1
Abnormal Psychology
Distress
- Proponents of this view argue that a
Normality
behavior is only abnormal if the
It is the expected behavior or way of
individual suffers because of the
living based on what is commonly
behavior(s) and wishes to be rid of it.
observed in the majority of the
population. - Some therapists object to the subjective
discomfort criterion because people are
Abnormality not always aware of the problems their
behavior may create for themselves or
There is no single determinant or a
others.
generally accepted definition of
abnormality. However, there are several
Mental Illness
elements that may help in determining
the presence of an abnormality in an - Implies there is a disease process, like
individual. hypertension.
- A psychological diagnosis is a label for a
ABNORMAL set of defined Symptoms.
PR
- Abnormal describes behavioral,
emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that Understanding
are unexpected in their cultural context Why is abnormal behavior hard to define?
and associated with personal distress or ✔ -All forms of abnormal behavior share no
substantial impairment in functioning. single descriptive feature, and no one criterion
for “abnormality” is sufficient.
O
DSM-IV-TR
✔ -No discrete boundary exists between normal
and abnormal behavior.
LOOKING AT ABNORMALITY
FD
Many individuals still equate abnormal behavior
✓ Continuum Model of Abnormality with:
- No clear line between normal and ✔ bizarre behavior
abnormal. ✔ dangerous behavior
- Requires subjective decisions about when ✔ shameful behavior
O
a person has a disorder or not.
✓ Past Criteria for Normal and Abnormal Three proposed definitions of abnormal behavior
- Cultural relativism a. Conformity to Norms
C
- Unusualness of behavior A person’s behavior becomes patiently deviant,
- Distress (discomfort of the person outrageous, or non-conforming.
exhibiting the behavior) ▪ Statistical infrequency or violation of social
norms
- Mental Illness
Advantages:
Cultural Relativism 1. Cutoff points
2. Intuitive appeal
- No universal standards or rules for
Disadvantages:
labeling a behavior as abnormal
1. Choice of cutoff points
- Instead, behaviors can only be abnormal 2. The number of deviations
relative to cultural norms. 3. Cultural and developmental relativity
b. Subjective Distress
Unusualness The experience of subjective distress
- Is the behavior rare? subjective feelings and sense of well-being
(Depends on the norms for that behavior in a
culture)
,2
Abnormal Psychology
▪ crucial consideration: whether the person considered a manifestation of behavioral,
feels tranquil/ troubled, happy/sad, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the
fulfilled/barren. individual.
Advantages:
1. It is reasonable to expect that Neither deviant behavior (e.g., religious, political,
individuals can assess their emotions or or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily
behaviors and can share information between the individual and society are mental
when asked disorders unless the deviance or conflict is a
Disadvantages: symptom of the dysfunction in the individual as
1. Not everyone we consider “disordered” described above.
reports subjective distress.
2. Amount of subjective distress necessary IMPORTANT POINTS
to be considered abnormal - The syndrome (cluster of abnormal behaviors)
c. Disability or dysfunction must be associated with distress, disability, or
For behavior to be considered abnormal, it must increased risk of problems.
create some degree of social(interpersonal) or - A mental disorder is considered to represent a
occupational problems for the individual dysfunction within an individual.
PR
Advantages: - Not all deviant behaviors or conflicts with
1. Little inference is required, problems in society are signs of mental disorder.
the social and occupational spheres often
prompt individuals to seek out help
Disadvantages:
O
1. Who should judge the standard for published by the American Psychiatric
dysfunction? Association
2. How to agree on what specifically ▪ contains descriptions, symptoms, and other
FD
constitutes an adequate level of criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.
functioning? ▪ DSM-IV (fourth edition) or DSM-IV-TR (fourth
edition, text revision) contains descriptions of all
KEY POINTS psychological disorders/mental disorders.
