PSYC 241 Lecture : January 7th Lecture
20 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
Is it really pathological or do i just find it socially unacceptable? e. g. , boys engaging in oral sex with men in papua new guinea. Abnormal = psychopathology = mental disorder = etc. Statistical infrequency most mental disorders are statistically rare: problem: some desirable conditions are rare such as high iq and great physical ability, only certain rare conditions are abnormal. Violation of norms behaviour that violates norms that make us feel threatened/anxious. Some do violate social norms: problem: many people violate social norms on purpose (e. g. , political dissidents), problem: many people with mental disorders don"t violate them (e. g. , generalized anxiety disorder). Personal distress: problem: some people with mental disorders don"t seem to be suffering (e. g. , antisocial personality disorder), problem: many people w/o mental disorders do (e. g. , poor, physically ill), problem: suffering is very subjective. D&n (authors) conclude that there isn"t a simple definition for abnormality, may need to apply some or all five definitions in a specific case.
