if you are afraid of something and it is not causing pathological stress, it will not be considered as abnormal. But there are certain distresses which are not because of psychological disorders and hence, the behavior will not be labeled as abnormal. **Dysfunction** Dysfunction occurs when an internal mechanism is unable to perform its natural functions. Abnormal behavior tends to interfere with the daily functioning, for example people cannot successfully carry out their tasks. **Violation of Social Norms** There are some standards set by a certain society and culture and if a person does not behave in accordance with those standards, his/her behavior is considered odd. There are different parameters. Social norms judge behaviors on such scales as: - Good-bad - Right-Wrong - Justified-Unjustified - Acceptable- unacceptable Behaviors that violate social norms are considered abnormal or disordered. [**Topic 03**: **Causes of Abnormality**] There are different reasons of abnormal behavior. It includes two major clusters. **Biological Causes/Factors:** - **Genetic Factors include** problems are inherited from parents and genes play a significant role in such problems. Genetic and chromosomal issues are generally pronounced in closed cousin marriages because recessive genes get a chance to manifest themselves. Researchers have identified some genes related to certain disorders for example, genes have found to be contributors in intellectual disability, previously known as mental retardation. Genetic factors have also been found implicated in Schizophrenia and depression - **Biochemical Imbalances are** imbalances, within the body or within the brain, also cause abnormality. Dues to imbalances of hormones of endocrine glands, an individual may experience some abnormality. - **Changes to the Nervous System** play a major role in psychological functioning. As Central Nervous system works as a central processing unit for the human body, if it experiences any problem, it can have adverse effects on human functioning.  - There can be structural changes as well as functional changes in the nervous system. People experience certain psychological disorders if they experience any such changes. **Psychological Causes/Factors:** - **Defense Mechanisms, Intrapsychic Conflicts, Biological Instincts **to Freud, some intrapsychic conflict arises in the biological instincts because many needs/wish remains unfulfilled due to societal disapproval, which creates psychological disturbances. - **Learned Response** - **Negative Irrational Cognitions** **Sociocultural Factors:**