Download What is the focus of abnormal psychology?

Abnormal Psychology
Levels of
Analysis
Abnormal
Weekly Lesson Objectives
• Familiarize yourselves with the IB syllabus outline and
learning plan for this unit
• Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality.
• Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis.
• Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in
diagnosis (for example, cultural variation,
stigmatization).
The IB Syllabus:
Questions to check your
understanding:
1. What is the focus of abnormal psychology?
2. Why is it important to understand the issues
surrounding diagnosis?
3. What three groups of disorders does this unit
focus on? – give an example of each one.
4. What three broad groups can therapeutic
approaches be organized into?
The IB syllabus topics:
Major Depressive Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Major Depressive Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Major Depressive Disorder & Bulimia Nervosa
Unit Understandings:
- Understanding and explaining the concepts of normal and abnormal
behavior and issues relating to achieving definitive explanations.
- An understanding of issues related to diagnosis.
- An understanding of the range of psychological disorders.
- An understanding of the etiology, symptoms and prevalence of
selected disorders and how effective treatments may be
administered.
- An understanding of gender and cultural variations of selected
disorders.
- An understanding of offering ethical efficacy in treating disorders.
Essential Questions
- Is it possible to provide universal definitions of
normality and abnormality?
- How do issues relating to reliability and validity of
classification systems for disorders render diagnoses
of disorders vulnerable to error?
-To what extent must gender and cultural considerations
be made in order to understand the etiology of
disorders?
- What means of treatment results in effective relief for
sufferers of disorders?
Learning Plan
Approximate times
Concepts and diagnosis (1.5 weeks)
• Examine/ define the concepts of normality and abnormality.
• Discuss validity and reliability of classification systems and diagnosis.
• Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in diagnosis (for example, cultural variation,
stigmatization).
Psychological disorders (2 weeks)
• Describe symptoms and prevalence of Major depressive episode and Bulimia Nervosa
• Analyze etiologies (in terms of biological, cognitive and/or sociocultural factors) of
Major Depressive Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
• Discuss cultural and gender variations in prevalence of these disorders.
Implementing treatment (2 Weeks)
• Examine biomedical, individual and group approaches to treatment.
• Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment.
• Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual and group approaches to the treatment of
Major Depressive Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
• Discuss the relationship between etiology and therapeutic approach in relation to Major
Depressive Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
General framework (applicable to all topics in the option) (1.5 weeks)
• To what extent do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence abnormal
behaviour?
• Evaluate psychological research (that is, theories and/or studies) relevant to the study
of abnormal behaviour.
Concepts and diagnosis
• Examine the concepts of normality and
abnormality.
• Discuss validity and reliability of
classification systems and diagnosis.
• Discuss cultural and ethical considerations
in diagnosis (for example, cultural
variation, stigmatization).
Psychological disorders
• Describe symptoms and prevalence of Major
depressive episode and Bulimia Nervosa
• Analyze etiologies (in terms of biological,
cognitive and/or sociocultural factors) of Major
Depressive Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
• Discuss cultural and gender variations in
prevalence of these disorders.
Implementing treatment
• Examine biomedical, individual and group
approaches to treatment.
• Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to
treatment.
• Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual and
group approaches to the treatment of Major
Depressive Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
• Discuss the relationship between etiology and
therapeutic approach in relation to Major
Depressive Disorder & Bulimia Nervosa
General framework (applicable to
all topics in the option)
• To what extent do biological, cognitive and
sociocultural factors influence abnormal
behaviour?
• Evaluate psychological research (that is,
theories and/or studies) relevant to the
study of abnormal behaviour.