1. Chapter 1 Abnormal Psychology: An Overview
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY SIXTEENTH EDITION James N. Butcher/ Jill M. Hooley/ Susan Mineka
Chapter 1
Abnormal Psychology:
An Overview
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2. What Do We Mean by Abnormality?
There is no consensus definition
There are some clear elements of abnormality
ABNORMALITY
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3. The Elements of Abnormality
Elements of abnormality include:
Suffering
Maladaptiveness
Deviancy
Violation of the Standards of Society
Social Discomfort
Irrationality and Unpredictability
Dangerousness
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4. The Elements of Abnormality
Points to remember!
No one element is sufficient to define or determine abnormality
Definition of deviant changes as society changes
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5. The DSM-5 Definition MENTAL DISORDER
Clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotional regulation, or cognitive function
Associated with distress or disability
Biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunction in individual
MENTAL
DISORDER
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6. Why Do We Need to Classify Mental Disorders?
Have social and political implications
Classify disorders, not people
Provide nomenclature (a naming system) that allows organization of information
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7. What Are the Disadvantages of Classification?
1) Loss of individual’s information
2) Stigma and stereotyping associated with diagnosis
3) labeling can impact self-concept
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8. How Does Culture Affect What Is Considered Abnormal?
Presentation of disorders found worldwide
Certain forms of highly culture-specific psychopathology
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9. Culture-Specific Disorders
Certain forms of psychopathology highly specific to certain cultures
Examples
Taijin kyofusho in Japan
Ataque de nervios in Latinos and Latinas especially from the Caribbean
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10. How Common Are Mental Disorders?
Significant question for many reasons
Planning, establishing, and funding mental health services for specific disorders
Providing clues to causes of mental disorders
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11. Prevalence and Incidence
Epidemiology
Study of distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population
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12. Prevalence and Incidence
Number of active cases in population during any given period of time
Typically expressed as percentages
Different types of prevalence estimates
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13. Prevalence and Incidence
Number of new cases in population over given period of time
Incidence figures are typically lower than prevalence figures
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14. Prevalence Estimates for Mental Disorders
Lifetime prevalence
Most prevalent category
Most common individual disorders
Comorbidity
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15. Treatment Inpatient hospitalization typically in psychiatric units
Not all people receive treatment
Vast majority of treatment is done on outpatient basis
Inpatient hospitalization typically in psychiatric units
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16. Types of Mental Health Professionals
Clinical Psychologist
Counseling Psychologist
School Psychologist
Psychiatrist
Psychoanalyst
Clinical Social Worker
Psychiatric Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Pastoral Counselor
Community Mental Health Worker
Alcohol- or Drug-Abuse Counselor
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17. Research Approaches in Abnormal Psychology
A scientific attitude and approach to the study of abnormal behavior
Helps understand etiology and nature of disorder
Reduces error
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18. Sources of Information
Case studies
Self-report data
Observational approaches
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19. Case Studies Specific individual observed and described in detail
Subject to bias of author of case study
Low generalizability
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20. Self-Report Data
Participants asked to provide information about themselves
Interviews and Questionnaires
May be inaccurate
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21. Observational Approaches
Collecting information without asking participants directly for it
Outward behavior can be observed directly
Biological variables can be observed via technologically advanced methods
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22. Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Anecdotal accounts and unusual research findings help researchers develop hypotheses
Hypotheses must be tested in well-designed research studies
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23. Sampling and Generalization
Who should researchers include in a study?
Individuals who are similar in their behavioral abnormalities
Study group should mirror underlying population in all important ways
Large, randomly selected groups are ideal
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24. Internal and External Validity
Internal validity = methodologically sound
External validity = generalizability
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25. Criterion and Comparison Groups
Complete the following sentence: To test hypotheses, researchers use a comparison group of people who ________.
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26. Observational Research Designs: Studying the World as It Is
Measuring Correlation
Statistical Significance
Effect Size
Meta-analysis
Correlations and Causality
Retrospective versus Prospective Strategies
Manipulating Variables: The Experimental Method in Abnormal Psychology
Studying the Efficacy of Therapy
Single-Case Experimental Designs
Animal Research
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27. Measuring Correlation
Correlation coefficient
Positive correlation
Negative correlation
Correlation of zero
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28. Figure 1.2: Measuring Correlation
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29. Statistical Significance
p < .05
Less than 5 in 100 chance that correlation would happen by chance
Both strength of correlation and size of sample influence statistical significance
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30. Effect Size
Reflects the size of association of variables
Independent of sample size
Used to compare the strength of findings from different studies
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31. Meta-Analysis Combines effect sizes from all included studies
Summarizes research findings
Statistical approach
Combines effect sizes from all included studies
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32. Correlations and Causality
If two variables are correlated, there are multiple possible reasons for this.
How many reasons can you identify?
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33. Correlations and Causality
Correlation does NOT mean causation!
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34. Retrospective versus Prospective Strategies
Retrospective research strategies involve looking back in time
Prospective research strategies involve looking ahead in time
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35. Manipulating Variables: The Experimental Method in Abnormal Psychology
Experimental research involves:
Independent variable
Dependent variable
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36. Manipulating Variables: The Experimental Method in Abnormal Psychology
Experimental research CAN determine causation!
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37. Figure 1.3: Correlational and Experimental Research Designs
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38. Studying Efficacy of Therapy
Confidence in treatment’s efficacy
Equivalency in treated and untreated groups
Standard treatment as comparison group
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39. Single-Case Experimental Designs
Single-case research designs
Make causal inferences in individual cases
Involve alternating baseline condition and treatment condition
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40. Figure 1.4: An ABAB Experimental Design: Kris’s Treatment
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41. Factors to consider Animal Research Ethical issues Advantages
Generalizability
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42. Unresolved Issues
Categorization of increasing numbers of people as mentally ill
Financial interests of mental health professionals benefit from inclusive definitions
How broadly should abnormality be defined?
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