PSYCH 2AP3 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Mercury Poisoning, Mental Disorder, Biomedical Model
23 Feb 2020
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Critics of the impairment criterion of mental disorder. Some individuals are dangerous to themselves or others, but not do meet any other criterion for mental disorder. It is not clear who should decide whether an individual is impaired, and on what criteria. Individuals who selflessly sacrifice themselves for others are no considered mentally disordered. It is not clear how one would decide whether an individual is able to function independently in society. Argues that a mental disorder is really a physical disorder that causes psychological. Began with observation that syphilitic infection and mercury poisoning could cause mental and behavioral symptoms. Leads to a bias toward using physical treatments to treat psychological symptoms. Argues that what we call mental disorder is just disordered behavior. Tends to see mental disorder as being result of maladaptive learning or inappropriately generalized learning. Suggests that processes that lead to abnormality are also those who maintain normality. Especially well-suited to deals with disorder like anxiety.
