PSC 168 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Modern Problems, Internet Addiction Disorder, Sigmund Freud
Document Summary
Abnormal psychology: the scientific study of abnormal behavior in an effort to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Interfering w/the person"s ability to conduct daily activities in a constructive way. Norms: a society"s stated and unstated rules for proper conduct. Behavior that breaks legal norms is considered criminal. Behavior, thoughts, & emotions that break norms are considered abnormal. Culture: a people"s common history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, & arts. Judgements of abnormality depend on specific circumstances as well as on cultural norms. Those who function abnormally may have a positive and/or negative frame of mind. Since the concept of abnormality depends so heavily on social norms and values, it"s difficult to define psychological abnormality. Society may have trouble distinguishing between an abnormality that requires intervention and an eccentricity, or marked individuality, with which others have no right to interfere. Some consider people eccentric instead of abnormal.
