What are Psychological Disorder?

Extreme Indicators

• Hallucinations• False Sensory experiences• Delusions• Persistent false beliefs• Affective Disturbances • Extreme or inappropriate emotions

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Subtle Indicators

• Distress– Unusual or prolonged levels of unease or anxiety

• Maladaptiveness– Inability to adapt behavior to the environment

• Irrationality– Acts or talks in ridiculous or inappropriate emotional way

• Unpredictability– Erratic and inconsistent behavior

• Unconventionality and undesirable behavior– Violates social norms with rare or immoral behavior

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Psychological Disorder Spectrum

No DisorderNo signsNo behavior problemsNo interpersonal problems

Mild DisorderNew signs of distress, behavior and relationship problems

Moderate DisorderFrequent and pronounced indicators of disorder, distinct behavior problems, and relationship problems

Severe DisorderClear signs, dominate persons life, usually inappropriate behavior, many poor relationships

Normal Abnormal

Two Models for Defining Disorder

• How we define Psychological Disorder directs how we treat the symptoms

• Medical Model

• Psychological Model

Medical Model

• Mental illness is a physical problem; a disease of the mind

• Insane Asylums for recovery• Doctor and drug dependent• Victims passive

Psychological Model

• Mental illness from multiple factors • Nature: heredity or genetics• Nurture: Interactions with others and our

environment

Socio-Cognitive-Behavioral Approach

• Behavioral Perspective: – Rewards, Punishments

• Cognitive Perspective: – Locus of Control, coping with threats or stress

• Social Perspective:– Learning from observation

Biopsychology of Mental Disorder

• Biology influences psychological disorders

• Changing our thinking is effective

Self-Diagnosis

1) Have you had periods of time when you have felt “blue” for no apparent reason?

2) Have you ever gone to a party on a night when you knew you should be studying?

3) Have you had an experience where you thought you heard or saw something that wasn’t really there?

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4) Have you had a flash of temper in which you said something you later regretted?

5) Have you had unusual thoughts that you have told no one about?

6) Have you made someone fearful because of something you have said or done?

How are psychological disorders classified?

• DSM-V ●Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders #5

• Organizes disorders by both mental and physical symptoms

• Multiaxial Diagnosis

• Define psychological disorders.

• What are different ways the medical model and the psychological model of classify behavioral abnormalities?

• In your opinion which system provides more support for victims of mental illness?

Vocab Homework

• Using the vocabulary cards and you textbook photocopy – Define terms– Write a sentence with the term in it using your

own words– Write down associated words: synonyms,

antonyms, related words– DUE Monday May 20th