PSYCH 2AP3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Social Rejection, Epigenome, Neurosis
7 Feb 2017
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The range of human behaviour and thinking is enormous, so it is hard to determine what is abnormal. There is no clear dividing line between normal and abnormal, or even between disorders. Impairment criterion: if behaviour, thinking, or emotions impair ability to form and maintain lasting relationships or earn a living, or cause a person to become dangerous. Symptoms impair social, occupational, or other domains of functioning. Personal distress criterion: ability to go on in the world is not impaired, but the person is bothered and disturbed by their thoughts, behaviours, and feelings. Someone could be a danger to him or others, but not have a mental disorder. Example: suicide bombers are largely found to have no mental disorder, though they intend to harm. It is often not the individual, especially in the situation of children. It can be difficult to determine how impaired a person has to be in order to be considered abnormal.
