1. Some history  Abnormal Psychology

2. Historical context Early beliefs about being ‘good’ – fitting in
‘evil’ – not fitting in, possession, subject to evil
15th C law issued that said those who showed loss of reason were possessed by demons/burnt at stake
Important b/c set tone for treatment of those not considered ‘normal’
Consider today – Pope Francis opens up about his mental health

3. This translated across the decades…
Deviation from what was decreed as ‘normal’  punishment as opposed to inquiry
Salem witch trials, for example…
Plays out in literature The Crucible

4. Result:
Objectification of those who deviated from social/perceived ethical/behavioural/ religious norms…
Where did ‘fault’ for being radically different seem to lie?

5. A ward in ‘Bedlam’ – St Mary’s of Bethlehem, England
Social visits to view the mentally ill

6. The term ‘bedlam’ now refers to…
An out-of-control atmosphere
Popular culture has adopted term to speak in a derogatory way about behavior
If we talk using der lang, we tend to think using der terms.
This is an example of where ‘stigma’ comes from

9. Dr. Pinel (17thC) French doctor, product of 17th C Fr Rev
Shock at poor treatment of ment ill; moral treatment; occupational therapy and light work; blamed env stress for ment illness
Important: paradigm shift in treatment and belief; positive asylum

10. Kraepelin and Bleuler (19th C)
Mental illness physical origin (somatogenesis)
Work led to more formalized approach to diagnosis
Renewal in scientific approach to treatment

11. Medical Model
Assumes causes of dysf beh are rooted in phys (neurochem, genetics, hormones etc)
Treatment should then be – bio based (drugs/procedures)
Responsibility taken from indiv  bio system

12. Electro convulsive therapy (ECT) & media’s role

13. Misuses of medical model
Historically, ie: Soviet Union, political dissidents (those who defect from majority) labelled ‘schizophrenic’
not ‘of sound mind’ so their disagreement couldn’t have been either
Raises issue of ‘labelling’
Positive to labelling?
Drawback to labelling?

14. Thomas Szasz - ( )
Humanist approach to treating mentally ill; anti-psychiatry movm’t; ‘problems with living’; wanted to avoid :
Labelling
‘She’s depressed’ is much different than ‘She’s struggling right now.”
Stigma of individuals
Over treatment, $$ to be made from treatment

15. Finding a way to discuss ‘abnormal’

16. Rosenhan & Seligman (1984) 7 criteria for what is ‘abnormal’
Does beh cause suffering?
Are beh’s maladaptive?
Is communication rational?
Is beh unpredictable?
Are experiences very different from others?
Does beh people uncomfortable? Cause strife?
Does beh adhere to moral/cultural standards?

17. Jahoda (1958) Mental health criteria  What is ‘healthy mental health’?
Healthy self perception
Realistic self-esteem/self acceptance
Control your beh…balance/autonomy
True perception of world
Sustain, nurture relationships? Social health
Productive in living

18. Statistic abnormality
Numbers important for summary – what about qualitative experience?
Do we reduce phenomenal outliers? Memory systems? IQ? Verbal acuity? Emotionally aware?

19. Norm deviation ‘Punctilio’ & cycling around the SUB
Norms vary across cultures
Norms change over time…
Who decides?

20. Maladaptive Functioning and distress
Is health in danger to self or others?
Is distress occurring, for self/others
Can we take part in our surroundings?