PSYC1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Antisocial Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Overdiagnosis
Document Summary
Abnormal behaviour - must know the context of the behaviour for diagnosis. When does feeling anxious becoming an anxiety disorder. When does feeling down become clinical depression. Misconception that abnormal behaviour = craziness" - looseness of terminology (mad, psychotic). Dif cult to diminish mythology and stigma - abnormal behaviour is seen in normal" people. Eg fear of ying, capable everywhere else in life (functional), but disabling fear abnormality. Abnormality can be a good thing - eg. making the olympics - but not other symptoms (distress or dysfunction) so not technically considered abnormal although they are a statistical infrequency. Dependent on society - sets standard for behaviour (by law or custom). Eg. changing conceptions of homosexuality - used to be considered a disorder (abnormal) so given treatment, then change in thinking that society has a problem not the individuals and so now not considered a disorder. Eg. alcohol use: spectrum (not clear cut) of suggested safe levels".
