Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Abnormal Psychology
▪ Psychopathology (literally: “pathology of the mind”) is the study of abnormal behavior.
▪ It is the application of science in the study of mental disorders.
▪ It is the study of individuals with mental, emotional, and physical pain.
Defining Normality
▪ Normal Behavior – definitions of what is considered normal behavior describe it as behavior that
is socially acceptable to the standards of the society. In short, if behavior is socially acceptable or
conforming to the standards of society, then that behavior is normal.
Criteria for Normality
1. Normality is average – what is accepted by the majority is considered normal. A problem in
this definition is that not everything that is accepted by the majority can be considered
normal.
2. Normality is social conformity – Anyone who conforms to the standards of the society is
considered normal. Two main problems in this definition put consideration to the Problem of
Criminality and the Problem of Social Standards.
3. Normality is personal comfort – If a person feels/experiences pleasure or comfort, then the
behavior is considered normal. Likewise, if a person feels/experiences displeasure or
discomfort, then that is considered abnormal. Issues with this definition include the Problem
of Objective and Subjective Symptoms, the Problem of Individual Reactions to Discomfort,
and the Problem of Social Consequences.
Other definitions for normality:
1. Normality is Ideal
2. Normality is a process
Criteria for Stating what is Abnormal Behavior
1. Cultural Relativism - the view that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a
behavior as abnormal. Behaviors can only be considered abnormal based on or relative to
cultural norms.
Although there are rejections to the cultural relativist tradition, it is important to note
that culture and gender play an influence on the way abnormal behavior is expressed and the
way they can be treated:
a. Culture and gender may affect how people express their symptoms.
b. Culture and gender may influence people’s willingness to admit certain behaviors.
c. Culture and gender can determine the types of treatments or interventions that are
deemed acceptable or helpful.
2. Unusualness – behaviors which are considered unusual or deviant are considered as
abnormal behaviors. This is tied to cultural relativism since the culture dictates what is usual
or unusual. We also consider the patterns of the behavior of the person, a sudden change in
behavior may indicate a deviance in the person’s usual behavior.
3. Distress – behaviors should be considered abnormal only if the individual suffers distress and
wishes to be rid of the behaviors.
4. Mental Illness – behaviors are not considered abnormal unless they are a part of a mental
illness.
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 1 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
,Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
FOUR D’S OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
1. Dysfunction – behavior causes impairment in social and occupational functioning. This means
that the behavior interferes with the person’s ability to form and maintain relationships or
hold a job.
2. Distress – Behaviors and feelings that cause distress to the individual or to others around him
or her are also likely to be considered abnormal.
3. Deviance – deviant and unusual behaviors lead to the judgment of abnormality.
4. Dangerousness – some behaviors and feelings are of potential harm to the individual, such as
suicidal gestures, or to others, such as excessive aggression. Such dangerous behaviors and
feelings are often seen as abnormal.
The accepted definition of abnormality/psychological disorder, used the DSM-5, describes
behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and
associated with present distress and impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering, death,
pain, or impairment. 1
MENTAL DISORDER
“A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s
cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological,
or developmental processes un-derlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated
with signif-icant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities. An
expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss, such as the death of a loved
one, is not a mental disorder. Socially deviant be-havior (e.g., political, religious, or sexual) and
conflicts that are primarily be-tween the individual and society are not mental disorders unless the
deviance or conflict results from a dysfunction in the individual, as described above.” (DSM-5)
Summary of the DSM-52 Definition of Mental Disorders
Defining Characteristics: Conditions Excluded from Consideration
A behavioral or psychological syndrome (groups This syndrome or pattern must not be merely:
of associated features) that is associated with: 1. An expectable and culturally sanctioned
1. Current distress (painful symptoms), or response to a particular event (such as the
2. Disability (impairment in one or more death of a loved one)
important areas of functioning), or with 2. Deviant behavior (such as the actions of
3. A significantly increased risk of suffering political, religious, or sexual minorities)
death, pain, disability, or an important loss 3. Conflicts that are between the individual
of freedom and society (such as voluntary efforts to
express individuality)
1 – Adapted from Nolen-Hoeksema (2017)
2 – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (APA, 2013)
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 2 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
, Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
▪ Behaviors, normal or abnormal, are determined.
▪ Determinants of behavior – factors that cause a particular behavior
Predisposing Factors Precipitating Factors
▪ A factor that makes someone prone or ▪ Factors that trigger the onset of a certain
susceptible to a certain pathology disorder
▪ Remote Effect – does not come out at an ▪ Immediate Effect
early stage, only when triggered
Biological Determinants of Behavior
▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Genetic Factor
B. Biological Deprivation
C. Obnoxious Agents
D. Accidents
E. Body Constitutions
F. Biochemical Factors
Psychological Determinants of Behavior
▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Stress
B. Frustration
C. Over-Use of Defense Mechanisms
D. Psychological Deprivation
Socio-cultural Determinants of Behavior
▪ Precipitating factor
A. Poverty
B. Unemployment
C. War/ Armed Conflict
D. Racial Discrimination
E. Moving from the Rural to the Urban Setting
F. Residential Mobility
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 3 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Abnormal Psychology
▪ Psychopathology (literally: “pathology of the mind”) is the study of abnormal behavior.
