PSYC 1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Dysthymia, Observational Learning, Mania
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How to conceptualize, classify, and understand psychological disorders?". Conceptions of abnormality change over time and must consider culture. Statistical deviance: criteria of abnormality if behavior is infrequent compared to remembers of population. Cultural deviance: compares a behavior to existing cultural norms. But not all people who suffer from psychological disorders violate norms. Violating norms doesn"t necessarily equate to disorder. Ex: lebron james" bball skill abnormal but not a disorder. Personal or emotional distress: if behavior causes, another criterion. Dysfunction: breakdown in normal function due to abnormal behavior. Concept of insanity: is legal not psychological. In general, abnormal vs normal is a continuum/spectrum. Insanity: defendant"s thought processes at the time of the crime. Insane if criminal can"t realize/judge the appropriateness of their actions. Abnormal behavior is caused by an underlying disease, mental illness, that can be cured with appropriate therapy. Behavior is strongly influenced by biological factors and disorders are classified in terms of symptoms.
