Ch. 1 - Understanding Psychopathology

Psychopathology - study of mental illness or disorders (figuring out diease of the minf)

4Ds of maladaptive or abnormal behavior

  • Dysfunction - getting in the way of life

  • Distress - pain to others or self

  • Deviance - atypical or culturally unexpected

  • Dangerousness (not always present) - harmful to oneself or others (ex. anxiety since it typically makes oneself uncomfortable)


Psychopathology is caused by…

  • Biological theories - breakdown of systems in the body (Treatment = restore systems/health)

  • Supernatural theories - divine intervention, curses demonic possession, or personal sin (Treatment = religious rituals, exorcisms, confessions)

  • Psychological theories -trauma or chronic stress (Treatments = rest, relaxation, change of environment, herbal medicines)


Normal - Behavior, thoughts, and feelings: 

  • Typical for social context 

  • Not distressing to the individual 

  • Not interfering w/ social life and work 

  • Not dangerous 

Ex. College students happy with lots of friends and good grades 

Socially establishes division between normal and abnormal - behavior, thoughts, and feelings: 

  • Somewhat unusual for the social context 

  • Distressing to the individual 

  • Interfering w/ social or occupational functioning 

  • Dangerous 

Ex. College students who are often unsure and self-critical, occasionally abuse prescription drugs, avoid friends with opposing drug views, and fail some courses. 

Abnormal - Behavior, thoughts, and feelings:  

  • Highly unusual for social context 

  • The source of individual's distress 

  • Significantly interfering w/ social or occupational functioning 

  • Highly dangerous to other and/or individual 

Ex. college students who are hopeless about future, are self-loating, chronically abuse drugs, fail courses, and no friends  



What is Mental Health Stigma? 


Stigma - negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes that people hold towards individuals w/ mental health issues 

3 Types of Stigmas 

  1. Public - discrimination and devaluation by others; Belief in those stereotypes and actions taken in response can affect job prospects, housing decisions, and even the quality of health care that they receive 

  2. Systemic - reduced access to care and resources due to policies; exists due to public stigmas embodying laws, institutions, or organizations that affect society 

  3. Self - internalization of negative stereotypes; affects a person’s self-esteem and self-efficacy, leading to persistent doubt and hopelessness 



Displaying abnormal behavior is not necessarily enough to be assigned a psychological disorder. The diagnosis of a psychological disorder requires specific criteria to be met after a psychological evaluation is complete

Cultural relativism - view that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a behavior abnormal; instead, behaviors can be labeled abnormal only within their own cultural norms 

  • This honors the norms and traditions of one’s culture rather than push a culture’s norms on another