1. Abnormal Psychology Normality/Abnormality Mental Health Criteria
Learning Outcome: Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality. Discuss validity and reliability in diagnosis.
Success Criteria: Use of DSM and other avenues to define normality and identify mental disorders.

2. Review Normality Research in normality/abnormality
Many ways to define normal
Research in normality/abnormality
Rosenhan & Seligman (1984)
Seven criteria used to decide whether a person or behaviour is normal or not
Suffering (individual living)
Maladaptiveness (individual living)
Irrationality (individual living)
Unpredictability (individual living)
Vividness & Unconventionality (social judgment)
Observer discomfort (social norms)
Violation of moral or ideal standards (social norms)

3. Evaluation
Write down a few ideas of potential issues with the 7 criteria to define normality
Write your answers below this line:

4. Mental Health Criteria
Jahoda (1958)
Established abnormal by defining characteristics of normal behaviour
Efficient self perception
Realistic self esteem & acceptance
Voluntary control of behaviour
True perception of the world
Sustaining relationships & giving affection
Self-direction & productivity
What do these mean?

5. Evaluation of Mental Health Criteria
While we can agree on what makes physiological health, we have a harder time with psychological health.
Discuss the following question with a small group:
How do we determine what is psychologically normal?

6. Look at the Biological (Medical) Model
According to this model, what are the origins of abnormal behaviour?
Use of psychopathology (observed symptoms of a patient) to determine treatment
What is the type of treatment with this model?
Evaluate this model. What are the weaknesses?

7. Lets look at the ib handout
Abnormal Psychology

8. Snooki DSM-IV (soon to be V)
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Handbook used by psychiatrists in the US to identify and classify symptoms of psychiatric disorders
See handout on Classification of Mental Disorders
Snooki

9. Using page 139 Write down what each of the following believe:
Tomasz Szasz (1962)
Frude (1998)
Read the blue box on p. 140 on shy children.
Answer the questions at the bottom of the page in a small group.
We will discuss this as a larger group.