1. Advanced Placement Psychology
Abnormal Behavior
Advanced Placement Psychology
Ms. Caroline Watters
Marlboro High School

2. Abnormal Behavior: Criteria for Diagnosis
Maladaptiveness
Does the individual’s behavior get in the way of regular life activities?
Irrationality
Does the individual think illogically?
Observer discomfort
Does the individual’s behavior make other people uncomfortable?
Unpredictability
Does the individual respond to events or situations in consistent ways?
Distress
Does the individual suffer personal distress? Do they feel that something is wrong?
Unconventionality
Is the individual’s behavior bizarre or just unconventional?

3. (Any of these indicate trouble)
When do they need help?
(Any of these indicate trouble)
Person suffers from discomfort continuously.
Behavior is bizarre or deviant.
Person has become very inefficient.
(Cannot perform life roles properly)
This is considered to be “maladaptive”

4. Fig 14. 2 – Normality and abnormality as a continuum
Fig 14.2 – Normality and abnormality as a continuum. There isn’t a sharp boundary between normal and abnormal behavior. Behavior is normal or abnormal in degree, depending on the extent to which one’s behavior is deviant, personally distressing, or maladaptive.

5. Fig 14. 5 – Lifetime prevalence of psychological disorders
Fig 14.5 – Lifetime prevalence of psychological disorders. The estimated percentage of people who have, at any time in their life, suffered from one of four types of psychological disorders or from a disorder of any kind (top bar) is shown here. Prevalence estimates vary somewhat from one study to the next, depending on the exact methods used in sampling and assessment. The estimates shown here are based on pooling data from Wave 1 and 2 of the Epidemiological Catchment Area studies and the National Comorbidity Study, as summarized by Regier and Burke (2000) and Dew, Bromet, and Switzer (2000). These studies, which collectively evaluated over 28,000 subjects, provide the best
data to date on the prevalence of mental illness in the United States.

6. Psychotic vs. Non-psychotic Disorders
Serious inability to think rationally and perceive the world correctly.
May hear voices or hallucinate
Delusional thoughts
“Thinking Problems” (cannot think clearly)
Not in touch with reality
Non-psychotic
Severe discomfort or inefficiency from which a person seeks relief.
Has trouble dealing with life’s problems.
In touch with reality but exaggerates fears, feels anxious.
Is aware that something is wrong!

7. Psychodiagnosis: The Classification of Disorders
American Psychiatric Association
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 4th ed. (DSM - 4)
Multiaxial system
5 axes or dimensions
Axis I – Clinical Syndromes
Axis II – Personality Disorders or Mental Retardation
Axis III – General Medical Conditions
Axis IV – Psychosocial and Environmental Problems
Axis V – Global Assessment of Functioning

8. Perspectives on Mental Illness:
Biological Perspective:
Biological factors can affect mental health including genetics, chemical imbalances, brain structure, brain injury, infections.
 Psychodynamic Perspective:
Mental illness is the product of the individual’s unconscious internal conflicts. Childhood issues are also important.
 Behavioral Perspective:
Life experiences condition us to respond to situations in certain ways and psychological disorders are the result of faulty learning. **especially used in the treatment of phobias**
 Cognitive Perspective:
Psychological disorders are the result of faulty thought processes.
 Humanistic Perspective:
Mental disorders arise because individuals adopt standards and values that are in conflict with their true inner feelings.

9. Axis I Clinical Syndromes Discussed in Text
Anxiety Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Mood Disorders
Schizophrenic Disorders