What is “Abnormal Psychology”? Mental, behavioral, & Personality disorders & Psychosis Mental, behavioral, & Personality disorders & Psychosis The study of human thinking and behaviors that deviate significantly from the norm AND cause distress to the person or people around him/her AND are pervasive and present over time

Symptoms hallucinations Irrational thought sadness fear anti-social mood swings Dangerous behaviors “breaks” from reality Hear voices Compulsive behaviors Unwanted thoughts Eccentric behaviors No self-esteem Uncontrolled rage

Causes? Genetics? Relationships? Toxins? Traumatic experience? Injury? Illness/virus/bacteria Neglect? Abuse?

Treatments? Psychoanalysis Drugs Group therapy Behavior modification Institutionalization Electro-shock therapy Lobotomy Cognitive therapy Gene therapy

Many different kinds of disorders… Eating—Bulimia, anorexia, overeating Somatoform—presenting true physical symptoms of illnesses or neurological disorders without suffering the actual illness/disorder; having unrealistic perception of one’s own body; hypochondria Dissociative—when a person separates his/her conscious self from his/her body (includes amnesia, multiple personality disorder, out-of-body experiences)

Still more types of disorders… Personality—too many to list here! In general, something that makes a person’s personality quirky, highly emotional, anti- social, or difficult for others to deal with Psychosis—mental break from reality, includes hallucinations, hearing voices (schizophrenia) Childhood—disorders that often onset in childhood including Tourettes, ADD/ADHD, conduct disorders, separation anxiety

…and finally the rest! Mood—extreme sadness or variable moods with no visible trigger Anxiety—extreme irrational fear (phobias), worries, obsessions, compulsions, PTSD, panic attacks

Personality Disorders: Behaviors or mental processes that deviate significantly from the norm and impair the person’s life; disorder’s impact on person’s ability to lead healthy, stable life can vary from mild to extreme A personality disorder is NOT insanity or psychosis!! 3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious

Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric Paranoid Schizoid (do not confuse this with schizophrenia!) Schizotypal Fearful, suspicious of others Loner, lack of emotions Belief in magic, flying saucers, loner Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental!.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental!.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders Treatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypals

Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional Anti-social, conduct disorder (psychopath) Borderline Histrionic Narcissist Lack of regard for moral, legal standards; serial killers, rapists Lack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationships “Drama queen”, exaggerates all emotions Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration

Personality disorder Category 3: Anxious/fearful Avoidant Dependent OCD Intensely shy, sensitive <1% population has this Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it Obsessive need for order, cleanliness, or unwanted repetitive thoughts of guilt or desire to to bad things mixed with compulsive, repetitive behaviors (hand washing, walking in a certain pattern, counting)