Psychology 2035A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, American Psychiatric Association, Anxiety Disorder

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazlewood

Document Summary

Medical model: proposes that it is useful to think of abnormal behaviour as a disease. Basis for many terms used to refer to abnormal behaviour. Medical model = conventional way of thinking during 19th and 20th centuries influence dominant today. Prior to 18th century: conceptions of abnormal behaviour based on superstition. Patients views with more sympathy, less hatred & fear. Gradual process made toward more humane care of mentally ill. Ineffectual approaches to treatment scientific investigation of causes & cures of psychological disorders. Disease or illness can affect only the body; hence, there can be no mental illness minds can be sick only in the sense that jokes are sick or economies are sick . Abnormal behaviour usually involves deviation from social norms. Medical model converts moral and social questions about what is acceptable behaviour into medical questions. Medical diagnosis of abnormal behaviour pin potentially derogatory labels on people.