PYC3712
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due 2026
, Abnormal Behaviour and Mental Health (PYC3712)
Assignment 01 – Semester 01/2026
Question 1
Classify Simmony’s abnormal behaviour according to the DSM-5-TR classification system and
justify your answer.
Simmony’s presentation is most consistent with Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD)
according to the DSM-5-TR classification system. SPD falls under Cluster A personality
disorders, which are characterised by social detachment and restricted emotional expression
(DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022).
Alignment with DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria
1. Detachment from social relationships
Simmony lives in extreme isolation and actively withdraws from social contact. He moved away
from a comfortable home to live alone in a remote shack without neighbours. This reflects a
pervasive pattern of social detachment, which is a defining feature of SPD (APA, 2022). His lack
of friendships and minimal contact even with his parents reinforces this pattern.
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due 2026
, Abnormal Behaviour and Mental Health (PYC3712)
Assignment 01 – Semester 01/2026
Question 1
Classify Simmony’s abnormal behaviour according to the DSM-5-TR classification system and
justify your answer.
Simmony’s presentation is most consistent with Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD)
according to the DSM-5-TR classification system. SPD falls under Cluster A personality
disorders, which are characterised by social detachment and restricted emotional expression
(DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022).
Alignment with DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria
1. Detachment from social relationships
Simmony lives in extreme isolation and actively withdraws from social contact. He moved away
from a comfortable home to live alone in a remote shack without neighbours. This reflects a
pervasive pattern of social detachment, which is a defining feature of SPD (APA, 2022). His lack
of friendships and minimal contact even with his parents reinforces this pattern.
