Psychological disorder: what makes a behavior

“abnormal”?

What is abnormal psychology?

the application of psychological science to understanding and treating mental disorders

People with psychological disorders are also stigmatized by the people around them, resulting in shame and embarrassment, as well as prejudice and discrimination against them.

What is a psychological disorder?

an ongoing dysfunctional pattern of thought, emotion, and behavior that causes significant distress, and that is considered deviant in that person’s culture or society (as cited by

Psychological disorders have much in common with other medical disorders: They are out of the patient’s control they may in some cases be treated by drugs and their treatment is often covered by medical

insurance.

Like medical problems, psychological disorders have: both biological (nature) as well as environmental (nurture) influences.

These causal influences are reflected in the bio-psycho-social model of illness (as cited by

bio-psycho-social model of Illness: A way of understanding disorder that assumes that disorder is caused by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Yes No Need more info descriptionJackie frequently talks to herself while she is working out her math homework. Her roommate sometimes hears her and wonders if she is OK.

Charlie believes that the noises made by cars and planes going by outside his house have secret meanings. He is convinced that he was involved in the start of a nuclear war and that the only way for him to survive is to find the answer to a difficult riddle.Harriet gets very depressed during the winter months when the light is low. She sometimes stays in her pajamas for the whole weekend, eating chocolate and watching TV.

Frank seems to be afraid of a lot of things. He worries about driving on the highway and about severe weather that may come through his neighborhood. But mostly he fears mice, checking under his bed frequently to see if any are present.

A worshipper speaking in “tongues” at an Evangelical church views himself as “filled” with the Holy Spirit and is considered blessed with the gift to speak the “language of angels.”

References

C. S. (2011). Chapter 12 Defining Psychological Dosirders. In Introduction to Psychology. Retrieved April 20, 2016, from http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/9/9.00SC/M

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