Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 1
1. Abnormal
Psy- chology Concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of
mental dis- orders
2. Family
Aggrega- tion The clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders within a given
family
3. Abnormality -No one behavior makes someone abnormal
-There are some clear elements or indicators of abnormality, but no single
indicator is suflcient in and of itself to define or determine abnormality
4. Elements of
Ab- normality 1.) Suttering
2.) Maladaptiveness
3.) Statistical Deviancy
4.) Violation of Standards of Society
5.) Social Discomfort
6.) Irrationality and Unpredictability
7.) Dangerousness
5. Suffering If people sutter or experience psychological pain we are inclined to
consider this as indicative of abnormality
6. Maladaptiveness Maladaptive behavior interferes with our well-being and with our
ability to enjoy our work and our relationships
7. Statistical Devian- Statistically rare and represents a deviation from the normal
cy -Undesirable and statistically rare
8. Violation of the People who fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of a cultural
Standards of group
So- ciety
-Much depends on the magnitude of the violation and how commonly
the rule is violated by others (statistically deviant and violates the
standards of society)
9. Social Discomfort When someone violates a social rule, those around him or her may
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, Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 1
experience a sense of discomfort or unease
2/
14
1. Abnormal
Psy- chology Concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of
mental dis- orders
2. Family
Aggrega- tion The clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders within a given
family
3. Abnormality -No one behavior makes someone abnormal
-There are some clear elements or indicators of abnormality, but no single
indicator is suflcient in and of itself to define or determine abnormality
4. Elements of
Ab- normality 1.) Suttering
2.) Maladaptiveness
3.) Statistical Deviancy
4.) Violation of Standards of Society
5.) Social Discomfort
6.) Irrationality and Unpredictability
7.) Dangerousness
5. Suffering If people sutter or experience psychological pain we are inclined to
consider this as indicative of abnormality
6. Maladaptiveness Maladaptive behavior interferes with our well-being and with our
ability to enjoy our work and our relationships
7. Statistical Devian- Statistically rare and represents a deviation from the normal
cy -Undesirable and statistically rare
8. Violation of the People who fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of a cultural
Standards of group
So- ciety
-Much depends on the magnitude of the violation and how commonly
the rule is violated by others (statistically deviant and violates the
standards of society)
9. Social Discomfort When someone violates a social rule, those around him or her may
1/
14
, Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 1
experience a sense of discomfort or unease
2/
14
