Abnormal PsychologyAbnormal Psychology

Oltmanns and EmeryOltmanns and Emery

Presentations by: Presentations by:Mani RafieeMani Rafiee

Chapter OneChapter One

Examples and Definitions of Examples and Definitions of Abnormal BehaviorAbnormal Behavior

• PsychopathologyPsychopathology refers to the refers to the symptoms and signs of mental symptoms and signs of mental disorders. disorders.

• Literally translated, this term Literally translated, this term means “pathology of the means “pathology of the mind.”mind.”

OverviewOverview

• Abnormal psychologyAbnormal psychology is the is the application of psychological application of psychological science to the study of mental science to the study of mental disorders.disorders.

OverviewOverview

RecognizingRecognizing thethe Presence of a Presence of a DisorderDisorder

• Mental disorders Mental disorders are typically are typically defined by a set of characteristic defined by a set of characteristic features; one symptom by itself is features; one symptom by itself is seldom sufficient to make a seldom sufficient to make a diagnosis.diagnosis.

• A group of symptoms that appear A group of symptoms that appear together and are assumed to together and are assumed to represent a specific type of disorder represent a specific type of disorder is referred to as a is referred to as a syndrome.syndrome.

RecognizingRecognizing thethe Presence of a Presence of a DisorderDisorder

• The The durationduration of a person’s symptoms of a person’s symptoms is also important.is also important.

• Mental disorders Mental disorders are defined in terms are defined in terms of of persistentpersistent maladaptive behaviors maladaptive behaviors..

RecognizingRecognizing thethe Presence of a Presence of a DisorderDisorder

• ImpairmentImpairment in the ability to perform in the ability to perform social and occupational roles social and occupational roles is is another consideration in identifying another consideration in identifying the presence of a mental disorder.the presence of a mental disorder.

RecognizingRecognizing thethe Presence of a Presence of a DisorderDisorder

• Psychologists and other mental Psychologists and other mental health health professionals do not at present professionals do not at present have laboratory tests have laboratory tests that can be used that can be used to confirm definitively the presence to confirm definitively the presence of psychopathology because the of psychopathology because the processes that are responsible for processes that are responsible for mental disorders have not yet been mental disorders have not yet been discovered.discovered.

RecognizingRecognizing thethe Presence of a Presence of a DisorderDisorder

• Clinical psychologists must still Clinical psychologists must still depend on their depend on their observationsobservations of the of the person’s behavior and descriptions person’s behavior and descriptions of personal experience.of personal experience.

• InsanityInsanity is a legal term that refers to is a legal term that refers to judgments about whether a person judgments about whether a person should be held responsible for should be held responsible for criminal behavior if he or she is also criminal behavior if he or she is also mentally disturbed.mentally disturbed.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal Behavior

• Many attempts have been made to Many attempts have been made to define abnormal behavior, but none define abnormal behavior, but none is entirely satisfactory.is entirely satisfactory.

• No one has been able to provide a No one has been able to provide a consistent definition consistent definition that easily that easily accounts for all situations in which accounts for all situations in which the concept is invoked.the concept is invoked.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal Behavior

• One approach to the definition of One approach to the definition of abnormal behavior places principal abnormal behavior places principal emphasis on the individual’s emphasis on the individual’s experience of experience of personal distresspersonal distress..

• We might say that abnormal We might say that abnormal behavior is defined in terms of behavior is defined in terms of subjective discomfort subjective discomfort that leads the that leads the person to seek help from a mental person to seek help from a mental health professional.health professional.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal Behavior

• However, people with abnormal However, people with abnormal behaviors are not always able to behaviors are not always able to appreciate the extent of their appreciate the extent of their problems or the impact their problems or the impact their behavior has on other people.behavior has on other people.

• In other wordsIn other words, people with mental , people with mental disorders may not have disorders may not have insightinsight regarding their disordersregarding their disorders..

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal Behavior

• Another approach is to define Another approach is to define abnormal behavior in terms of abnormal behavior in terms of statistical norms statistical norms – how common or – how common or rare it is in the general population.rare it is in the general population.

• By this definition, people with By this definition, people with unusually high levels of anxiety or unusually high levels of anxiety or depression would be considered depression would be considered abnormal because their experience abnormal because their experience deviates from the expected normdeviates from the expected norm..

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal Behavior

• Mental disorders are, in fact, defined in Mental disorders are, in fact, defined in terms of experiences that most people terms of experiences that most people do not have.do not have.

• This approach, however, does not This approach, however, does not specify how unusual the behavior must specify how unusual the behavior must be before it is considered abnormal.be before it is considered abnormal.

• Another weakness of the statistical Another weakness of the statistical approach is that approach is that it does not distinguish it does not distinguish between deviations that are harmful between deviations that are harmful and those that are notand those that are not..

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal BehaviorHarmful DysfunctionHarmful Dysfunction

• According to Jerome Wakefield, a According to Jerome Wakefield, a condition should be considered a condition should be considered a mental disorder if, and only if, it mental disorder if, and only if, it meets two criteria:meets two criteria:

1)1) The condition results from the The condition results from the inability of inability of some internal mechanism some internal mechanism (mental or (mental or physical) to perform its physical) to perform its natural functionnatural function..

2)2) The condition causes some harm to the The condition causes some harm to the person person as judged by the standards of the as judged by the standards of the person’s culture.person’s culture.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal BehaviorHarmful Dysfunction (continued)Harmful Dysfunction (continued)

• A mental disorder, therefore, is A mental disorder, therefore, is defined in terms of defined in terms of harmful harmful dysfunctiondysfunction..

• The dysfunctions in mental disorders The dysfunctions in mental disorders are assumed to be the product of are assumed to be the product of disruptions of thought, feeling, disruptions of thought, feeling, communication, perception, and communication, perception, and motivation.motivation.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal BehaviorHarmful Dysfunction (continued)Harmful Dysfunction (continued)

• The definition of abnormal behavior The definition of abnormal behavior presented in the official presented in the official Diagnostic Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersDisorders, published by the American , published by the American Psychiatric Association and currently Psychiatric Association and currently in its fourth revised edition—DSM-in its fourth revised edition—DSM-IV-TR—places IV-TR—places primary emphasis on primary emphasis on the consequences of certain the consequences of certain behavioral syndromes.behavioral syndromes.

Defining Abnormal BehaviorDefining Abnormal BehaviorCultural ConsiderationsCultural Considerations

• The process by which the The process by which the Diagnostic and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Statistical Manual is constructed and is constructed and revised is necessarily influenced by cultural revised is necessarily influenced by cultural considerations.considerations.

• CultureCulture is defined in terms of the values, is defined in terms of the values, beliefs, and practices that are shared by a beliefs, and practices that are shared by a specific community or group of people.specific community or group of people.

• These values and beliefs have a profound These values and beliefs have a profound influence on opinions regarding the influence on opinions regarding the difference between normal and abnormal difference between normal and abnormal behaviors.behaviors.

ComorbidityComorbidity

• The presence of more than one condition The presence of more than one condition within the same period of time is known as within the same period of time is known as comorbiditycomorbidity..

Who Experiences Abnormal Who Experiences Abnormal Behavior?Behavior?