Download Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology
What is normal and abnormal?
Objectives
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To define normal and abnormal
To decide between methods of deciding
normality
To recognize the use of the bell-shaped
curve showing normal distribution
To develop and analyze surveys to determine
normal personality qualities and behaviors
Karl Menninger
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The adjuration to be "normal"
seems shockingly repellent to
me; I see neither hope nor
comfort in sinking to that low
level. I think it is ignorance that
makes people think of
abnormality only with horror
and allows them to remain
undismayed at the proximity of
"normal" to average and
mediocre. For surely anyone
who achieves anything is,
essentially, abnormal
Normal v. Abnormal
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Normal is what is
average for the
majority of society
Abnormal is the
deviation from the
majority ( major
criteria)
Determining Abnormality
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Psychologist use 4
major criteria
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Typicality
Maladaptivity
Emotional Discomfort
Socially Unacceptable
Behavior
Typicality
■ Defining normal as a
typical average
behavior
■ Just because a person
is not typical does not
make them abnormal
■ Randy Moss
Maladaptivity
■ Person’s behavior
prevents them from
functioning adequately
in life
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i.e. behavior that
causes misery and
distress rather than
happiness and
fulfillment
Alcohol abuse
Behaviors that are
hazardous
Emotional Discomfort
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Feelings of helplessness,
hopelessness,
worthlessness, guilt,
extreme sadness
Disorders of anxiety and
depression
Loose interest in
everything they once
enjoyed
Feel it is not worth living
Socially unacceptable behavior
■ First, society’s norms
must be established
before deeming a
behavior socially
unacceptable
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Mormon marriage
Carrying baby between
legs
Who is abnormal?
The term normal and abnormal may be
different to some, based on the social norms
of the subject’s environment. I want you to
find me 5 examples of someone, who in your
opinion, is “abnormal”. You should only use
people you find on the news/internet
(celebrities, politicians, performers, etc.) After
you have found your 5 people, write a short
entry as to why you believe they or their
behavior are “abnormal” in accordance to
what we discussed in class today.
Classifying
Psychological Disorders
It is Needed
Warning
Do not obey the urge
to self diagnose you
or others
■ Most people with
disorders are
harmless
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Psychological Disorders
■ Behavior patterns or
mental processes that
cause personal
suffering
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Alter or prevent a
person’s ability to cope
with the outside world
■ 1/3 of adults experience
some type of psych.
Disorder
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Most never seek help
or treat it
Currently in The United States
Classification of Psychological
Disorders
■ Most agree there is a
need to classify
■ Important so individuals
may be correctly
diagnosed
■ DSM – most widely
used system
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Most recent is DSM IV
Recognizes 18
categories
Prior –neuroses
/psychosis
Anxiety
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Uneasiness, worrying
about, or dreading a
vague or imagined
danger
Characterized by
nervousness, inability
to relax, and concern
about losing control
Symptoms of Anxiety
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Trembling, sweating,
increased heart rate,
shortness of breath,
increased blood pressure,
flushed face, feeling like
you are going to faint, light
headedness
Result of over activity in
sympathetic branch of
ANS
DSM IV
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Anxiety disorders
include
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Phobic disorders
Panic disorders
Generalized anxiety
Obsessive compulsive
disorder
Stress disorder
Phobic Disorder (phobia) - fear
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Simple phobia – most
common of all anxiety
disorder
To be diagnosed the
fear must lead to
avoidance behavior
that interferes with
everyday life
Social Phobia –
persistent fear of
social situations
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
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Have panic attacks –
short period of intense
fear or discomfort
Being in places where
escape may be
difficult or impossible
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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Excessive, unrealistic
worry about life
circumstances that
lasts for at least six
months
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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One of the more acute
anxiety disorders
Obsessions – wanted
thoughts, ideas,
and/or images that
occur over and over
Compulsions –
repetitive ritual
behavior
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Acting on obsessions
Discussion of Monk
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What tell tale signs does this clip feature
that may lead us to believe Monk has
OCD?
How do we know that this is diruptive to
his life?
What is his Doctor’s advice?
Stress Disorder
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PTSD – most common
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Symptoms may occur
six months or more
after the event
May last for years or
decades
Must inhibit everyday
living
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Shell shock