Taneil Thompson -0-
SLK110
CHAPTER 15 NOTES
Please note that these notes have been sourced
from Wayne Weiten’s Psychology: Themes and
Variations. I do not take credit for the information
in this document.
Goodluck! J
Taneil Thompson
University of Pretoria, 2020
, Taneil Thompson -1-
Psychology- SLK110
Chapter 15
*Please note that I have worked directly from the module outcomes as well as the
module textbook*
1. Understand the terminology used when describing abnormal
behaviour and mental disorders.
☆ Abnormality: characterized by an individual displaying behaviour that is rare or
unusual
☆ Aetiology: The study of the causation of mental disorders
☆ Clinical picture: the constellation of visible signs or symptoms associated with a
particular mental disorder, the interpretation of which leads to a specific
diagnosis.
☆ Comorbidity: a mental disorder existing simultaneously, but independently, with
another mental disorder in the same individual. (anxiety and depression)
☆ Dangerousness: the extent to which an individual with a mental disorder (or
displaying abnormal behaviour) is likely to cause harm to self or others.
☆ Delusions: a false belief that is held strongly by an individual, even though they
are presented with evidence to the contrary.
☆ Deviance: the extent to which an individual’s behaviour and attitudes differ from
norms or accepted social standards.
☆ Diagnosis: the determination of the nature of a case of a mental disorder, or the
distinguishing of one mental disorder from another based on identifying signs
and symptoms of mental disorders.
☆ Differential diagnosis: the determination of which disorder may be producing the
symptoms of a mental disorder.
☆ Distress: the level of anxiety, sorrow or pain in an individual subjectively
experiences due to a mental disorder.
☆ Epidemiology: the study of patterns, causes and effects of diseases or disorders
in specific populations.
☆ Hallucination: a false, often vivid, perception in the absence of external stimuli
that appears to the individual to be real, and to be located in the outside world.
(can occur through any sense)
☆ Malingering: pretending to suffer from a physical or psychological illness, or
exaggerating symptoms, in order to avoid unwelcome duties such as work or
military service, or to gain benefits such as financial compensation.
☆ Prognosis: the prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disorder for an
individual.
☆ Psychosis: symptoms and abnormal behaviour in which an individual has lost
contact with reality and shows a profound deterioration in the ability to perform
daily activities.
☆ Symptoms: subjective complaints of the individual
☆ Signs: psychical changes observed in the individual presenting for treatment.
SLK110
CHAPTER 15 NOTES
Please note that these notes have been sourced
from Wayne Weiten’s Psychology: Themes and
Variations. I do not take credit for the information
in this document.
Goodluck! J
Taneil Thompson
University of Pretoria, 2020
, Taneil Thompson -1-
Psychology- SLK110
Chapter 15
*Please note that I have worked directly from the module outcomes as well as the
module textbook*
1. Understand the terminology used when describing abnormal
behaviour and mental disorders.
☆ Abnormality: characterized by an individual displaying behaviour that is rare or
unusual
☆ Aetiology: The study of the causation of mental disorders
☆ Clinical picture: the constellation of visible signs or symptoms associated with a
particular mental disorder, the interpretation of which leads to a specific
diagnosis.
☆ Comorbidity: a mental disorder existing simultaneously, but independently, with
another mental disorder in the same individual. (anxiety and depression)
☆ Dangerousness: the extent to which an individual with a mental disorder (or
displaying abnormal behaviour) is likely to cause harm to self or others.
☆ Delusions: a false belief that is held strongly by an individual, even though they
are presented with evidence to the contrary.
☆ Deviance: the extent to which an individual’s behaviour and attitudes differ from
norms or accepted social standards.
☆ Diagnosis: the determination of the nature of a case of a mental disorder, or the
distinguishing of one mental disorder from another based on identifying signs
and symptoms of mental disorders.
☆ Differential diagnosis: the determination of which disorder may be producing the
symptoms of a mental disorder.
☆ Distress: the level of anxiety, sorrow or pain in an individual subjectively
experiences due to a mental disorder.
☆ Epidemiology: the study of patterns, causes and effects of diseases or disorders
in specific populations.
☆ Hallucination: a false, often vivid, perception in the absence of external stimuli
that appears to the individual to be real, and to be located in the outside world.
(can occur through any sense)
☆ Malingering: pretending to suffer from a physical or psychological illness, or
exaggerating symptoms, in order to avoid unwelcome duties such as work or
military service, or to gain benefits such as financial compensation.
☆ Prognosis: the prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disorder for an
individual.
☆ Psychosis: symptoms and abnormal behaviour in which an individual has lost
contact with reality and shows a profound deterioration in the ability to perform
daily activities.
☆ Symptoms: subjective complaints of the individual
☆ Signs: psychical changes observed in the individual presenting for treatment.
