PSYA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Abnormal Psychology
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PSYA02H3 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
In direct terms, abnormal means anything that deviates from the norm. In psychological contexts, we imply maladaptive when using the term, meaning that a person is abnormal in a way that causes social problems for them or others that make it hard for them to adapt to society. Abnormal psychology is associated with: an inability to hold a job, marital or family dysfunction, problematic interactions with others. When psychic con ict is too strong for defence mechanisms to deal with in healthy ways, they may actually distort one"s perception of reality, or the person will function in ways re ective of an early developmental stage. Can lead to psychological disorders that include extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour, depression, disturbed perceptions and thought disturbances, paralysis or blindness without physical cause. During the 18th and 19th centuries, people began to think about psychological disorders as re ecting biological causes.
