PSYB32H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Canadian Mental Health Association, Anxiety Disorder, Abnormal Psychology
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I(cid:374)troductio(cid:374): defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374)al a(cid:374)d historical co(cid:374)sideratio(cid:374)s a(cid:374)d ca(cid:374)ada"s me(cid:374)tal health syste(cid:373) Psychopathology: the field concerned with the nature and development of abnormal behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. Another challenge we face is the need to remain objective. Due to exceptional efforts of the mental health commission of canada and individuals across our nation, canada finally has its first comprehensive mental health strategy. Abnormality is usually determined by the presence of several characteristics at one time. Best definition includes characteristics as statistical infrequency, violation of norms, personal distress, disability or dysfunction and unexpectedness. One aspect of abnormal behaviour is that it is infrequent in the general population. The normal curve (or bell shaped curve) places the majority of people on the middle as far as any particular characteristic is concerned; very few people fall at either extreme. An assertion that a person is normal implies that he or she does not deviate much from the average in a particular trait or behaviour pattern.