▪ Abnormal behavior does not necessarily
indicate mental illness. History
O
▪ Mental illness refers to: “a large class of 1952 DSM-I
frequently observed syndromes that are 1968 DSM-II (based on ICD)
comprised of certain abnormal behaviors or 1980 DSM-III (more quantitative,
C
features”. objective)
1987 DSM-III-R
1994 DSM-IV
MENTAL ILLNESS (DSM-IV-TR)
2000 DSM-IV (multi-axial system)
…is conceptualized as a clinically significant
2013 DSM-V (single-line diagnosis
behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern with specifiers
that occurs in an individual and that is associated
with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or The Five Axes of DSM-IV-TR
disability (i.e., impairment in one or more Axis I Clinical Disorders
important areas of functioning) or with a Axis II Personality Disorders and Mental
significantly increased risk of suffering, death, Retardation
pain, disability or important loss of freedom. Axis III General Medical Conditions
Axis IV Psychosocial
In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not Environmental Problems
be merely an expectable and culturally Axis V Global Assessment
sanctioned response to a particular event. Functioning
Whatever its original cause, it must currently be
,3
Abnormal Psychology
DSM ICD
Diagnostic Statistical International
Manual of Mental Classification of 1. Presenting problem – a reason for coming to
Disorders Diseases and Related clinical assessment.
Health Disorders 2. Clinical Description – what makes a disorder
produced by a single produced by a global abnormal (4Ds)
national professional health agency 3. Prevalence – the number of people in the
association (American (World Health population who have the disorder
Psychiatric Association) Organization) 4. Incidence – number of new cases of a
approved by the assembly of approved by the World disorder occurring during a specific period
the American Psychiatric Health Assembly, Course and Prognosis
Association, a group much composed of the health • Course – either chronic, episodic or
like APA's Council of ministers of all 193 time-limited
Representatives WHO member • Prognosis – likely outcome or course of
countries
a disorder
generates a very substantial distributed as broadly Acute onset vs. Insidious onset
portion of the American as possible at a very
• Onset – beginning
PR
Psychiatric Association's low cost, with
revenue, not only from sales substantial discounts • Acute onset – the behavior occurs
of the book itself but also to low-income spontaneously without a warning
from related products and countries, and Important associated features- developmental
copyright permissions for available free on the stage, ethnicity, race, etc.
books and scientific articles Internet
O
CAUSATION, TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
UNDERSTANDING ABNORMALITY Etiology – factors or dimensions that cause
ABNORMAL – literally “away from the norm”; psychological disorders
FD
deviant Treatment
Criteria (4 D’s) Successful outcome – assist in making
1. DYSFUNCTION – impairment to conduct daily inferences about the variables leading to and
activities maintaining a disorder, but not in the
2. DISTRESS – emotional or physical pain; may determination of the actual causes of a disorder
O
or may not be present
3. DEVIANCE – different, extreme, unusual,
What is a Symptom?
bizarre; differ from the society’s norms about the
A manifestation of an illness or an
C
proper functioning
emotional disturbance.
▪ CULTURAL RELATIVISM – a view that
Types:
there are no universal standards or rules
Subjective symptoms: complaints of
for labeling a behavior as abnormal
patients such as tiredness, depression, or
4. DANGEROUSNESS – potential to harm self and
fear.
others
Objective symptoms: are usually
revealed in observable behavior such as
MENTAL DISORDER (DSM-V)
faulty memory or inappropriate
- syndrome characterized by clinically emotional reactions.
significant disturbance in one’s cognition,
emotion, regulation, or behavior that DISOREDED SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, SENSATION: the stimulation of sensory
biological, or developmental processes receptors and the transmission of sensory
underlying mental processes (DSM-V information to the central nervous system.
Definition) Process of detecting physical energies with
sensory organs.
, 4
Abnormal Psychology
PERCEPTION: the mental process by which 3. Intellectual functioning is markedly below
sensations are organized into an inner ability.
representation of the world. The mental process - Typically results from emotional
of organizing sensations into meaningful difficulty.
patterns. - Often seen in people who worry,
TRANSDUCTION: transforming signals into ruminate, or daydream excessively.
neural impulses. Information goes from the
senses to the thalamus, and then to the various 4. Distorted memory and thinking with or
areas of the brain. without intellectual deterioration.
DISORDERED PERCEPTION DISTORTION OF MEMORY
ILLUSION: misinterpretation of external and real - Pathological loss of ability.
external stimuli; a mistaken perception.
