PSYB32H3 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Notes
Document Summary
Introduction: definitional and historical considerations and canada"s mental health system. In his thirties him and his wife wanted a family, but he was unable to achieve an erection inability to make love, and he left and now is seeking professional help. Psychopathology: the field concerned with nature and development of abnormal behaviour, thoughts, and feelings: another challenge of abnormal psychology is the need to remain objective. There is no single one definition that is adequate. The best definition of abnormal behaviour includes such characteristics of; statistical frequency, violation of norms, personal distress, disability or dysfunction, and unexpectedness. The following 5 characteristics provide a framework for defining abnormality. Statistical infrequency: one aspect of abnormal behaviour is that its infrequent. This statistical infrequency is used explicitly in diagnosing mental retardation: when an individual"s iq is below 70 they are considered subnormal and considered mentally retarded. But not all behaviours that are infrequent are abnormal (ex. great athletic ability)
