Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology: Introduction

What is Abnormal Psychology?

- The scientific study of abnormal behaviour, with the objective to Describe, to Explain, to Predict, and to Control.

So what are abnormal behaviours?

Myths of Abnormal Behaviour 

* The following are common myths about those suffering from mental illness:

1. Easily recognized as deviant
2. Disorder due to inheritance
3. Incurable
4. Weak willed
5. Never contribute to society
6. Alwaysdangerous    

  What is Abnormal Behaviour?

- Abnormal behaviour departs from some norm and harms the affected individual or others

• Conceptual Definitions
• Practical Definitions
• SurgeonGeneral & DSM-IV Definitions  

Practical Definitions 

The 4D's:  Discomfort, Dysfunction, Deviance, Danger

History    

Ancient Beliefs: Demonology, Exorcism, Trephining

Naturalistic Explanations: Hippocrates, Four Humors.

Return to the Supernatural: Mass madness (tarantism), witchcraft.

Reforms

Humanism: People are sick; not possessed, Need to be treated with dignity.

Reform Movements:  Moral treatments (*Shift from prison to hospital)

Biological View:  Organic explanation for abnormal behaviour, Drug revolution

MentalHealth Professions    

Who studies abnormal behaviour?

• Clinical Psychologist (Ph.D. and Internship)

• Psychiatrist (M.D. and Internship)

• Social Psychologist (M.A. or Ph.D.)

• Social Worker (M.S.W.)

Diversity & Multiculturalism    

• Social Conditioning - e.g., gender stereotypes

• Cultural Values - Interpret complaints with culture in mind.

• Sociopolitical Influences - Different experiences affect what is abnormal.

• Bias in diagnosis

Diagnosing Abnormal Behaviour    

Multiaxial approach (based on DSM-IV)

- Axis I (Clinical Disorders)

- Axis II (Personality Disorders)

- Axis III (General Medical Conditions)

- Axis IV (Psycho-social and environmental problems)

- Axis V (Level of current functioning)

       AnExample of Classification

Axis I: Clinical Disorder

*Alcohol Abuse

Axis II: Personality Disorder

*Paranoid

Axis III: General Medical Condition

*Cirrhosis

Axis IV: Psychosocial & Environmental Problems

*Problems with primary support group (divorce)

*Occupational problems

Axis V: Level of Current Functioning*54 (moderate difficulty in social & occupation functioning)

★ Interrater Reliability    

 Assessment    

• Observation
• Self-Report Inventories
• Biological Measures: Psychophysiological Measures, NeuroImaging Techniques.
• Projective Tests: Rorschach Ink Blots, Thematic Appreciation Test.

Rorschach Test

Scoring    

Look at the following factors

• Location

• Determinants

• Popularity of response

• Content

• Form

[Generate hypotheses based on patterns of responses, recurrent themes, and interrelationships among scoring categories.]