general psychology

Module 6
Abnormal Behavior

PSYC 122 General Psychology II

Objectives

At the end of the module, the student will be able to:

Define the concept of psychological disorder.

Identifies the criteria to delimit psychological disorders.

Argue about the myths related to psychological disorders.

Discuss the psychological perspectives of psychological disorders.

Determine the purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and
examples of subcategories of psychological disorders.

Evaluate different types of psychological disorders, their symptoms, and their recommended therapy.

Apply the psychological perspectives related to psychological disorders.

▪ Configuration of behaviors, thoughts, or

emotions considered pathological for one

or more of the following: dysfunction,

distress and/or danger.

Abnormal behavior

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

Criteria for

Identifying

Abnormal

Behavior

Danger: If an individual’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors pose a risk to
themselves or others.

Distress Behaviors: Thoughts or emotions that lead to substantial personal
distress may be categorized as abnormal.

Dysfunction: When a person’s inability to function appropriately hinders
their daily activities.

Deviance: Behaviors, thoughts, or emotions may be regarded as abnormal
when they diverge from a society or culture’s accepted norms or values.

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

1. Myth: Mentally ill people are often

dangerous and unpredictable

o Fact: The stereotype that mentally ill

people are often dangerous and

unpredictable persists due to

prejudice; however, only a few

disorders, like certain psychotic and

antisocial personality disorders, are

associated with violence.

Common Myths About Mental Illness

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

2. Myth: Psychological disorders are a sign of
personal weakness.

o Fact: Psychological disorders are
erroneously believed to be a sign of
personal weakness. In fact, they are
influenced by various factors such as
exposure to stress, genetic predispositions,
personal and sociocultural experiences, and
family background, just like any other
illness.

Common Myths About Mental Illness

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

3. Myth: A mentally ill person is only suited for

low-level jobs and never fully recovers

▪ Fact: It is a misconception that a mentally ill

person is only suited for low-level jobs and

can never fully recover. The truth is that

psychological disorders are complex, and

their symptoms, severity, and prognoses

differ for each individual. With proper

therapy and support, most of those

diagnosed with mental illnesses eventually

improve and lead normal, productive lives.

Common Myths About Mental Illness

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

▪ Psychologists hold diverse viewpoints regarding the

underlying causes of psychological disorders.

▪ While some emphasize “mental illness,” others stress the

significance of social and cultural influences, as well as

our individual thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, in

contributing to the development of psychological

disorders.

Psychological Perspectives

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

Psychological Perspectives

Sociocultural

issues at hand reflect cultural values
and beliefs.

Behavioral

Improper conditioning or modeling that
does not align with suitable standards

or norms.

Evolutionary

An escalated form of an adaptive
response.

Humanistic

Obstructed or impeded personal
growth.

Psychodynamic

Unconscious conflicts that have not
been resolved.

Cognitive

Faulty thinking.

Biological

Issues related to brain function,
genetic predisposition, and

biochemistry. [academic paraphrase]
problems with brain function, genetic

predisposition, biochemistry.

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

▪ A manual established by the American Psychiatric Association

(APA) for the principal purpose of categorizing psychological

disorders.

▪ With each revision of the DSM, the list of disorders has been

expanded, and the descriptions and groupings have been

revised to incorporate the most current findings from scientific

research.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

(DSM)

(Sanderson and Huffman, 2020)

DSM 5-TR
Classification
of Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Bipolar and Related Disorders

Depressive Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Elimination Disorders

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Sexual Dysfunctions

Gender Dysphoria

Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Neurocognitive Disorders

Personality Disorders

Paraphilic Disorders

Other Mental Disorders and Additional Codes

Medication-Induced Movement Disorders and Other Adverse Effects of medication

Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention

(APA, 2022)

▪ According to APA (2022),

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

represent a cluster of conditions that

emerge during the developmental

period.

▪ These disorders usually become

apparent early in a child’s life, often

before they begin formal schooling,

and are distinguished by

developmental deficits or variations in

brain processes that result in

impairments in personal, social,

academic, or occupational

functioning.

Neurodevelopmental

Disorders Intellectual Developmental Disorders

Communication Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Specific Learning Disorder

Motor Disorders

Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

(APA, 2022)

▪ Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic

disorders encompass schizophrenia, other psychotic

disorders, and schizotypal (personality) disorder.

▪ These conditions are characterized by abnormalities

in one or more of the following five areas:

delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking

(speech), grossly disorganized or abnormal motor

behavior (including catatonia), and negative

symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Spectrum and Other

Psychotic Disorders

(APA, 2022)

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

(5th ed., text rev.).

Sanderson, C. A., & Huffman, K. (2020). Real world psychology (3rd ed.). Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-

1119577751

sanderson-karen-v9781119577737

Review as many times as required the information contained in the module folder

(includes this presentation).

Read the reference material to clarify any questions.

Carry out all the activities according to the instructions.

Submit assignments on the indicated date through the educational

platform.

Congratulations you have reviewed the

theoretical summary of this week’s topic!

Actively participate in collaborative sessions.

Remember that to successfully build your learning it is important that: