What Is Psychological Abnormality? MANY DEFINITIONS of abnormality, NONE ARE UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED. No one definition is the "correct" or the "best" definition CRITERIA OFTEN ARE VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE When is a pattern of behavior “enough” to be considered abnormal?

Most definitions share some common features – “The Four Ds”: WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER? Most definitions share some common features – “The Four Ds”: 1. Dysfunction - Causes disruption in social, occupational, day to day functioning 2. Distress – UNPLEASANT & UPSETTING Causes distress to individual or those around the individual 3. Deviance – DIFFERENT, EXTREME, UNUSUAL a. Statistical Deviance/ infrequency, b. Cultural Deviance – norms 4. Danger - CAUSES INTERFERENCE WITH LIFE POSES RISK OF HARM

Defining Psychological Disorders Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Defining Psychological Disorders DSM-IV-TR Definition: 1. Behavioral, emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that are: 2. associated with personal distress Or substantial impairment in functioning AND 3. unexpected/ not typical in their cultural context This definition also excludes deviant behavior that is not a symptom of dysfunctional behavior

DSM-IV definition of mental disorder A mental disorder is “conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or disability or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom.” IN ADDITION,THE BEHAVIOR IS NOT TYPICAL OR CULTURALY EXPECTED.

DSM-IV definition of mental disorder “The syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one.” “It must currently be considered a manifestation of a behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual.”

Breakdown of one’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning 1. Psychological Dysfunction Breakdown of one’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning Sometimes, this is not “abnormal” Depression over a death

1. DYSFUNCTION/MALADAPTIVENESS behaviors that: are physically damaging to the individual; cause emotional suffering or harm; interfere with the ability to function in daily life or indicate that the individual has: lost touch with reality or cannot control behavior or thoughts.

1. MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR: 1) MALADAPTIVE TO ONE'S SELF - inability to reach goals, or to adapt to the demands of life. and 2) MALADAPTIVE TO SOCIETY –. - interferes with / disrupts social group functioning

Abnormality/Psychopathology What are behaviors that are maladaptive but not deviant? Over eating/obesity; smoking What are deviant behaviors that are not maladaptive? MTV (Tom Green); M. Manson (theatrical deviance) Behaviors that combine deviance and maladaptation = abnormality/psychopathology C. Manson

1. DYSFUNCTION/MALADAPTIVENESS behaviors that: are physically damaging to the individual; cause emotional suffering or harm; interfere with the ability to function in daily life or indicate that the individual has: lost touch with reality or cannot control behavior or thoughts.

1. MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR: 1) MALADAPTIVE TO ONE'S SELF - inability to reach goals, or to adapt to the demands of life. and 2) MALADAPTIVE TO SOCIETY –. - interferes with / disrupts social group functioning

Abnormality/Psychopathology What are behaviors that are maladaptive but not deviant? Over eating/obesity; smoking What are deviant behaviors that are not maladaptive? MTV (Tom Green); M. Manson (theatrical deviance) Behaviors that combine deviance and maladaptation = abnormality/psychopathology C. Manson

2. DISTRESS SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT Some people argue that behavior is only abnormal if 1. the individual as a result of the behavior and 2. suffers wishes to change/eliminate it DSM-IV - HOMOSEXUALITY – is a disorder only if person has subjective discomfort/distress Problems with the “subjective discomfort” criterion : people are not always aware of severe problems that their behavior may create for themselves or others . . . Ex. sociopath – no guilt Ex. a psychotic patient who hears voices from his dead mother that make him happy

2. DISTRESS SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT Some people argue that behavior is only abnormal if the individual suffers as a result of the behavior and wishes to change/eliminate it. DSM-IV - HOMOSEXUALITY – is a disorder only if person has subjective discomfort/distress Problems with the subjective discomfort criterion : people are not always aware of severe problems that their behavior may create for themselves or others . . . Ex. sociopath – no guilt Ex. a psychotic patient who hears voices from his dead mother that make him happy

3. DEVIANCE A. STATISTICAL DEVIANCE B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE

3. DEVIANCE A. Statistical Deviance Rare/ infrequent behavior that deviates from the average/majority = ABNORMAL TYPICAL OR USUAL = NORMAL THE MORE INFREQUENTLY A BEHAVIOR OCCURS, THE MORE ABNORMAL IT IS CONSIDERED. Is the average the ideal?

