PSYB32H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Abnormal Psychology, Testability, Mental Disorder
Document Summary
Behaviour there are different ways of conceptualizing and treating abnormal behaviour. Science the pursuit of systematized knowledge through observation. Refers to a method(systematic acquisition) and to a goal(development of general theories) it"s important to be testable open to systematic probes. Scientific approach requires propositions and ideas that are clear and precise! then scientific claims can be exposed to probes and tests. Statements, theories and assertions must be testable and subject to disproof. A scientific body of knowledge must be replicable or reliable. Set of propositions meant to explain a class of phenomena. Goal of science advance theories to account for data. Expectations about what should occur if a theory is true to be tested in research. E. g. if the classical-conditioning theory is valid, people with phobias, should be more likely than those in the general population to have had traumatic experiences with the situations they fear, such as flying.
