Abnormal Psych: Chapter 1

Rules that tell us what is "right" and what is "wrong" to do and when, where, and with whom.

(1) Behavior that is harmful to the self or harmful to others without serving the interests of the self; (2) Poor reality contact; (3) Emotional reactions inappropriate to the person's situation; (4) Erratic behavior.

The study of the distribution of disorders within populations.

(1) Various groups are at greater or lesser risk for specific disorders; (2) Groups differ in how they experience and express psychological disorders; (3) Groups vary in thier norms, making diagnosis difficult.

Says abnormal behavior is comparable to disease; it has specific causes and a specific set of symptoms.

Resulting from a malfunction of the human body.

Author of "The Myth of Mental Illness"; claimed that most of what the medical model called mental illness were not illnesses at all, but rather, "problems in living," expressed as violations of moral, legal, and social norms.

Analyzes abnormal behavior in terms of its neurochemical, neuroanatomical, and neurohormaonal components.

Assumes that abnormal behavior issues from imcomscious psychological conflicts originating in childhood.

Holds that a primary cause of abnormal behavior is inappropriate learning, whereby maladaptive behaviors are rewarded and adaptive behaviors are not rewarded.

Maintains that abnormal behavior is an outgrowth of maladaptive ways of perceiving and thinking about oneself and the environment.

Views abnormal behavior as the product of disordered realtionships.

Views abnormal behavior as the product of broad social and cultural forces. It also examines the biases that can influence diagnoses.

Not a single perspective, but a collection of the belief systems of well-known thinkers.

(1) The nature of the society; (2) Its explanation of such bahviors