Problem: not all deviant/uncommon behavior is abnormal 3. DEVIANCE A. Statistical Deviance Problem: not all deviant/uncommon behavior is abnormal Ex. (genius/ talented)

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM NORMS A. Statistical Deviance B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM NORMS Most of our behavior is shaped by norms = cultural expectations about the right and wrong way to do things. Examples of norms: proper dress, how/what to eat, behavior on the first date, eye contact with strangers, student/instructor behavior Someone who frequently violates these unwritten rules is seen as abnormal. Examples “abnormal behavior” – violating social norms: Behavior that is harmful to oneself or others Inappropriate emotional reactions Erratic behavior

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM NORMS A. Sta Deviance tistical B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM NORMS Deviance defined: behavior that violates important norms of the group (or society) b. the behavior must occur frequently e.g., if I show up at work once a year or drunk only once, chances are no one will call that deviant, but if I show up in that condition every day, then it is deviant

-------------------------------------------------------------- What's abnormal in one society may be perfectly normal ("norm consistent") in another. -------------------------------------------------------------- eg: Sex and Temperament in New Guinea tribes Margaret Mead (1963): Three tribes, each with very different norms 1. Arapesh: Both males and females are mild, parental, and nurturing. 2. Mundugumar: Males and females are fierce, oppressive and cannibalistic. 3. Tchumbuli: Males are catty, wear curls and pretty clothes, love to go shopping. Females are energetic, managerial, unadorned.

3. DEVIANCE B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE normality is the same as conformity to the mainstream, Problems with this definition 1. there are many streams. even in a single society such as the U.S., there are a myriad of subcultures. WHO SETS THE STANDARDS? 2. NORMS CHANGE through the years so what's normative in one generation, may not be in another. ex. Victorian era dress – exposure of flesh = abnormal We are left with a single society where there are no clear norms that apply across all individuals. The term abnormality thus loses any firm referent 3. WHO ADHERES TO ALL NORMS?

4. labels all social reformers as abnormal 3. DEVIANCE B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE normality is the same as conformity to the mainstream, Problems with this definition (cont.): 4. labels all social reformers as abnormal

The Elusive Nature of Abnormality In sum, while abnormality is generally defined as behavior that is (4 D’s): 1. DYSFUNCTIONAL 2. DISTRESSFUL 3. DEVIANT 4. DANGEROUS, THESE CRITERIA OFTEN ARE VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE WHEN IS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR “ENOUGH” TO BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL?

THOMAS SZASZ He argues that, because of the influence of MENTAL ILLNESS IS A MYTH He argues that, because of the influence of culture, the whole concept of mental illness is Invalid. Deviations called “abnormal” are only “problems of living” Societies use the concept of mental illness to control those who threaten social order

SHOULD WE LABEL BEHAVIOR AS ABNORMAL ? POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES: 1. “EXPLANATION” PROVIDES RELIEF 2. IDENTIFIES EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM FOR SOCIETY, INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF RESEARCH 3. IDENTIFIES EXISTENCE OF PROBLEM FOR INDIVIDUAL, INCREASING PROBABILITY OF RECEIVING TREATMENT

SHOULD WE LABEL BEHAVIOR AS ABNORMAL? NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES: STIGMATIZED WITH STEREOTYPES OF THE LABEL (BY OTHERS AND SELF ) 2. INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF ISOLATION – SOCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY 3. POSSIBILITY OF ENFORCED TREATMENT 4. DISCOURAGES NOVEL OR UNCONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR