Chapt1intro2fix

What is a Mental Disorder?

History of Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology and Life: Themes







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Continuous physical activity

Abnormally low or high score

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Definition Advantages Limitations

Deviance from the norm Different cultures have different ideas about what normal behavior is.

“Statistically deviant” behaviors may be valued (e.g., high intelligence).

Arbitrary cutoffs (e.g., is a score of 80 much different from a score of 81?).

We use our own judgment or gut feeling.

Once statistical or objective cutoff scores are established they are easy to apply.










Difficulty adapting to life’s demands

Unclear who determines impairment or whether a consensus about impairment is required.

Thresholds for impairment not always clear.

Typically easy to observe if someone is having difficulty.

Often prompts people to seek psychological treatment.










Difficulty adapting to life’s demands

Unclear who determines impairment or whether a consensus about impairment is required.

Thresholds for impairment not always clear.

Typically easy to observe if someone is having difficulty.

Often prompts people to seek psychological treatment.

Experience of personal distress

Some psychological problems are not associated with distress.

Thresholds or cutoffs for distress are not always clear.

Hallmark of many forms of mental disorder.

Individuals may be able to accurately report this.




Emotions

Cognitions

Behaviors

Normal

Good alertness and positive emotional state.

“I’m not getting the grades I want this semester, but I’ll keep trying to do my best.”

Going to classes and studying for the next round of tests. Talking to professors.

Feeling sad, but a strong positive experience such as a good grade could life mood.

“These bad grades hurt. This may set me back for awhile. I’m really worried.”

Skipping a few classes and feeling somewhat unmotivated to study. Avoiding contact with professors and classmates.

Mild




Emotions

Cognitions

Behaviors




Emotions

Cognitions

Behaviors

NormalMildModerate

Feeling sad or down temporarily, but not for long.

“I’m struggling at school this semester. I wish I could study better, or I’ll fail.”

Going to classes with some trouble studying. Less contact with others.

Extreme sadness all the time with great trouble concentrating and complete loss of appetite.

“These bad grades just show what a failure I am at everything. There’s no hope; I’m not doing anything today.”

Unable to get out of bed, eat, or leave the house. Lack of energy and frequent crying.




Emotions

Cognitions

Behaviors

NormalMildModerateMental Disorder – More Severe







Before 460 BCExorcism, trephination 460 BC to

476 ADTherapeutic environments, healthy diets, exercise, massage, education

476 AD to1453 ADPrayer, holy objects, relics, pilgrimages, confinement, exorcism













Primary prevention

Secondary prevention

Tertiary prevention




Stereotypes“All people with mental illness are incompetent.”

Prejudices“I have a mental illness, so I must be incompetent.”

Discrimination“Why should I even get a job? I’m an incompetent mental patient.”

Self-stigma

Stereotypes“All people with mental illness are dangerous.”

Prejudices“I agree, all people with mental illness are dangerous, and so I am afraid of them.”

Discrimination“I don’t want to be near such people. Do not hire them at my job.”

Public stigma




Chapt1intro2fix

Education

objective cutoff scores

seek psychological treatment

statistically deviant behaviors

abnormal psychologyabnormal psychology

mental illness

mental disorder

high intelligence

normdifferent cultures