PSYB32H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Malleus Maleficarum, Philippe Pinel, Mental Health Professional
Document Summary
Chapter 1: introduction: definitional and historical considerations, and canada"s mental health. Psychopathology: field concerned with the nature and development of abnormal behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. Challenge of studying abnormal: is the need to remain objective. Abnormal behaviour: includes such characteristics as statistical infrequency, violation of norms personal distress, disability or dysfunction, and unexpectedness. Abnormal behaviour is infrequent in the general population. Normal curve: aka bell-shaped curve, places the majority in the middle and very few fall between the two extremes does not mean they do not deviate much from the average (great athletic ability) Statistical infrequency used in diagnosing mental retardation (iq is below 70, then considered subnormal as mental retardation) Statistical component gives us little guidance in determining which infrequent behaviours psychopathologist should study. Various forms of unusual behaviour can be tolerated, depending on the prevailing cultural norms. Whether abnormal behaviour violates the norms or threatens or makes anxious those observing it.
