Before we Begin

Abnormal Behavior
Chapter 1

The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology

Describe, Explain, Predict and Control
Abnormal Psychology: Scientific study aimed at
describing, explaining, predicting, and treating strange
or unusual behavior.
Describe-Systematic observations
Psychodiagnosis: Attempt to describe, assess, and
systematically draw inferences about psychological
disorders.
A diagnosis can be nothing more than a label!
Labels describe a slice in time, not the changes
present in real lives.

The Concerns of Abnormal Psychology

Describe, Explain, Predict and Control
ExplainIntrapsychic conflicts? Social isolation?

Cognitive malfunctioning? Biology?

PredictProper diagnosis should allow for
prediction based on other people in the past
who shared the diagnosis.
ControlTherapy: Systematic intervention
aimed at modifying clients behavioral,
emotional, and/or cognitive state.

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Conceptual Definitions
Conceptual Definitions: Deviation from what is
considered normal in a sociocultural context.
Statistical deviation (think large z-scores here!)
Infrequent behaviors
An IQ of 50 might be abnormal, how about 150?
Requires quantification
Doesnt consider cultural differences
Deviation from ideal mental health
Proposed by humanists
What is ideal is in the eye of the beholder
Multicultural perspectives
Continued

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Cultural Considerations in Abnormal Behavior
Culture: Shared learned behavior transmitted from
generation to generation.
Culture is a powerful determinant of how behavior is
defined and treated.
Cultural Universality: Origins, processes, manifestation
of disorders are the same across cultures.
If true then diagnosis and treatment same for all
Cultural Relativism: What is normal/abnormal may vary
from culture to culture.
Not only do behaviors vary, but definitions of
acceptable change.

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Practical Definitions
Discomfort: If behaviors
cause the actor pain
(psychological or physical),
then they are abnormal.
Deviance: Bizarre/unusual behavior
Similar to statistical deviation
Very subjective, though sometimes this is pretty
straightforward
Dysfunction: Inability/loss of ability to perform ones normal
roles.
Compare performance with requirements for a role
Compare performance with potential

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Integrated Definitions
Thomas Szasz: Mental illness is a myth:
Used to control and change people
People may suffer from problems in living, not mental
illness.
Abnormal behavior labeled because it is different, not
because it is a reflection of an illness
Unusual belief systems are not necessarily wrong
Abnormal behavior often the result of the fault of
society, not the individual
Drapetomania: Mental illness of slaves who want to be
free.

Defining Abnormal Behavior

Integrated Definitions
Perhaps the definition of abnormal should come from multiple
sources.
Strupp & Hadleys (1977) three vantage points for judging
mental health:
Society
The individual
The mental health professional
Wakefield (1992)
To label dysfunction we must know natural functioning
Definition of dysfunction must come from biology
Dysfunction must involve the harm component

Defining Abnormal Behavior

The Surgeon Generals and DSMs Definitions
a clinically significant behavioral or
psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs
in an individual and that is associated with
present distress or disability or with a
significantly increased risk of suffering death,
pain, disability, or an important loss of
freedom.

Defining Abnormal Behavior

The Frequency and Burden of Mental Disorders

Prevalence: Percentage of people in a
population with a disorder at a given time.
Lifetime Prevalence: Total proportion of people
in a population who have ever had a disorder.
Incidence: Onset or occurrence of a disorder
over a period of time.

The Frequency and Burden of Mental Disorders

Current Research into Epidemiology
Schizophrenia affects 1% of Americans.
Gender differences seen in different mental
disorders
Males more likely to have substance abuse problems,
women more likely to have depression and anxiety.

Age differences in onset and prevalence of

different disorders

Rates of Mental Disorders

The Frequency and Burden of Mental Disorders

Stereotypes About the Mentally Disturbed
Mental illness is strictly inherited
Mental illness can never be cured and someone
with a mental illness will never be able to hold a
job
Mental illness can be prevented with a strong
will
A mentally disturbed person is always
dangerous

Historical Perspectives on Abnormal

Behavior
Prehistoric and ancient beliefs
Demonology, treated by trephining or exorcism
Sympathetic Magic: The belief that by influencing things that are
similar to a person or that were once close to that person, one
can influence the person.
Homeopathic Magic: The type of sympathetic magic involving
the belief that doing something to the likeness of a person will
influence that person.
Contagious Magic: The type of sympathetic magic which
involves the belief that what one does to something that a
person once owned or that was close to a person will influence
that person.
Magical beliefs are upheld by occasional success
Bleeding or trepanation used to remove spirits.

Closing Thoughts
The study of abnormal psychology is complex and
influenced by historical time.
No single explanation fits all situations.
Biopsychosocial Approach: Biological,
psychological, and social factors must all be
considered to explain and treat mental disorders
Guard against Medical Student Syndrome: Avoid
diagnosing self and others!
We all have all disorders, it simply a matter of
degree

Biopsychosocial Approach

Implications
The study of abnormal psychology is complex
and influenced by historical time
No single explanation fits all situations
Multipath model is necessary in attempting to
understand such complex processes
Multipath model consists of following factors:
Biological
Psychological
Social
Sociocultural