Transcript Overheads – Abnormal Psychology

Overheads – Abnormal
Psychology
Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.
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What makes behavior abnormal?
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Actions, thoughts, & feelings = harmful to the
person or to others.
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Experiencing symptoms like anxiety or
depression
Not able to function in a job
Not able to relate to people – enduring
relationships
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Abnormal Behavior
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18-20 percent of all persons in the U. S.
exhibit symptoms = abnormal.
Not the same as unusual behaviors.
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E.g. extreme intelligence & total honesty –
unusual; but not abnormal.
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Abnormal Behavior
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Other behaviors are common, e.g. extreme
prejudice, but they are clearly abnormal b/c
they are harmful.
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E.g. Hitler’s Germany
Cigarette smoking
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Other issues
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Abnormal if….
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Symptoms are severe enough to be considered
harmful
Subjectivity – different depending on culture
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E.g. Zuni Indians – southwestern U.S. believed it was
good to have hallucinations without drugs – meant
Gods blessing you.
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Problems
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Even Psychologist cannot agree.
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Continuity Hypothesis
Discontinuity Hypothesis
Problems with diagnostic labels
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The concept of sanity
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Insanity – not a psychological term but a legal
term.
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Three different legal meanings.
Criminal defense
Hearing on competency to stand trial
Hearing on involuntary commitment to a mental
institution
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Sanity
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Not guilty by reason of insanity
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Issue: could they tell right from wrong of have
ability to control their actions?
Severely psychotic or severely mentally retarded
persons = insane.
Rarely a successful defense.
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Sanity
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Competence to stand trial
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Can the person aid in his/her own defense?
Involuntary Commitment
Direct danger
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Anxiety Disorders
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10-15 million Americans
More prevalent with women than men.
Increased vigilance (scanning & monitoring)
for events.
Phobias
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Specific Phobia
Social Phobia
Agoraphobia
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Anxiety Disorders
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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Symptoms not related to environmental trigger
Free-floating anxiety
Unending presence of symptoms
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Anxiety Disorders
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Panic Disorder
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Sharp, intense attacks of anxiety
Respiration increases
Rapid heartbeat – feel going crazy / die
5% women; 2% men
2,375 college student sample = 12%
Very alert to ANS functioning
Theory: classical conditioning
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Anxiety Disorders
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Haunted by terrible recollections
Numbed to the ordinary emotions and pleasures of life
Survivor guilt
Anger & unrest
Vietnam War – 500,000 veterans
POW during WWII – still meet criteria in their 70s
What puts us at risk?
Burgess & Holstrom
Dean Kilpatrick
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Anxiety Disorders
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
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Obsessions
Compulsions
70% have both
25% only obsessions
Problems with the limbic system of the brain
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Somatoform Disorders
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Soma = body
Somatoform = take the form of physical
problems
Not faked
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Neurosis versus Psychosis
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Neurosis
Psychosis
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Dissociative Disorders
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Changes in memory, perception, or identity.
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Often due to stress, but can occur in the absence
of stress
Detachment or separation from your body &
watching yourself with a sense of detachment
Dissociative Identity Disorder – multiple
personality disorder
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Mood Disorders
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Major Depression
Dysthmic Disorder
BiPolar Disorder
The risk for suicide – suicidal talk / plan /
assessment
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Schizophrenia
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Severe distortion of reality
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Disturbance of thought & language
Delusions
Hallucinations
Emotional disturbances – bland affect
Withdrawal
Positive versus negative symptoms
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Personality Disorders
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Inflexible, maladapative, personality traits
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Cannot function well in society
Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder
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Types of Schizophrenia
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Catatonic Type
Disorganized Type
Paranoid Type
Residual Type
Undifferentiated Type
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Childhood disorders
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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