PSYC 111 Final: PSYC111 Notes (after Exam 3)
18 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Abnormal psychology
The branch of psychology that addresses the description, causes, and treatment of
psychological disorders
Deviant
Distress
Dysfunction
Defining abnormal
What is abnormal?
Behaviors may be considered abnormal if
They are socially unacceptable or violate social norms (statistically or
culturally deviant)
There is an altered perception or interpretation of reality
What’s not abnormal?
Unusual or statistically deviant behavior is NOT necessarily psychologically abnormal
Example: exceptional behavior
Culture and normality
The definition of normal is culturally defined
Native americans report connection to spirits
Psychopathology
The study of abnormal behavior patterns that lead to impairments in social and/or
occupational functioning
Etiology: refers to the cause, source or origin of specific symptoms or syndromes
Classification of Disorders
DSM-IV: The Diagnostic and Statistical MAnual of MEntal Disorders
Describes the diagnostic features of disorders, but DOES NOT attempt to explain
their origins
Specific criteria are used to diagnose disorders based on the nature and
prevalence of symptoms
Abnormal behavior patterns that share clinical features are grouped together
Allows clinicians and researchers to standardize diagnoses, and facilitates
clinical communication
Former DSM Axes
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Axis I: Primary CLinical Symptoms
The patterns of abnormal behavior that impair functioning and are stressful to the
individual
Axis II: Reflects personality or developmental disorders
Deeply ingrained, manipulative ways of perceiving other that are stressful to the
individual or others
Axis III: general medical conditions
Chronic or active illnesses and medical conditions that are important for
understanding the disorder or may be causally related to the disorder
Axis IV: rating the intensity of environmental stressors
Problems in the social or physical environment that affect the diagnosis,
treatment or outcome of mental disorders
Axis V: Global assessment of functioning
Overall judgement of current functioning or highest level of functioning achieved
in the past few months
Forensic Psychology
Competency: A defendant's state of mind at the time of a judicial hearing
Insanity: presumed state of mind at the time the crime was committed. Insanity is a legal
term, not a psychological one
DSM 5 major changes
Expanded and adited criteria for diagnosis
Shift from categorical to dimensional classification
Incorporates sociocultural research findings into understanding and classification of
disorders
Emphasis on cross-cutting symptoms domains (research Domain Criteria; RDOC) at
NIMH
Psychological LEanring
Cons:
Stigma: May impact the likelihood that smeone will seek treatment when they are
strufggling
Can lead to greater personal distress, shame guilt
Pros:
Provides a sense of community and identity
Makes a person feel understood
The Diathesis-Stress Model
Vulnerability: is used to describe a biological (genetic) predisposition towards the
development of a disorders
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The branch of psychology that addresses the description, causes, and treatment of psychological disorders. They are socially unacceptable or violate social norms (statistically or culturally deviant) There is an altered perception or interpretation of reality. Unusual or statistically deviant behavior is not necessarily psychologically abnormal. The study of abnormal behavior patterns that lead to impairments in social and/or occupational functioning. Etiology: refers to the cause, source or origin of specific symptoms or syndromes. Dsm-iv: the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Describes the diagnostic features of disorders, but does not attempt to explain their origins. Specific criteria are used to diagnose disorders based on the nature and prevalence of symptoms. Abnormal behavior patterns that share clinical features are grouped together. Allows clinicians and researchers to standardize diagnoses, and facilitates clinical communication. The patterns of abnormal behavior that impair functioning and are stressful to the individual.
