Chapter 02 – Describing and Classifying Abnormal Behaviour
Psychopathology
Chapter 02 –
Describing and Classifying Abnormal Behaviour
Textbook Used:
Raven Strydom 063 378 4873 1
, Chapter 02 – Describing and Classifying Abnormal Behaviour
Introduction
→ For Freud, unconscious conflict explained a great deal of behaviour, including a range of ‘neurotic’
behaviours, and these could be resolved by the ‘talking therapy’.
- For Fanon, on the other hand, people with mental disorders were individuals who had become
strangers to their environment, and so political action was called for.
→ The description of choice may reflect the paradigm or epistemology of the person using it,
reflecting stances on:
1. How the person who ‘suffers’, or is ‘diagnosed’, with a disorder is viewed: The use of the term
‘psychiatric disorder’ may suggest that a patient is diagnosed with a disorder.
* Use of the term ‘psychological disorders’, may suggest that a client is coping with adverse life
events in such a way that it causes distress for the client.
* The term ‘disease’ emphasises the mechanisms that underlie symptoms, while the term ‘illness’
emphasises the experience of symptoms.
2. The cause(s) of the disorder: In the case of ‘psychiatric disorders’, one may emphasise
biopsychosocial factors.
* The term ‘mental disorders’ is often used by both psychiatrists and psychologists.
3. Treatment: In the case of ‘psychiatric disorders’, one may emphasise medical treatment (e.g.,
cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy, medication, ECT, etc.), whereas in the case of ‘psychological
disorders’, one may emphasise psychological treatment (e.g., psychotherapy, marital therapy, family
therapy, etc.).
Definitions
→ Abnormal behaviour Any behaviour that deviates from social and statistical norms, and that
is maladaptive and causes personal distress.
- Dysfunctional behaviour (maladaptive, distress, ineffective, harmful, inappropriate) relative
to a specific context (e.g., culture, gender, age).
Raven Strydom 063 378 4873 2
Psychopathology
Chapter 02 –
Describing and Classifying Abnormal Behaviour
Textbook Used:
Raven Strydom 063 378 4873 1
, Chapter 02 – Describing and Classifying Abnormal Behaviour
Introduction
→ For Freud, unconscious conflict explained a great deal of behaviour, including a range of ‘neurotic’
behaviours, and these could be resolved by the ‘talking therapy’.
- For Fanon, on the other hand, people with mental disorders were individuals who had become
strangers to their environment, and so political action was called for.
→ The description of choice may reflect the paradigm or epistemology of the person using it,
reflecting stances on:
1. How the person who ‘suffers’, or is ‘diagnosed’, with a disorder is viewed: The use of the term
‘psychiatric disorder’ may suggest that a patient is diagnosed with a disorder.
* Use of the term ‘psychological disorders’, may suggest that a client is coping with adverse life
events in such a way that it causes distress for the client.
* The term ‘disease’ emphasises the mechanisms that underlie symptoms, while the term ‘illness’
emphasises the experience of symptoms.
2. The cause(s) of the disorder: In the case of ‘psychiatric disorders’, one may emphasise
biopsychosocial factors.
* The term ‘mental disorders’ is often used by both psychiatrists and psychologists.
3. Treatment: In the case of ‘psychiatric disorders’, one may emphasise medical treatment (e.g.,
cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy, medication, ECT, etc.), whereas in the case of ‘psychological
disorders’, one may emphasise psychological treatment (e.g., psychotherapy, marital therapy, family
therapy, etc.).
Definitions
→ Abnormal behaviour Any behaviour that deviates from social and statistical norms, and that
is maladaptive and causes personal distress.
- Dysfunctional behaviour (maladaptive, distress, ineffective, harmful, inappropriate) relative
to a specific context (e.g., culture, gender, age).
Raven Strydom 063 378 4873 2
