1. Abnormal Psychology: Classification & Disorders
Ap psychology: Unit xi
Designated Unit:
Unit IV
States of Consciousness

2. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
Research suggests that the stigma & stress associated with being homosexual increase the risk of mental health problems…
True
In America, research indicates that there are more prison inmates with severe mental disorders than there are psychiatric inpatients in all of the country’s hospitals…

3. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
About 30% of psychologically disordered people are dangerous; that is, they are more likely than other people to commit a crime…
False
Identical twins who have been raised separately may develop the same phobias…
True
Dissociative identity disorder is a type of schizophrenia…

4. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
In North America, today’s young adults are three times as likely as their grandparents to report having experienced depression…
True
White Americans commit suicide nearly twice as often as black Americans do…
There is strong evidence for a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia…

5. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
An estimated one in seven Americans suffers from a clinically significant mental disorder…
True

6. Abnormal Psychology: The Basics
Part one

7. “Walk Around the Block” Activity
This activity requires 5 student volunteers who are comfortable with “acting” in front of the class…
You will need to imagine that our classroom is a busy city block…
As the volunteers are acting out their roles, you should attempt to figure out what they are doing & why they are acting the way they are….

8. Is getting married this evening His or her spouse just left him/her
Character
Just robbed a bank
Is getting married this evening
His or her spouse just left him/her
Just escaped from a mental hospital
Has a job interview in 30 minutes 1 2 3 4 5

9. Abnormal: The Basics Stereotypes & Stigmas
Psychological disorders are incurable
Those with psychological disorders are violent
People with psychological disorders behave in a bizarre manner; are considerably different from “normal” people
Impact of these labels and/or stereotypes?

10. Abnormal: The Basics
Is it really possible to categorize human beings into neat & tidy boxes?
Normal or abnormal?
Mentally healthy or mentally ill?
Does abnormal behavior necessarily mean illness?

11. Abnormal: The Basics The Medical Model (18th & 19th centuries)
Proposed that it is most useful to think of “abnormal behavior” as any other medical disease
Provided us with many terms:
Mental illness, psychological disorder, psychopathology, etc.
Its influence remains strong today…
What was the focus prior to this?
Has the medical model outgrown its usefulness?

12. Abnormal: The Basics Terminology Diagnosis Etiology Prognosis
Involves distinguishing one illness from another
Etiology
The apparent causation & developmental history of an illness
Prognosis
Forecast about that probable course of an illness

13. Abnormal Psychology: The Criteria
Part two

14. Abnormal: The Criteria
Deviance
Behavior that deviates from what society considers acceptable/normal
Varies considerably from one culture to the next
Examples
Transvestic fetishism
Hoarding

15. Abnormal: The Criteria
Maladaptive Behavior
A situation in which day-to-day functioning is impaired/negatively impacted
Example
Substance abuse

16. Abnormal: The Criteria
Personal Distress
An individual’s self-report of personal distress
Examples
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Note: In order to diagnose a psychological disorder, only one of the three major criteria needs to be present…

17. Abnormal Psychology: The Perspectives
Part three

18. Explanation of Behavior
Perspective
Explanation of Behavior
Implications
Psychoanalytic
Disorders/abnormal behaviors stem from unresolved childhood conflicts
Must examine one’s early life, including one’s earliest memories
Behavioral
Disorders/abnormal behaviors are learned responses (i.e. reinforcement)
Must analyze how behavior has been learned, as well as what “reinforces” its continuation
Cognitive
Disorders/abnormal behaviors are caused by cognitive processes (thoughts & beliefs)
Must examine one’s thoughts & beliefs; change is the key to “fixing” maladaptive behavior
Humanistic
Individuals are responsible for their own behavior, even disordered/abnormal behavior
Must examine self-concept; disordered individuals do not have self-worth
Sociocultural
Disorders/abnormal behavior is shaped by family, society & culture
Believe that one’s relationship with others can support & even cause abnormal behavior

19. Abnormal Behavior: Classifications
Part four

20. Abnormal: Case Study
Anne is a sixteen-year-old girl living in a medium-sized city in the Midwest. Her family includes a mother, father, fourteen-year-old brother and a great aunt, who has living with the family since Anne was four. Anne is a junior at City High School and is taking a college-preparatory program. Her appearance is strikingly different from the other girls in her class. She wears blouses which she has made out of various scraps of material. The blouses are accompanied by the same pair of overalls everyday, two mismatched shoes and a hat with a blue feather. She is a talented artist, producing sketches of her fellow classmates that are remarkably accurate. She draws constantly, even when told that to do so will lower her in grade in classes where she is expected to take lecture notes. She has no friends at school, but seems undisturbed by the fact that she eats lunch by herself and walks around campus alone.

21. Abnormal: Case Study
Her grades are erratic; if she likes a class she often receives an A or B, but will do no work at all in those she dislikes. Anne can occasionally be heard talking to herself; she is interested in poetry and says she is “composing” if asked about her poetry. She refuses to watch television, calling it a “wasteland.” This belief is carried into the classroom, where she refuses to watch videotapes, saying they are poor excuses for teaching. Her parents say they don’t understand her; she isn’t like anyone in their family. She and her brother have very little in common. He is embarrassed by Anne’s behavior and doesn’t understand her either. Anne seems blithely unaware of her apparent isolation, except for occasional outbursts about the meaninglessness of most people’s activity.

22. Abnormal: Classifications
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
Published by the APA
Fifth edition released in 2013
Describes 400 psychological disorders, as opposed to 60 in the 1950s

23. Abnormal: Classifications
The DSM-V takes a multi-axial approach
Axis I: Major Clinical Syndromes
Axis II: Personality Disorders
Axis III: General Medical
Axis IV: Social/Environmental
Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning
Purpose of the DSM-V?
To classify disorders
To describe symptoms
DOES NOT discuss causes or potential cures

24. Abnormal: Classifications
Example of a DSM-V multi-axial evaluation
49 year-old male
Axis I: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); substance (cocaine) abuser
Axis II: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Axis III: Hypertension
Axis IV: Psychosocial stressors (recent divorce, permitted to see children only infrequently, job is in jeopardy…)
Axis V: Current GAF (46)

25. Abnormal: Classifications
Issues with the DSM-V?
Critics of the DSM-V argue that labels may stigmatize individuals
On the other hand, labels may be helpful for healthcare professionals when communicating with one another & establishing therapeutic processes
“Insanity” labels raise ethical questions regarding how society should treat people who have disorders and have committed crimes

26. Abnormal Behavior: Specific Disorders
DSM-V Axis I Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Schizophrenic Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
DSM-V Axis II Disorders
Personality Disorders
***For more information, please see the chart that was completed in class…
Part five