Transcript UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT 1:
INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY 2
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
WHAT IS MENTAL
ILLNESS?
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?
PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
Involves loss of contact with reality. Difficulty with making sense of
thoughts, feelings or what is actually happening around them
 NON-PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
Remain touch with reality despite their dysfunctional thoughts,
feelings and behaviour. They may experience intense and/or
prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety and fear to such an extent
that they have difficulty coping with daily activities
INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN
AUSTRALIA
Males:
More likely to experience
substance abuse disorders such
as alcohol and drug dependence
Females:
More likely to experience
anxiety related disorders as well
as depression
CLASSIFYING MENTAL ILLNESS
First developed in 1952 and
revised a number of times
Classification system for mental
disorders
Disorders are classified based on
a set of recognised symptoms
A qualified mental health
professional evaluates a clients
condition on five separate scales
of information
LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A
MENTAL ILLNESS
GOOD
Helps clinical psychologists recognise and specifically describe a
mental illness
Helpful when mental professionals communicate with one another,
provides a common language
LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A
MENTAL ILLNESS
BAD
Can influence individuals in how they feel about themselves, as well
as how they are viewed by society
Once a label has been given to a person it may be there for life
ROSENHAN (1978)
SHOWED HOW LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL
ILLNESS CAN INFLUENCE HOW WE VIEW THAT PERSON
Learning Activity 6.1 (pg.250)
Learning Activity 6.3 (pg.253)
Learning Activity 6.5 (pg.256)
HOMEWORK