PYC3702 Summary and DSM easy
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STUDY UNIT 1 – ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR
The study of abnormal behaviour represents the human quest to understand
the causes, development, manifestation and the alleviation and prevention
of disturbances in thinking, feeling and behaving.
The objectives of the scientific approach to investigating abnormal
behaviour is to understand, describe, explain, predict and control abnormal
behaviour. There are four types of methods used to study abnormal
behaviour:
● Naturalistic observational method – to observe naturally occurring
behaviour in a naturally occurring context or environment
● Research method – explores relationships between variable and hopes
to find a correlation between the variables. The aim is to see cause
and effect so that future behaviours can be predicted
● Longitudinal research method – looks at possible correlations over time
by repeatedly observing the same samples over different periods.
Random subjects are assigned to treatment and also control groups in
order to eliminate researcher bias
● Epidemiological approach – examines the rate at which abnormal
behaviour occurs in various population groups and a variety of settings,
such as studying twins to determine environmental and hereditary
contributions to mental disorders
The concerns of abnormal behaviour:
≥ Describing abnormal behaviour:
A psychodiagnosis, an attempt to describe, assess and understand the
situation of the patient and the likelihood that you may be experiencing a
mental disorder
A treatment plan – a proposed course of therapy, developed between
therapist and client and which will address the client’s most distressing mental
health symptoms in an attempt to get them back to functioning in daily life
≥ Explaining abnormal behaviour:
Being able to identify the causes, origins or aetiology of a mental disorder is
of prime concern to the mental health professional. The ability to explain the
symptoms and manifestations to the client is helpful when discussing a
treatment plan
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
, .
≥ Predicting abnormal behaviour:
Looking at behaviours that an individual is displaying and being able to put
together symptoms, risk factors and behavioural aspects in order to predict
that a person might at risk for developing a certain mental disorder or
displaying certain abnormal behaviour
≥ Modifying abnormal behaviour
Distressing symptoms are modified through psychotherapy – a programme of
systematic intervention with the purpose of improving a client’s behavioural,
emotional or cognitive symptoms
Views of abnormality
A mental disorder has the following 3 components:
● A significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation or behaviour,
caused by a dysfunction in the basic psychological, biological, or
developmental processes involved in normal functioning
● Causes significant distress or difficulty with day to day functioning
● Is not merely a culturally expected response to common stressors or
losses or a reflection of political or religious beliefs that conflict with the
norms of society
The four major factors involved in determining and defining psychopathology
are:
Distress:
Psychological distress that affects social, emotional or physical functioning
Social – withdrawn, avoid social interactions, or engage in inappropriate or
extreme social interactions
Emotional – prolonged or extreme reactions such as anxiety or depression
Physical – distress can surface as asthma, high BP, fatigue, pain or heart
palpitations
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
, .
Deviance:
Abnormal behaviour represents a deviation from normal behaviour (norms
dictated by society – what may be considered abnormal in one culture, may
be perfectly acceptable in another).
Some behaviours are however considered abnormal in most situations
(deviations):
Hallucinations, obsessions and compulsion, refusal to leave your home,
depression so bad you sleep all the time, starving yourself to avoid gaining
weight, frequent nightmares about a trauma you experienced, phobias,
believing others can hear you thoughts, seeing aliens in your house, hoarding,
intentionally making others sick so that you can receive attention
These are all behaviours that would be considered a deviations from norms of
society for acceptable coping and behavioural skills
Personal Dysfunction:
When emotional problems interfere with the roles that you fulfil on a day to
day basis and the performance of these roles. One way to judge this aspect
is to determine what the requirements of the role are and whether the person
is meeting the requirements of that role.
Dysfunction can also be assessed by comparing the person’s performance
with that of their potential (e.g they may have previously been a very
competent student and now their marks are drastically dropping)
Dangerousness:
When the person is a danger to themselves and/or others through acts of
potential or existing violence – however mental disorders on their own rarely =
violence as a given – precipitating factors such as the simultaneous use of
drugs and alcohol can lead to violence
If a therapist feels that the person is at risk of suicide or is potentially
homicidal, they have a responsibility to take action.
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
written by
BestScores
.
, .
