PSYC 2280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mental Health, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Classical Conditioning

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2280
• Professor: Langton

Document Summary

Psychological disorder: psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected. Psychological dysfunction: breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning: problems are often considered on a continuum, as some people have mild versions of dysfunctions and it is hard to know where to draw the line. More useful tools to define: whether the dysfunction is harmful, and whether the behaviour is out of the individ- ual"s control or not. Psychopathology: study of psychological disorders: clinical/counselling psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, mental health counsellors. The scientist-practitioner: important development is the adoption of scientific methods to learn more about the nature of psychological disorders, causes and treatment. Three things you look for studying psychological disorders: clinical description, causation, treatment and outcome. Presenting problem: indicating why the person came to the clinic, describing the problem.