Abnormal Psychology

Learning objectives
• At the end of this presentation the student should be able to
identify:
➢Abnormal behavior.
➢Major perspectives on psychological disorders used by
mental health professionals.
➢ Major categories of psychological disorders.
Definitions
• Abnormality as deviation from the ideal .
• An alternative approach considers abnormality in relation to the standard
toward which most people are striving—the ideal. This sort of definition
considers behavior abnormal if it deviates enough from some kind of ideal or
cultural standard.
• Abnormality as deviation from the average. To employ this statistically based
approach, we simply observe what behaviors are rare or occur infrequently in
a specific society or culture and label those deviations from the norm
“abnormal.”
• Abnormality as a sense of personal discomfort A more useful definition
concentrates on the psychological consequences of the behavior for the
individual. In this approach, behavior is considered abnormal if it produces a
sense of personal distress, anxiety, or guilt in an individual—or if it is harmful
to others in some way.
Cont….
Abnormality as the inability to function effectively . Most people are
able to feed themselves, hold a job, get along with others, and in general
live as productive members of society. Yet there are those who are
unable to adjust to the demands of society or function effectively.
According to this view of abnormality, people who are unable to
function effectively and to adapt to the demands of society are
considered abnormal. For example, an unemployed, homeless woman
living on the street may be considered unable to function effectively.
Therefore, her behavior can be viewed as abnormal. what makes her
“abnormal,” according to this approach?
Answer:
Her inability to adapt to the requirements of society
Cont….
• psychologists typically define abnormal behavior broadly as behavior that
causes people to experience distress and prevents them from functioning in
their daily lives.
• Behavior should be evaluated in terms of gradations that range from fully
normal functioning to extremely abnormal behavior.
Ways to define abnormal psychology
• Two ways to define abnormal psychology:
1. Statistical Deviation.
2. Maladaptiveness.
➢Statistical Deviation: Those who Most human stray too characteristics far
from the average distributed on this along a curve are smooth bell- then
shaped curve considered abnormal.
➢Maladaptiveness
▪ Maladaptive to ones self - inability to reach goals, to adapt to the demands of
life
▪ Maladaptive to society - interferes, disrupts social group functioning.
 Perspectives on Abnormality
• six major perspectives are used to understand psychological disorders.
1- Medical perspective:
Medical Assumes that physiological causes are at the root of psychological
disorders.
Application of Perspective:
Examine Lily for medical problems, such as brain tumor, chemical imbalance
in the brain, or disease
2. Psychoanalytic perspective
• Argues that psychological disorders stem from childhood conflicts
• Seek out information about Lily’s past, considering possible childhood confl
icts
3- Behavioral perspective
• Behavioral perspective Assumes that abnormal behaviors are learned
responses.
Application of Perspective:
• Concentrate on rewards and punishments for Lily’s behavior, and identify
environmental stimuli that reinforce her behavior
4.Cognitive perspective
• Assumes that cognitions (people’s thoughts and beliefs) are central to
psychological disorders: beliefs) are central to psychological disorders
• Application of Perspective:
• Focus on Lily’s perceptions of self and her environment
5.Humanistic perspective
Emphasizes people’s responsibility for their own behavior and the need to self-
actualize
Application of Perspective
• Consider Lily’s behavior in terms of her choices and eff orts to reach her
potential
6.Sociocultural perspective
• Assumes that behavior is shaped by family, society, and culture society, and
culture.
• Application of Perspective
• Focus on how societal demands contributed to Lily’s disorder
Classifying Abnormal Behavior
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text
Revision (DSM-IV-TR) A system, devised by the American Psychiatric
Association, used by most professionals to diagnose and classify abnormal
behavior.
DSM-IV-TR: DETERMINING DIAGNOSTIC
DISTINCTIONS
• Over the years, mental health professionals have developed many different
classification systems that vary in terms of their utility and the degree to
which they have been accepted. However, one standard system, devised by the
American Psychiatric Association, has emerged in the United States.
• Most professionals today use this classification system, known as the
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text
Revision (DSM-IV-TR) to diagnose and classify abnormal behavior.
Cont….
DSM-IV-TR presents comprehensive and relatively precise
definitions for more than 200 disorders divided into 17 major
categories. It also includes five types of information, known as
axes, which have to be considered in assessing a patient:
• Axis I: Clinical Disorders. Disorders that produce distress
and impair functioning.
• Axis II: Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation.
Enduring, rigid behavior patterns.
• Axis III: General Medical Conditions. Physical disorders
that may be related to psychological disorders.
• Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems. Problems in a person’s
life such as stressors or life events that may affect the diagnosis, treatment,
and outcome of psychological disorders.
• Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning. Overall level of mental, social,
occupational, and leisure functioning.
TYPES OF DISORDERS
 Anxiety Disorders.
 Delusional Disorder.
 Mood Disorders.
 Substance Use Disorders.
 Personality Disorders.
 Somatoform Disorders.
 Schizophrenia.
 Dissociative Disorders.
• Anxiety Disorders: People with anxiety disorders feel an abnormal amount
from common things In all types of anxiety disorders, anxiety is the main
symptom.
• Types Of Anxiety Disorders:
Four major types of anxiety disorders.
1. Generalized anxiety.
2. panic disorders and Phobias.
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
4. Post traumatic stress disorder.
Phobias

A fear of a specific stimulus or situation.

The sufferer of a phobia usually knows that the fear is irrational.
Types Of Phobias
Phobia has three sub-classes:
1. Simple Phobia.
2. Social Phobia.
3. Agoraphobia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
• An obsession is the persistent intrusion of unwelcome thoughts, images, or
impulses, that cause anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Caused by a traumatic event that overwhelms a person.Ruins their ability to
cope with a situation, Can cause flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, and guilt
 Mood disorders(affective disorders)

• Types Of Mood Disorders:

Two general classifications for mood disorders.
1. Bipolar Disorders (manic-depression).
Swings from depression (extreme sadness) to mania (extreme happiness)
2. Depressive Disorders
Extended, unexplainable periods of sadness
Personality Disorders

A person with a personality disorder:

❖Does not feel like they are doing anything wrong.
❖Improper and immature ways to deal with problems or situations.
❖Do not want to change their behavior.
Schizophrenia
Is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and
of emotional responsiveness. the forms of psychotic symptoms as
hallucinations Delusions that distinguished schizophrenia from other psychotic
disorders.
Delusional Disorder
• Uncommon psychiatric condition in which patients present with symptoms of
non-bizarre delusions, Believes that he is the greatest, strongest, fastest, most
intelligent person, The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive,
especially about the belief
Substance-Use Disorder

• Include substance abuse and substance dependence.

• dependence of a drug or other chemical.
• The disorder is characterized by a pattern of continued pathological use of a
medication, non- medically indicated drug or toxin.
• consequences related to drug use, such as Failure to meet work, Family,
School obligations, Interpersonal conflicts, or legal problems.
Dissociative Disorders
• called group of disorder.
Characterized by a disruption in the normal functioning of consciousness,
identity, memory, or the world around .
• Can be acute or chronic
Thank you