-It occurs when the sensory information is Amnesia- total lack of recall common among
present and accurate, but the brain interprets it organic brain syndromes or rare functional
in a way that deviates from reality. disorders such as psychoneurotic dissociative
HALLUCINATION: a perception completely in reactions; typically occurs after a traumatic head
PR
the absence of external stimuli; a false injury or a severe emotional shock.
perception without any basis.
Visual hallucination DISORDERED THINKING
Non-visual hallucination Retrograde Amnesia: Inability to recall events
CLOUDING CONSCIOUSNESS: consists of a state preceding the shock.
O
in which the individual’s perception lacks clarity. Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to recall events
-Individual is not sufficiently attentive to his following the shock.
surroundings either because he is preoccupied
FD
by emotional turmoil or because of brain DISORDERED THINKING: Sequence of
damage. Thinking.
Confabulation: Filling of amnesic gaps with
DISORDERED INTELLIGENCE OR THOUGHT imaginary experiences.
FORMS OF INTELLECTUAL ABNORMALITY: Fugue: Amnesia accompanied by physical flight;
1. Low intellectual capacity the individual assumes a new identity and name
O
- Low IQ scores of 70 or less and starts a new life by adopting a new identity.
- Also termed as intellectual sub- Blocking: Sudden stoppage of the sequence of
normality, mental deficiency, thought.
C
mental retardation or amentia. Impoverished Ideation: The patient produces
-Marked by a limited capacity to only a few ideas which may recur over and over
comprehend or master new material, by in a stereotyped fashion.
memory deficits, and by difficulties in Circumstantiality: A sequence of thoughts and
forming discrimination, making spoken words in which trivial details are
judgments, and solving problems. unnecessarily and explicitly elaborated
2. Deterioration of intellectual ability later in DISORDERED THINKING: Content of Thinking
life Obsession: Persistent intrusion into the
Usually associated with the aging of a person and consciousness of an unwanted and unpleasant
with brain disorders. thought or impulse.
- Example: difficulty in comparing 2 simple Delusion: False beliefs inconsistent with an
things (like the similarities and differences individual’s knowledge and experience.
between a fish and a bird) when before, a person Phobia: Irrational and obsessive fear not
can perform algebraic operations. warranted by an actual danger.
Abnormal Psychology
Distress
- Proponents of this view argue that a
Normality
behavior is only abnormal if the
It is the expected behavior or way of
individual suffers because of the
living based on what is commonly
behavior(s) and wishes to be rid of it.
observed in the majority of the
population. - Some therapists object to the subjective
discomfort criterion because people are
Abnormality not always aware of the problems their
behavior may create for themselves or
There is no single determinant or a
others.
generally accepted definition of
abnormality. However, there are several
Mental Illness
elements that may help in determining
the presence of an abnormality in an - Implies there is a disease process, like
individual. hypertension.
- A psychological diagnosis is a label for a
ABNORMAL set of defined Symptoms.
PR
- Abnormal describes behavioral,
emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that Understanding
are unexpected in their cultural context Why is abnormal behavior hard to define?
and associated with personal distress or ✔ -All forms of abnormal behavior share no
substantial impairment in functioning. single descriptive feature, and no one criterion
for “abnormality” is sufficient.
O
DSM-IV-TR
✔ -No discrete boundary exists between normal
and abnormal behavior.
LOOKING AT ABNORMALITY
FD
Many individuals still equate abnormal behavior
✓ Continuum Model of Abnormality with:
- No clear line between normal and ✔ bizarre behavior
abnormal. ✔ dangerous behavior
- Requires subjective decisions about when ✔ shameful behavior
O
a person has a disorder or not.
✓ Past Criteria for Normal and Abnormal Three proposed definitions of abnormal behavior
- Cultural relativism a. Conformity to Norms
C
- Unusualness of behavior A person’s behavior becomes patiently deviant,
- Distress (discomfort of the person outrageous, or non-conforming.
exhibiting the behavior) ▪ Statistical infrequency or violation of social
norms
- Mental Illness
Advantages:
Cultural Relativism 1. Cutoff points
2. Intuitive appeal
- No universal standards or rules for
Disadvantages:
labeling a behavior as abnormal
1. Choice of cutoff points
- Instead, behaviors can only be abnormal 2. The number of deviations
relative to cultural norms. 3. Cultural and developmental relativity
b. Subjective Distress
Unusualness The experience of subjective distress
- Is the behavior rare? subjective feelings and sense of well-being
(Depends on the norms for that behavior in a
culture)
,2
Abnormal Psychology
▪ crucial consideration: whether the person considered a manifestation of behavioral,
feels tranquil/ troubled, happy/sad, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the
fulfilled/barren. individual.