▪ It is the application of science in the study of mental disorders.
▪ It is the study of individuals with mental, emotional, and physical pain.
Defining Normality
▪ Normal Behavior – definitions of what is considered normal behavior describe it as behavior that
is socially acceptable to the standards of the society. In short, if behavior is socially acceptable or
conforming to the standards of society, then that behavior is normal.
Criteria for Normality
1. Normality is average – what is accepted by the majority is considered normal. A problem in
this definition is that not everything that is accepted by the majority can be considered
normal.
2. Normality is social conformity – Anyone who conforms to the standards of the society is
considered normal. Two main problems in this definition put consideration to the Problem of
Criminality and the Problem of Social Standards.
3. Normality is personal comfort – If a person feels/experiences pleasure or comfort, then the
behavior is considered normal. Likewise, if a person feels/experiences displeasure or
discomfort, then that is considered abnormal. Issues with this definition include the Problem
of Objective and Subjective Symptoms, the Problem of Individual Reactions to Discomfort,
and the Problem of Social Consequences.
Other definitions for normality:
1. Normality is Ideal
2. Normality is a process
Criteria for Stating what is Abnormal Behavior
1. Cultural Relativism - the view that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a
behavior as abnormal. Behaviors can only be considered abnormal based on or relative to
cultural norms.
Although there are rejections to the cultural relativist tradition, it is important to note
that culture and gender play an influence on the way abnormal behavior is expressed and the
way they can be treated:
a. Culture and gender may affect how people express their symptoms.
b. Culture and gender may influence people’s willingness to admit certain behaviors.
c. Culture and gender can determine the types of treatments or interventions that are
deemed acceptable or helpful.
2. Unusualness – behaviors which are considered unusual or deviant are considered as
abnormal behaviors. This is tied to cultural relativism since the culture dictates what is usual
or unusual. We also consider the patterns of the behavior of the person, a sudden change in
behavior may indicate a deviance in the person’s usual behavior.
3. Distress – behaviors should be considered abnormal only if the individual suffers distress and
wishes to be rid of the behaviors.
4. Mental Illness – behaviors are not considered abnormal unless they are a part of a mental
illness.
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 1 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
,Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
FOUR D’S OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
1. Dysfunction – behavior causes impairment in social and occupational functioning. This means
that the behavior interferes with the person’s ability to form and maintain relationships or
hold a job.
2. Distress – Behaviors and feelings that cause distress to the individual or to others around him
or her are also likely to be considered abnormal.
3. Deviance – deviant and unusual behaviors lead to the judgment of abnormality.
4. Dangerousness – some behaviors and feelings are of potential harm to the individual, such as
suicidal gestures, or to others, such as excessive aggression. Such dangerous behaviors and
feelings are often seen as abnormal.
The accepted definition of abnormality/psychological disorder, used the DSM-5, describes
behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and
associated with present distress and impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering, death,
pain, or impairment. 1
MENTAL DISORDER
“A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s
cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological,
or developmental processes un-derlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated
with signif-icant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities. An
expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss, such as the death of a loved
one, is not a mental disorder. Socially deviant be-havior (e.g., political, religious, or sexual) and
conflicts that are primarily be-tween the individual and society are not mental disorders unless the
deviance or conflict results from a dysfunction in the individual, as described above.” (DSM-5)
Summary of the DSM-52 Definition of Mental Disorders
Defining Characteristics: Conditions Excluded from Consideration
A behavioral or psychological syndrome (groups This syndrome or pattern must not be merely:
of associated features) that is associated with: 1. An expectable and culturally sanctioned
1. Current distress (painful symptoms), or response to a particular event (such as the
2. Disability (impairment in one or more death of a loved one)
important areas of functioning), or with 2. Deviant behavior (such as the actions of
3. A significantly increased risk of suffering political, religious, or sexual minorities)
death, pain, disability, or an important loss 3. Conflicts that are between the individual
of freedom and society (such as voluntary efforts to
express individuality)
1 – Adapted from Nolen-Hoeksema (2017)
2 – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (APA, 2013)
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 2 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
, Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
▪ Behaviors, normal or abnormal, are determined.
▪ Determinants of behavior – factors that cause a particular behavior
Predisposing Factors Precipitating Factors
▪ A factor that makes someone prone or ▪ Factors that trigger the onset of a certain
susceptible to a certain pathology disorder
▪ Remote Effect – does not come out at an ▪ Immediate Effect
early stage, only when triggered
Biological Determinants of Behavior
▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Genetic Factor
B. Biological Deprivation
C. Obnoxious Agents
D. Accidents
E. Body Constitutions
F. Biochemical Factors
Psychological Determinants of Behavior
▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Stress
B. Frustration
C. Over-Use of Defense Mechanisms
D. Psychological Deprivation
Socio-cultural Determinants of Behavior
▪ Precipitating factor
A. Poverty
B. Unemployment
C. War/ Armed Conflict
D. Racial Discrimination
E. Moving from the Rural to the Urban Setting
F. Residential Mobility
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 3 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
