PSYC 1023: Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 1023 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Week 1
Lecture 1: What is “abnormal”?
Define, Assess, Research and Treat Psychopathology
Definition of Psychopathology
• The scientific study of mental disorders
Definition of clinical assessment
• The systematic evaluation of psychological, biological and social factors in a person with a
possible mental disorder
Definition of Psychological Dysfunction
• A breakdown in cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning
Definition of Abnormality
• Factors
o Violation of social norms
o Statistically (fall outside of range would be considered abnormal)
o Distressing behaviours
o Disability of ambitions
There are always exceptions (athletes fall out of norm)
o DSM-5
§ Significant difficulty in thinking, feeling or behaving
• Maladaptive, distressing, disability
§ Violation of social norms
Week 1 Lecture 1 Readings
o How do psychologists define a psychological disorder?
§ Understanding Psychopathology
• The scientific study of psychological disorders
§ What is a psychological disorder?
• Psychological disorder is a psychological dysfunction within an
individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and
a response that is not typical or culturally expected.
§ Psychological Dysfunction
• Psychological dysfunction refers to a breakdown in cognitive,
emotional, or behavioral functioning.
§ Distress or Impairment
• Distress
o Unpleasant feelings or emotions that impact your level of
functioning
• Impairment
o Limits one or more major life activities
§ Atypical or not culturally accepted
§ An Accepted Definition
• Behavioral, psycho- logical, or biological dysfunctions that are
unexpected in their cultural context and associated with present
distress and impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering,
death, pain, or impairment.
