● Danger: Danger relates to whether the
behavior poses a risk of harm to
Introduction to
Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal psychology is a branch of
psychology that focuses on the study of
atypical patterns of behavior, thoughts, and
emotions.
Psychological Disorders-It is a psychological
dysfunction within an individual that is
associated with distress or impairment in
functioning and a response that is not typical
or culturally expected.
Psychopathology-is the scientific study of
psychological disorders and abnormal
behavior.
What constitutes abnormal behavior?
4 D’s of Abnormality
● Distress: Distress pertains to the
emotional or psychological suffering
experienced by the individual due to
their behavior or mental state.
● Abnormal behavior often leads to
feelings of discomfort, unhappiness, or
emotional pain, which can affect an
individual's well-being.
● Dysfunction: Dysfunction involves
impaired or disrupted daily functioning,
such as difficulties in carrying out daily
activities, maintaining relationships, or
achieving personal goals.
● Abnormal behavior is often associated
with a decline in an individual's ability
to live a functional and productive life.
● Deviance: Deviance refers to
behavior or experiences that
significantly deviate from what is
considered typical or culturally
acceptable in each society or cultural
context.
● It involves behaviors that are
uncommon, rare, or widely regarded
as socially unacceptable.
oneself or others.
● Abnormal behaviors that are
dangerous may include self-harm,
harm to others, or situations where the
person's actions jeopardize their
safety or well-being.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM)
- Used to describe “typical profile” of a
particular disorder, based on the field’s
current understanding (continually
updated and revised)
- Prototypes the definition and criteria
for diagnosing mental disorders:
This means that the patient may have
only some features or symptoms of
the disorder (a minimum number)
and still meet criteria for the
disorder because his or her set of
symptoms is close to the prototype
DSM-5 Classification
● Neurodevelopmental Disorders
● Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other
Psychotic Disorders
● Bipolar and Related Disorders
● Depressive Disorders
● Anxiety Disorders
● Obsessive-Compulsive and Related
Disorders
● Trauma- and Stressor-Related
Disorders
● Dissociative Disorders
● Somatic Symptom and Related
Disorders
● Feeding and Eating Disorders
● Elimination Disorders
● Sleep-Wake Disorders
● Sexual Dysfunctions
● Gender Dysphoria
● Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and*
Conduct Disorders
● Substance-Related and Addictive
Disorders
● Neurocognitive Disorders
● Personality Disorders
● Paraphilic Disorders
● Other Mental Disorders
● Medication-Induced Movement
Disorders and Other Adverse Effects
of Medication
● Other Conditions That May Be a
Focus of Clinical Attention
How do psychological disorders develop?

Etiology and Treatment

To identify the causes of various psychological
disorders, and treat them, we must consider
the interaction of all relevant dimensions:
genetic contributions, the role of the nervous
system, behavioral and cognitive processes,
emotional influences, social and interpersonal
influences, and developmental factors