1 Overheads – Abnormal Psychology Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

2 What makes behavior abnormal?  Actions, thoughts, & feelings = harmful to the person or to others. Experiencing symptoms like anxiety or depression Not able to function in a job Not able to relate to people – enduring relationships

3 Abnormal Behavior  percent of all persons in the U. S. exhibit symptoms = abnormal.  Not the same as unusual behaviors. E.g. extreme intelligence & total honesty – unusual; but not abnormal.

4 Abnormal Behavior  Other behaviors are common, e.g. extreme prejudice, but they are clearly abnormal b/c they are harmful. E.g. Hitler’s Germany Cigarette smoking

5 Other issues  Abnormal if…. Symptoms are severe enough to be considered harmful Subjectivity – different depending on culture  E.g. Zuni Indians – southwestern U.S. believed it was good to have hallucinations without drugs – meant Gods blessing you.

6 Problems  Even Psychologist cannot agree. Continuity Hypothesis Discontinuity Hypothesis Problems with diagnostic labels

7 The concept of sanity  Insanity – not a psychological term but a legal term. Three different legal meanings. Criminal defense Hearing on competency to stand trial Hearing on involuntary commitment to a mental institution

8 Sanity  Not guilty by reason of insanity Issue: could they tell right from wrong of have ability to control their actions? Severely psychotic or severely mentally retarded persons = insane. Rarely a successful defense.

9 Sanity  Competence to stand trial Can the person aid in his/her own defense?  Involuntary Commitment  Direct danger

10 Anxiety Disorders  million Americans  More prevalent with women than men.  Increased vigilance (scanning & monitoring) for events.  Phobias Specific Phobia Social Phobia Agoraphobia

11 Anxiety Disorders  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptoms not related to environmental trigger Free-floating anxiety Unending presence of symptoms

12 Anxiety Disorders  Panic Disorder Sharp, intense attacks of anxiety Respiration increases Rapid heartbeat – feel going crazy / die 5% women; 2% men 2,375 college student sample = 12% Very alert to ANS functioning Theory: classical conditioning

13 Anxiety Disorders  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Haunted by terrible recollections Numbed to the ordinary emotions and pleasures of life Survivor guilt Anger & unrest Vietnam War – 500,000 veterans POW during WWII – still meet criteria in their 70s What puts us at risk? Burgess & Holstrom Dean Kilpatrick

14 Anxiety Disorders  Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) Obsessions Compulsions 70% have both 25% only obsessions Problems with the limbic system of the brain

15 Somatoform Disorders  Soma = body  Somatoform = take the form of physical problems  Not faked

16 Neurosis versus Psychosis  Neurosis  Psychosis

17 Dissociative Disorders  Changes in memory, perception, or identity. Often due to stress, but can occur in the absence of stress Detachment or separation from your body & watching yourself with a sense of detachment Dissociative Identity Disorder – multiple personality disorder

18 Mood Disorders  Major Depression  Dysthmic Disorder  BiPolar Disorder  The risk for suicide – suicidal talk / plan / assessment

19 Schizophrenia  Severe distortion of reality Disturbance of thought & language Delusions Hallucinations Emotional disturbances – bland affect Withdrawal Positive versus negative symptoms

20 Personality Disorders  Inflexible, maladapative, personality traits Cannot function well in society Antisocial personality disorder Borderline personality disorder Narcissistic personality disorder Schizoid personality disorder

21 Types of Schizophrenia  Catatonic Type  Disorganized Type  Paranoid Type  Residual Type  Undifferentiated Type

22 Childhood disorders  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder