Psychology NoteBook: Topics

Sanity is very rare; every man almost, and every woman, has a dash of madness. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Psychological Disorder refers to the range of psychological functioning that is considered unhealthy or abnormal. These involves disruptions in emotional, behavioral, or thought processes that lead to personal distress or that block one's ability to achieve important goals.

In ancient times, mentally ill individuals were often treated as possessed by demons or less than human. Contemporary approaches to the mental illness began with the recognition that mental disorders are illness that are treatable.

There are numerous approaches to studying the etiology of psychopathology. The Biological approach concentrates on abnormalities in the brain, biochemical processess, and genetic influences. Psychological approaches include psychodynamic, behavioral and cognitive models.

Deciding what is abnormal
There are seven criteria one might use to label behavior as "abnormal".

  • Distress or Disability
    For Example: A man who cannot leave home without weeping would be unable to pursue life goals.

  • Maladaptiveness
    For Example: A woman who is drinking so heavily that she cannot hold down a job.

  • Irrationality
    For Example: A man who responds to voices that do not exist in objective reality is behaving irrationally.

  • Unpredictability
    For Example: A child who smashes his fist through a window for no apparent reason.

  • Irrationality
    For Example: A man who responds to voices that do not exist in objective reality is behaving irrationally.

  • Unconventionality and Statistical Rarity
    For Example: Extremely low intelligence.

  • Observer Discomfort
    For Example: A women walking down the middle of street, having a loud conversation with herself, creates observer discomfort.

  • Violation of Moral or Ideal Standard
    For Example: An individual who violates expecation for who one ought to behave with respect to societal norms.

    Major Types of Psychological Disorders

    The five major types of anxiety disorders are generalized, PANIC, PHOBIC, OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE, and POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS. Major depressive disorder is the most common affective disorder, while Bipolar disorder(Characterized by periods of severe depression alternating with manic episodes) is much rare. Suicides are most frequent among people suffering from depression.

    Personality disorders are patterns of perception, thought, or behavior that are longstanding and inflexible and that impair an individual's functioning. Dissociative disorders involve a disruption of the integrated funtioning of memory, consciousness, or personal identity.

    Schizophrenia is a severe form of psychopathology that is characterized by extreme distortion in perception, thinking, emotion, behavior, and language. The five suvtypes of schizophrenia are disorganized, catatonic, paranoid, undifferentiated, and residual. Evidence of the causes of schizophrenia has been found variety of factors including genetics, brain abormalities, and familiy processes.



    • Eve [Eve] - Alright, ! We've gone through the last section of Psychology Topics. The descriptions in these topic are only an introduction to basic Psychology. If you would like to go into a deeper study, Eve have here a list of suggested readings at the Resource center.
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