PSYB32H3 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 from textbook, covered in week 1 of FALL 2010 semester
Document Summary
Psychopathology: concerned w/the nature & development of abnormal behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. Abnormal behaviour: includes such characteristics as statistical infrequence, violation of norms, personal distress, disability or dysfunction, and unexpectedness. E. g. j. brett barkley depression & mania (alternating episodes) occurred in ~1% of pop. : described by the normal curve majority of the pop lies in the middle; used explicitly to diagnose mental retardation. Sometimes infrequencies are not abnormal e. g. athletic strength. verbal/physical attacks on his wife; e. g. antisocial behav of a psychopath/ocd patient; norms are different w/in diff cultures. E. g. psychopath has no distress of actions he/she has done. disruption of marital relationship; impairment in area of life b/c of abnormality. E. g. substance-use disorders are defined in part by the social/occupational disability. A phobia can produce both distress and disability (e. g. fear of flying). Unexpectedness: distress and disability are considered abnormal when they are unexpected responses to environmental stressors.
