AP LESSON 1

• Psychological disorder


  A psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
• 4 D's of psychological disorder

  • Psychological dysfunction
  • Distress / impairment
  • Atypical (deviance)
  • Dangerousness
• Psychological dysfunction


  A breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning that interferes with daily functioning
• Phobia


  A psychological disorder characterized by marked and persistent fear of an object or situation
• Psychopathology


  The scientific study of mental disorders
• Clinical psychology


  The applied branch of psychology that seeks to understand, assess, and treat psychological conditions in a clinical setting
• Abnormal psychology


  The branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thought which may or may not indicate an underlying condition
• Normal behavior


  Behavior that is like other people in the society
• Criteria for abnormal behavior

  • Norm-violation
  • Statistical rarity
  • Personal discomfort
  • Deviation
  • Maladaptiveness
• Abnormal


  (According to DSM-IV-TR and drafts of DSM-5) Behavioral, psychological, 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
• Clinical assessment


  The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder
• Diagnosis


  The process of determining whether the particular problem afflicting the individual meets all criteria for a psychological disorder
• The most important development in the recent history of psychopathology is the adoption of scientific methods to learn more about the nature of psychological disorders, their causes, and their treatment
• Scientist-practitioners


  Mental health professionals who take a scientific approach to their clinical work, keeping up with the latest scientific developments, evaluating their own assessments or treatment procedures, and conducting research that produces new information about disorders or their treatment
• Aims of psychopathology research


  1. Describe psychological disorders

  2. Determine their causes

  3. Treat them