Psychology 2030A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Unconditional Positive Regard, Joseph Wolpe, Treatment As Prevention

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2030A/B
• Professor: Ian Nicholson

Document Summary

A psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected. Psychological dysfunction - a breakdown in cognitive, emotion, or behavioural functioning that is not typical or culturally expected. Having a dysfunction is not enough to meet the criteria for a psychological disorder. Being distressed is not enough to be classified as abnormal behaviour. In order for it be considered, the cause of distress has to impair you daily functions and must be an extreme case. Being atypical or not culturally expected is important but not enough to determine abnormality. The more something deviates from the average, the more abnormal it becomes but this itself is still not a good enough definition for determining abnormality. The more productive you are in the eyes of society, the more eccentricities society will tolerate.