Chapter 15 - Abnormal Behaviour
(Pages 414-449)
Terminology:
Aetiology - the study of the cause of mental disorders
Clinical picture - 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
Dangerousness - the extent to which an individual with a mental disorder (or displaying
abnormal behaviour) is likely to cause harm to self or others
Concordance Rate: indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives that
exhibit the same disorder
Delusions: a false belief that is held strongly by an individual, even though the 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 distinguishing
one mental disorder from another, based on identifying signs and symptoms of mental
disorders
Differential diagnosis: the determination of which one of several disorders may be
producing the symptoms of a mental disorder
Distress: the level of anxiety, sorrow or pain an individual subjectively experiences due to
a mental disorder
Epidemology: the study of the patterns, causes, and affects of diseases or disorders in
specific populations
Hallucinations: a false, often vivid, perception in the absence of external stimuli that
appears to the indidivudal to be real, and to be located in the outside world
Malingering: pretending to suffer from a physical or psychological illness, or exaggerating
symptoms in order to avoid unwelcome duties or to gain benefits.
Prognosis: the prediction of the probably course and outcome of a disorder for an
individual
Psychosis: sumptoms and abnormal haviour in which an individual has lost contact with
reality and shows a profound deteroioration in the ability to perform daily activities
Symptoms: subjective complaints of the individual
Signs: physical changes observed in the individual presenting for treatment
Syndrome: common patterns of symptoms over time
, Medical concepts such as diagnosis, aetiology & prognosis - valuable in treatment and
study of abnormality
• Diagnosis - distinguishing one illness from another
• Aetiology - apparent causation & developmental history of illness
• Prognosis - forecast about possible development of an illness
Defining Abnormal Behaviour
- Abnormality is characterised by an individual displaying behaviour that is
rare/unusual. It includes behaviour that is regarded as unhelpful or maladaptive to
situations or to the context of the individual’s life. Abnormality often suggests
impairment in an individual’s daily functioning.
- Founder of modern scientific psychiatry - Emil Kraepelin
In 1883, he defined mental illness as being rooted in a biological or disease/medical
model.
This medical model or mental disorders proposes that mental illness can be
identified and classified by means of diagnosing symptoms in a similar way to that
of physical disease.
Criteria of Abnormal Behaviour
Deviance – according to cultural norms
Dysfunctional behaviour – ability to perform day-to-day activities becomes
impaired and their behaviour becomes maladaptive or dysfunctional
Personal distress – associated with personal suffering
(Pages 414-449)
Terminology:
Aetiology - the study of the cause of mental disorders
Clinical picture - 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
Dangerousness - the extent to which an individual with a mental disorder (or displaying
abnormal behaviour) is likely to cause harm to self or others
Concordance Rate: indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives that
exhibit the same disorder
Delusions: a false belief that is held strongly by an individual, even though the 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 distinguishing
one mental disorder from another, based on identifying signs and symptoms of mental
disorders
Differential diagnosis: the determination of which one of several disorders may be
producing the symptoms of a mental disorder
Distress: the level of anxiety, sorrow or pain an individual subjectively experiences due to
a mental disorder
Epidemology: the study of the patterns, causes, and affects of diseases or disorders in
specific populations
Hallucinations: a false, often vivid, perception in the absence of external stimuli that
appears to the indidivudal to be real, and to be located in the outside world
Malingering: pretending to suffer from a physical or psychological illness, or exaggerating
symptoms in order to avoid unwelcome duties or to gain benefits.
Prognosis: the prediction of the probably course and outcome of a disorder for an
individual
Psychosis: sumptoms and abnormal haviour in which an individual has lost contact with
reality and shows a profound deteroioration in the ability to perform daily activities
Symptoms: subjective complaints of the individual
Signs: physical changes observed in the individual presenting for treatment
Syndrome: common patterns of symptoms over time
, Medical concepts such as diagnosis, aetiology & prognosis - valuable in treatment and
study of abnormality
• Diagnosis - distinguishing one illness from another
• Aetiology - apparent causation & developmental history of illness
• Prognosis - forecast about possible development of an illness
Defining Abnormal Behaviour
- Abnormality is characterised by an individual displaying behaviour that is
rare/unusual. It includes behaviour that is regarded as unhelpful or maladaptive to
situations or to the context of the individual’s life. Abnormality often suggests
impairment in an individual’s daily functioning.
- Founder of modern scientific psychiatry - Emil Kraepelin
In 1883, he defined mental illness as being rooted in a biological or disease/medical
model.
This medical model or mental disorders proposes that mental illness can be
identified and classified by means of diagnosing symptoms in a similar way to that
of physical disease.
Criteria of Abnormal Behaviour
Deviance – according to cultural norms
Dysfunctional behaviour – ability to perform day-to-day activities becomes
impaired and their behaviour becomes maladaptive or dysfunctional
Personal distress – associated with personal suffering
