PSYC 3082 : Study Guide Exam 1
Document Summary
The field devoted to the scientific study of abnormal behavior to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning workers in this field may include clinical scientists and clinical practitioners. The four d"s share most features: deviance: different, extreme, unusual, perhaps bizarre. From behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that differ markedly from a society"s ideas about proper functioning from social norms. Judgments of abnormality also depend on specific circumstances (i. e. , social context: distress: unpleasant and upsetting to the person. According to many clinical theorists, behavior, ideas, or emotions usually have to cause distress before they can be labeled abnormal. Not always the case: dysfunction: interfering with the person ability to conduct daily activities in a constructive way. Abnormal behavior tends to be dysfunctional it interferes with daily functioning. Culture plays a role in the definition of abnormality as well. Dysfunction alone does not necessarily indicate psychological abnormality: danger: posing risk of harm.
