PSYCH 1XX3 Study Guide - Final Guide: Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorder

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH 1XX3
• Professor: Christopher Teeter

Document Summary

What is considered abnormal behaviour can vary between people, cultures and time periods. Many clinicians use a fixed set of criteria to broadly define abnormality, summarized as the 4 d"s: deviance, distress, dysfunction, danger. These criteria are used as guidelines and exhibiting one or more of these characteristics does not label someone as having a psychological disorder. Refers to having thoughts, emotions and behaviours that fall far outside of the standards of what others are doing. This does not mean that all people who differ from the norms of the group have a psychological disorder. Deviance includes both those who fall well below and well above the standard of the group. People with psychological disorders deviate in some way from the typical behaviour of others. If a person experiences intense negative feelings due to their behaviour such as anxiety, sadness or despair, this may be indicative of a psychological disorder.