ch. 1 : definitions & scope

common features of abnormality

1) deviance

2) distress

3) dysfunction

4) danger

deviance

• EXTREME behavior, regarding frequency or severity

• is the behavior extreme in some way? (outlier)

distress

• causes negative emotions, upsetting, suffering

• bothersome

dysfunction

• interference/impairment in daily functioning

• difficulty doing the things you need or want to do

• does the behavior cause problem’s in one’s daily life?

danger

• to self and/or others

  • violence, injury

  • neglect, malnourishment

prevalence

• % of indv in targeted pop who have a particular disorder during a specific period of time

point prevalence

• % of people with a disorder in the past month/year/etc

lifetime prevalence

• % of ppl in pop who have had a disorder @ some point in their life

comorbidity

• presence of two or more disorders in one person

A: anxiety

Q: what is the most common disorders

A: young adults, biracial, LGBTQ+

Q: who is particularly at risk?

A: younger ppl, ethnic minorities, men

Q: rates of service use are lower among?

A: 20%

Q: what is the percentage of ADULTS who suffer from a disorder?

A: 20-40%

Q: what percentage of the YOUTH suffer with a disorder?

ancient views & treatments

• abnormal behavior attributed to evil spirits, possession

• trephination, exorcism

greek & roman views (500_BC-500_AD)

• hippocrates: natural causes

• imbalance of four fluids (humors)

  • yellow bile

  • black bile

  • blood

  • phlegm

middle ages (500-1350_AD)

• religious beliefs, demonology, St. Vitus’ dance

renaissance (1400-1700)

• rise of asylums

• johann weyer → body & mind susceptible to illness

• care for ppl w/ mental illness improved

• hospitals & monasteries converted to asylums

  • “bedlam”

reform & moral treatment (1800s)

humane treatment of mentally ill

• phillipe pinel → sympathy & kindness, sunny rooms, support

• benjamin rush → nice staff, walks, talking

• dorothea dix → campaign for state hospitals

somatogenic & psychogenic perspectives (1900s)

• physical/brain disease as cause (somatogenic)

  • emil kraeplin → physical factors (ex. fatigue); syndromes

• psychological problems as cause (psychogenic)

  • freud → psychoanalysis; unconscious mental processes, outpatient therapy, cathartic method

current trends of psychology

• deinstitutionalization

• outpatient therapy

• prevention & promotion

• managed health care (insurance)

• appreciation for research

• diversity/multicultural psych

• best-practice