PS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder
Document Summary
Illnesses vital fluids: evil spirits, exorcism. Several questions can help determine whether a behavior is abnormal: Is the behavior considered strange within the persons own culture: does the behavior cause personal distress. Is the person a danger to self or others. Statistical definition frequency: rare = abnormal, common = normal, easy concrete things talking, challenging for abstract ideas like happiness. Special norm deviance use norms or standards of society: need to be fully aware of all situational variables/ cultural variables. Subjective discomfort does the individual experience emotional discomfort with their behavior: some are not comfortable. Maladaptive behaviors prevent person from functioning. History of psychological disorders: mental illness, two major categories. Neurosis causes personal distress and some impairment in functioning not losing contact with reality or violating important social norms. Psychosis severe psychological disorder, sometimes requiring hospitalization typically lose contact with reality, delusions and or hallucinations seriously impaired functioning everyday life.