PSYA02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 17: Schizophrenia, Elizabeth Loftus, Dissociative Identity Disorder
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PSYA02H3 Full Course Notes
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Chapter 17 the nature and causes of mental disorders. Abnormal = any departure from the norm; it"s become a pejorative connotation and we use the term to describe characteristics we dislike or fear. Distinction between normal and abnormal behaviour is subjective. The most important feature of a mental disorder isn"t whether person"s behaviour is abnormal (different from most other people), but whether it"s maladaptive. Making it impossible to people to hold jobs, raise families, or relate to others socially. Understanding cultural difference in beliefs is important; the fact that diagnoses are affected by social or cultural contexts doesn"t mean that they"re invalid. Some mental disorders especially the less severe ones, appear to be caused by environmental factors or by peoples perception of these factor, stress. A child who is constantly criticized by a parent may learn to be passive and non- responding (this strategy may be adaptive in interactions with the parent but would be maladaptive in other social situations)