Advantages:
1. It is reasonable to expect that Neither deviant behavior (e.g., religious, political,
individuals can assess their emotions or or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily
behaviors and can share information between the individual and society are mental
when asked disorders unless the deviance or conflict is a
Disadvantages: symptom of the dysfunction in the individual as
1. Not everyone we consider “disordered” described above.
reports subjective distress.
2. Amount of subjective distress necessary IMPORTANT POINTS
to be considered abnormal - The syndrome (cluster of abnormal behaviors)
c. Disability or dysfunction must be associated with distress, disability, or
For behavior to be considered abnormal, it must increased risk of problems.
create some degree of social(interpersonal) or - A mental disorder is considered to represent a
occupational problems for the individual dysfunction within an individual.
PR
Advantages: - Not all deviant behaviors or conflicts with
1. Little inference is required, problems in society are signs of mental disorder.
the social and occupational spheres often
prompt individuals to seek out help
Disadvantages:
O
1. Who should judge the standard for published by the American Psychiatric
dysfunction? Association
2. How to agree on what specifically ▪ contains descriptions, symptoms, and other
FD
constitutes an adequate level of criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.
functioning? ▪ DSM-IV (fourth edition) or DSM-IV-TR (fourth
edition, text revision) contains descriptions of all
KEY POINTS psychological disorders/mental disorders.
▪ Abnormal behavior does not necessarily
indicate mental illness. History
O
▪ Mental illness refers to: “a large class of 1952 DSM-I
frequently observed syndromes that are 1968 DSM-II (based on ICD)
comprised of certain abnormal behaviors or 1980 DSM-III (more quantitative,
C
features”. objective)
1987 DSM-III-R
1994 DSM-IV
MENTAL ILLNESS (DSM-IV-TR)
2000 DSM-IV (multi-axial system)
…is conceptualized as a clinically significant
2013 DSM-V (single-line diagnosis
behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern with specifiers
that occurs in an individual and that is associated
with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or The Five Axes of DSM-IV-TR
disability (i.e., impairment in one or more Axis I Clinical Disorders
important areas of functioning) or with a Axis II Personality Disorders and Mental
significantly increased risk of suffering, death, Retardation
pain, disability or important loss of freedom. Axis III General Medical Conditions
Axis IV Psychosocial
In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not Environmental Problems
be merely an expectable and culturally Axis V Global Assessment
sanctioned response to a particular event. Functioning
Whatever its original cause, it must currently be
,3
Abnormal Psychology
DSM ICD
Diagnostic Statistical International
Manual of Mental Classification of 1. Presenting problem – a reason for coming to
Disorders Diseases and Related clinical assessment.
Health Disorders 2. Clinical Description – what makes a disorder
produced by a single produced by a global abnormal (4Ds)
national professional health agency 3. Prevalence – the number of people in the
association (American (World Health population who have the disorder
Psychiatric Association) Organization) 4. Incidence – number of new cases of a
approved by the assembly of approved by the World disorder occurring during a specific period
the American Psychiatric Health Assembly, Course and Prognosis
Association, a group much composed of the health • Course – either chronic, episodic or
like APA's Council of ministers of all 193 time-limited
Representatives WHO member • Prognosis – likely outcome or course of
countries
a disorder
generates a very substantial distributed as broadly Acute onset vs. Insidious onset
portion of the American as possible at a very
• Onset – beginning
PR
Psychiatric Association's low cost, with
revenue, not only from sales substantial discounts • Acute onset – the behavior occurs
of the book itself but also to low-income spontaneously without a warning
from related products and countries, and Important associated features- developmental
copyright permissions for available free on the stage, ethnicity, race, etc.
books and scientific articles Internet
O
CAUSATION, TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
UNDERSTANDING ABNORMALITY Etiology – factors or dimensions that cause
ABNORMAL – literally “away from the norm”; psychological disorders
FD
deviant Treatment
Criteria (4 D’s) Successful outcome – assist in making
1. DYSFUNCTION – impairment to conduct daily inferences about the variables leading to and
activities maintaining a disorder, but not in the
2. DISTRESS – emotional or physical pain; may determination of the actual causes of a disorder
O
or may not be present
3. DEVIANCE – different, extreme, unusual,
What is a Symptom?
bizarre; differ from the society’s norms about the
A manifestation of an illness or an
C
proper functioning
emotional disturbance.
