Psychology 2030A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Dorothea Dix, Johann Weyer, Mass Hysteria

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2030A/B
• Professor: David Vollick

Document Summary

Behaviour can be problematic or not depending on which environment it occurs in: understand the context of the behaviour. Culture refers to shared behavioural patterns and lifestyles that differentiate from one group to another: culture bound syndrome is a term that originally described abnormal behaviours that were specific to a particular location or group. Development and maturity: another important context when considering behaviour abnormality is age, behaviours previously considered normal can become abnormal with maturity. Eccentricity: eccentric behaviour may violate societal norms, but it is not always negative or harmful. When attempting to define abnormality is looking at whether that behaviour causes distress or dysfunction for the individual or others. Abnormal behaviour is behaviour that is inconsistent with the individuals developmental, cultural and societal norms and creates emotional distress or interferes with daily functioning. As a guide, behaviours are considered using the diagnostic and statistical manual of.