The definition of normal is VERY important and has VERY REAL implications So the question is: How do we define “normal”? And perhaps more importantly, if someone engages in behavior that is NOT considered normal can we assume that person is sick or has a mental disorder?

What is normal? Unfortunately, there is no great definition of normal. Normal varies from situation to situation, person to person, and culture to culture. But generally, normal is defined as: Conforming to standard or regular patterns of behaviour

So what is abnormal? Abnormal behavior, is essentially a label applied to behaviour that does not conform That is, behavior that is not common for most people and falls out of the “normal range ”

Abnormal Psychology “Well, that's your opinion, isn't it? And I'm not about to waste my time trying to change it.” ― Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is unusual…but is she sick???

Homosexuality O With the people sitting near you, arrange yourselves so that you are in groups of about 5 people. O Discuss the statements that are on the next slide and then vote as to whether your group: a) Agrees (a consensus or only one person disagreeing) b) Disagrees (a consensus or only one person agreeing) c) Cannot reach a decision (everything else)

O Having a homosexual friend or neighbor is OK by me. O It's OK for homosexuals to be teachers, including teachers of children. O Families with homosexual parents should be portrayed in some children's books. O Homosexuals should be allowed in the military, including combat divisions. O It's OK for homosexuals to get legally married, and receive the legal benefits of being married. O It's OK for homosexual couples, or even single homosexuals, to raise children. O I would vote for a homosexual who was running for president. O It would be OK by me if one or more of my children were homosexual. O It would be OK by me if I found out that my parent was homosexual. O Homosexuality is normal.

So, is homosexuality considered a mental illness? In 1992, the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) removed homosexuality as a type of psychological disorder from the DSM

Just because some behavior is atypical, or not common for the majority, that does not mean that the person performing that behavior is mentally ill. Let’s look at some examples…

WHY ME???

Abnormal? Yes. But not quite pathological…

Abnormal Psychology The branch of psychology that deals with studying, explaining and treating ‘abnormal’ behaviour (mostly in a clinical context)

Abnormal Psych attracts researchers who investigate causes of abnormal behaviour and try to find the most effective treatments for them Eg. Taking medication, or a talking cure or a combination

As we said…it’s tough to determine what exactly normal or abnormal behaviour is O We sort of rely on the subjective assessments of clinicians in combination with the diagnostic tools of classification systems (e.g. DSM IV)

What’s normal? What’s not? Not an easy task Intelligence and short-term memory tend to be normally distributed – bell-curve.

O But there are problems in using stats in this way when we deal with abnormal behaviour because some things that are statistically normal (like obesity) are not desirable or healthy behaviours O And some that are statistically rare – like high IQ – are not dysfunctional

Rosenhan and Seligman (1984) – 7 criteria to decide if a person or behaviour is normal or not

7 Criteria O Suffering – does the person experience distress and discomfort? O Maladaptiveness – does the person engage in behaviours that make life difficult for him or her rather than being helpful? O Irrationality - is the person incomprehensible or unable to communicate in a reasonable way? O Unpredictability – does the person act in ways that are unexpected by himself or herself or by other people?

7 Criteria cont. O Vividness and unconventionality – does the person experience things that are different from most people? O Observer discomfort – is the person acting in a way that is difficult to watch or that makes other people embarrassed? O Violation of moral or ideal standards - does the person habitually break the accepted ethical and moral standards of the culture?

O The first 4 criteria deal with how the person is living life O The fifth represents a social judgment O The remaining criteria clearly represent social norms (remember those?) Issues! - ex. Diversity of how people live their lives, diagnosis of ethnic minorities that has been misapplied because doctors don’t understand the cultural norms

Groups: Discuss whether you would consider each of the following an example of ‘abnormal behaviour’. What could be the possible criteria for your decision? Transvestitism Nail biting Math anxiety Talking to oneself

General Learning Outcomes (applicable to all topics in the option) To what extent do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence abnormal behaviour? Evaluate psychological research (that is, theories and/or studies) relevant to the study of abnormal behaviour. SLOs: Concepts and diagnosis Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality. Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis. Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in diagnosis (for example, cultural variation, stigmatization). SLOs: Psychological disorders Describe symptoms and prevalence of one disorder from two of the following groups: –– anxiety disorders –– affective disorders –– eating disorders. Analyse etiologies (in terms of biological, cognitive and/or sociocultural factors) of one disorder from two of the following groups: –– anxiety disorders –– affective disorders –– eating disorders. Discuss cultural and gender variations in prevalence of disorders. SLOS: Implementing treatment Examine biomedical, individual and group approaches to treatment. Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual and group approaches to the treatment of one disorder. Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment. Discuss the relationship between etiology and therapeutic approach in relation to one disorder.

For the 2 GLOs Keep these in mind throughout the unit and take notes on the following as we go along: O Keep a record of what factors in each LOA influence abnormal behaviour and any strengths and limitations of these factors O Each time you read a study or theory in enough detail, consider its + and – and keep a record of the names of researchers you consider to be important

The IB Psych Syllabus deals with 3 groups of disorders in this unit O Anxiety disorders O Affective disorders O Eating disorders BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE CATEGORIES

Diagnosis As you can imagine, determining whether or not someone has a psychological disorder can be challenging. Especially when dealing with mild forms of the disorders. Even more challenging perhaps is determining exactly WHAT a person may be suffering from. (Depressed > Anxiety Disorder)

DSM-IV OTOThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (By APA) is most commonly used to diagnose patients. OUOUnder constant revision – as we learn more about behavior, new disorders are found & others are deleted or edited For Example : Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was not assessed until after the Vietnam War.

Only a psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose a patient. YOU CAN NOT SELF DIAGNOSE!!

Mental Disorders O Are categorized according to their predominant features O For example: phobias, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder all include anxiety as a main feature of the disorder. All of these disorders are therefore categorized under Anxiety Disorders.

Categories of Disorder OAOAdjustment Disorders OAOAnxiety Disorders ODODissociative Disorders OEOEating Disorders OIOImpulse – Control Disorder OMOMood Disorders OSOSexual Disorders OSOSleep Disorders OPOPsychotic Disorders OSOSexual Dysfunctions OSOSomatoform Disorders OSOSubstance-Related Disorders OPOPersonality Disorders ODODevelopmental Disorders

Let’s look at some of these more closely!!