PSY240H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Order Of Newfoundland And Labrador, Spirochaete, Mass Hysteria
Document Summary
Psychological abnormality behaviour, speech or thought that impairs the ability of a person to function in a way that is gradually expected of him or her, in the context where the unusual functioning occurs. Mental illness refers to same meaning as psychological abnormality, but implies a medical rather than a psychological cause. Psychological disorder specific manifestation of this impairment of functioning. Psychopathology the scientific study of psychological abnormality and the problems faced by people who suffer from such disorders. Behaviour is judged as abnormal if it occurs infrequently in the population. It is not clear how unusual a given behaviour has to be in order to be considered abnormal: example: the common cold is considered an illness and yet it has a lifetime prevalence of 100% Many people who are considered to have a psychological disorder report being distress yet, distress is not present for all people identified as abnormal.