▪ CULTURAL RELATIVISM – a view that
Types:
there are no universal standards or rules
Subjective symptoms: complaints of
for labeling a behavior as abnormal
patients such as tiredness, depression, or
4. DANGEROUSNESS – potential to harm self and
fear.
others
Objective symptoms: are usually
revealed in observable behavior such as
MENTAL DISORDER (DSM-V)
faulty memory or inappropriate
- syndrome characterized by clinically emotional reactions.
significant disturbance in one’s cognition,
emotion, regulation, or behavior that DISOREDED SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, SENSATION: the stimulation of sensory
biological, or developmental processes receptors and the transmission of sensory
underlying mental processes (DSM-V information to the central nervous system.
Definition) Process of detecting physical energies with
sensory organs.
, 4
Abnormal Psychology
PERCEPTION: the mental process by which 3. Intellectual functioning is markedly below
sensations are organized into an inner ability.
representation of the world. The mental process - Typically results from emotional
of organizing sensations into meaningful difficulty.
patterns. - Often seen in people who worry,
TRANSDUCTION: transforming signals into ruminate, or daydream excessively.
neural impulses. Information goes from the
senses to the thalamus, and then to the various 4. Distorted memory and thinking with or
areas of the brain. without intellectual deterioration.
DISORDERED PERCEPTION DISTORTION OF MEMORY
ILLUSION: misinterpretation of external and real - Pathological loss of ability.
external stimuli; a mistaken perception.
-It occurs when the sensory information is Amnesia- total lack of recall common among
present and accurate, but the brain interprets it organic brain syndromes or rare functional
in a way that deviates from reality. disorders such as psychoneurotic dissociative
HALLUCINATION: a perception completely in reactions; typically occurs after a traumatic head
PR
the absence of external stimuli; a false injury or a severe emotional shock.
perception without any basis.
Visual hallucination DISORDERED THINKING
Non-visual hallucination Retrograde Amnesia: Inability to recall events
CLOUDING CONSCIOUSNESS: consists of a state preceding the shock.
O
in which the individual’s perception lacks clarity. Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to recall events
-Individual is not sufficiently attentive to his following the shock.
surroundings either because he is preoccupied
FD
by emotional turmoil or because of brain DISORDERED THINKING: Sequence of
damage. Thinking.
Confabulation: Filling of amnesic gaps with
DISORDERED INTELLIGENCE OR THOUGHT imaginary experiences.
FORMS OF INTELLECTUAL ABNORMALITY: Fugue: Amnesia accompanied by physical flight;
1. Low intellectual capacity the individual assumes a new identity and name
O
- Low IQ scores of 70 or less and starts a new life by adopting a new identity.
- Also termed as intellectual sub- Blocking: Sudden stoppage of the sequence of
normality, mental deficiency, thought.
C
mental retardation or amentia. Impoverished Ideation: The patient produces
-Marked by a limited capacity to only a few ideas which may recur over and over
comprehend or master new material, by in a stereotyped fashion.
memory deficits, and by difficulties in Circumstantiality: A sequence of thoughts and
forming discrimination, making spoken words in which trivial details are
judgments, and solving problems. unnecessarily and explicitly elaborated
2. Deterioration of intellectual ability later in DISORDERED THINKING: Content of Thinking
life Obsession: Persistent intrusion into the
Usually associated with the aging of a person and consciousness of an unwanted and unpleasant
with brain disorders. thought or impulse.
- Example: difficulty in comparing 2 simple Delusion: False beliefs inconsistent with an
things (like the similarities and differences individual’s knowledge and experience.
between a fish and a bird) when before, a person Phobia: Irrational and obsessive fear not
can perform algebraic operations. warranted by an actual danger.
