PSYCH 2AP3 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Slan, Mania, Psychopathology

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH 2AP3
• Professor: Richard B Day

Document Summary

Psychological disorder definition: it"s a psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in normal functioning and elicits a response that is not typically or culturally expected. Psychological dysfunction: refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional or behavioral functioning. Example: irrational fears that cause fear or anxiety to emerge each time the stimulus is present can mean that one"s emotions are not functioning properly; therefore, can be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Knowing when to draw the line for normal and abnormal dysfunction can be difficult. Generally dysfunctional problems are known to exist on a continuum rather than just as categories determined by either the presence or absence of a trait. Just because one is diagnosed with a certain dysfunction does not mean they will meet the criteria for an abnormal psychological disorder. Phobia: a psychological disorder that is characterized by marked and persistent fear of an object or situation.