STUDY UNIT 1 – ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR
The study of abnormal behaviour represents the human quest to understand
the causes, development, manifestation and the alleviation and prevention
of disturbances in thinking, feeling and behaving.
The objectives of the scientific approach to investigating abnormal
behaviour is to understand, describe, explain, predict and control abnormal
behaviour. There are four types of methods used to study abnormal
behaviour:
● Naturalistic observational method – to observe naturally occurring
behaviour in a naturally occurring context or environment
● Research method – explores relationships between variable and hopes
to find a correlation between the variables. The aim is to see cause
and effect so that future behaviours can be predicted
● Longitudinal research method – looks at possible correlations over time
by repeatedly observing the same samples over different periods.
Random subjects are assigned to treatment and also control groups in
order to eliminate researcher bias
● Epidemiological approach – examines the rate at which abnormal
behaviour occurs in various population groups and a variety of settings,
such as studying twins to determine environmental and hereditary
contributions to mental disorders
The concerns of abnormal behaviour:
≥ Describing abnormal behaviour:
A psychodiagnosis, an attempt to describe, assess and understand the
situation of the patient and the likelihood that you may be experiencing a
mental disorder
A treatment plan – a proposed course of therapy, developed between
therapist and client and which will address the client’s most distressing mental
health symptoms in an attempt to get them back to functioning in daily life
≥ Explaining abnormal behaviour:
Being able to identify the causes, origins or aetiology of a mental disorder is
of prime concern to the mental health professional. The ability to explain the
symptoms and manifestations to the client is helpful when discussing a
treatment plan
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
, .
≥ Predicting abnormal behaviour:
Looking at behaviours that an individual is displaying and being able to put
together symptoms, risk factors and behavioural aspects in order to predict
that a person might at risk for developing a certain mental disorder or
displaying certain abnormal behaviour
≥ Modifying abnormal behaviour
Distressing symptoms are modified through psychotherapy – a programme of
systematic intervention with the purpose of improving a client’s behavioural,
emotional or cognitive symptoms
Views of abnormality
A mental disorder has the following 3 components:
● A significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation or behaviour,
caused by a dysfunction in the basic psychological, biological, or
developmental processes involved in normal functioning
● Causes significant distress or difficulty with day to day functioning
● Is not merely a culturally expected response to common stressors or
losses or a reflection of political or religious beliefs that conflict with the
norms of society
The four major factors involved in determining and defining psychopathology
are:
Distress:
Psychological distress that affects social, emotional or physical functioning
Social – withdrawn, avoid social interactions, or engage in inappropriate or
extreme social interactions
Emotional – prolonged or extreme reactions such as anxiety or depression
Physical – distress can surface as asthma, high BP, fatigue, pain or heart
palpitations
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
, .
Deviance:
Abnormal behaviour represents a deviation from normal behaviour (norms
dictated by society – what may be considered abnormal in one culture, may
be perfectly acceptable in another).
Some behaviours are however considered abnormal in most situations
(deviations):
Hallucinations, obsessions and compulsion, refusal to leave your home,
depression so bad you sleep all the time, starving yourself to avoid gaining
weight, frequent nightmares about a trauma you experienced, phobias,
believing others can hear you thoughts, seeing aliens in your house, hoarding,
intentionally making others sick so that you can receive attention
These are all behaviours that would be considered a deviations from norms of
society for acceptable coping and behavioural skills
Personal Dysfunction:
When emotional problems interfere with the roles that you fulfil on a day to
day basis and the performance of these roles. One way to judge this aspect
is to determine what the requirements of the role are and whether the person
is meeting the requirements of that role.
Dysfunction can also be assessed by comparing the person’s performance
with that of their potential (e.g they may have previously been a very
competent student and now their marks are drastically dropping)
Dangerousness:
When the person is a danger to themselves and/or others through acts of
potential or existing violence – however mental disorders on their own rarely =
violence as a given – precipitating factors such as the simultaneous use of
drugs and alcohol can lead to violence
If a therapist feels that the person is at risk of suicide or is potentially
homicidal, they have a responsibility to take action.
DDoowwnnloloaaddeeddbbyy::adnathneiiavh
aena
ntie
hkeersrkwa
| rdta
zn|iim
vaononbiieek2e5r1k1@
@ggmmaail.ilc.coomm
Distribution of this document is illegal
