PSYC 435: Abnormal Psychology
Unit 1:
A. Discuss common topics and issues relevant to Abnormal Psychology.
B. Explain why we need to classify mental
... [Show More] disorders.
C. Explain the DSM definition of mental disorders.
D. Identify how culture can influence the definition of Abnormal Psychology.
Text Objectives:
1. Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders.
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification.
3. Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal and describe two different
culture-specific disorders.
4. Distinguish between incidence and prevalence and identify the most common and
prevalent mental disorders.
5. Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting.
7. Describe three different approaches used to gather information about mental
disorders.
8. Explain why a control (or comparison group) is necessary to adequately test a
hypothesis.
9. Discuss why correlational research designs are valuable, even though they cannot be
used to make causal inferences.
10. Describe and explain the benefits and dimensions of the various research approaches.
·Direction of Effect Problem: Find strong positive or negative associations between
QUICK REVIEW
Explain how we define abnormality and classify mental disorders:
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of classification:
Explain how culture affects what is considered abnormal and describe two different culturespecific disorders:
Distinguish between incidence and prevalence and identify the most common and prevalent
mental disorders:
Discuss why abnormal psychology research can be conducted in almost any setting:
Describe three different approaches used to gather information about mental disorders:
Explain why a control (or comparison group) is necessary to adequately test a hypothesis.
Discuss why correlational research designs are valuable, even though they cannot be used to
make causal inferences.
Unit 2:
1. Explain why, in ancient times, abnormal behaviour was attributed to possession by a
demon or god, and describe how exorcism was administered by shamans and priests
as the primary type of treatment for demonic possession.
3. Describe the important contributions from 460 BCE to 200 CE made by Hippocrates,
Plato, Aristotle, and Galen about the conceptualization of the nature and causes of
abnormal behaviour.
4. Discuss how mental disorders were viewed during the Middle Ages.
5. Give examples of mass madness or mass hysteria, and summarize the explanations
offered for this unusual phenomenon.
6. Describe the effect that humanism had on abnormal psychology - Identify
developments that led to the contemporary view of abnormal psychology.
7. Describe the humanitarian reforms in the treatment of mental patients that were
instigated by Philippe Pinel, William Tuke, Benjamin Rush, and Dorothea Dix.
·PINEL’S EXPERIMENT In 1792: remove the chains from some of the inmates as
8. Explain how both the discovery of a biological basis for general paresis and a handful
of other disorders (such as the senile mental disorders, toxic mental disorders, and
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certain types of mental retardation) contributed in a major way to the development of
a scientific approach to abnormal psychology, as well as to the emergence of modern
experimental science which was largely biological. Identify developments that led to
the contemporary view of abnormal psychology.
9. Distinguish between biological and non-biological versions of medical-model thinking
about psychopathology.
10. Trace the important events in the development of psychoanalysis and the
psychodynamic perspective.
11. Contrast the biological and psychodynamic views of abnormal disorders.
12. Describe how the techniques of free association and dream analysis helped both
analysts and their patients.
13. List the major features of the behavioural perspective.
14. Discriminate between classical and operant conditioning.
UNIT 3:
3.1 Distinguish between risk factors and causes of abnormal behavior.
3.3 Explain what the biological perspective tells us about abnormal behavior and also
explain the biological causal factors of abnormal behavior.
·Related to three important dimensions of adult personality: 1) neuroticism or negative
emotionality 2) extraversion or positive emotionality 3) constraint (conscientiousness
and agreeableness)
·Freud three key components of the personality or psyche:
3.5 Describe three social factors known to contribute to abnormal behavior.
·Divorced Families: ending a marriage can be stressful for everyone - women are more
·Effects of Divorce on Children: Divorce can have traumatic effects on children, too.
·the lower the socioeconomic class: the higher the incidence of mental and physical
·Maladaptive Peer Relationships: increased risk of psychological disorders found in
·Popularity vs Rejection: Prosocial popular children communicate with their peers in
·Prejudice and Discrimination:
·1) Access Discrimination,)treatment
discrimination, wh
3.6 Explain how cultural differences can influence perceptions of abnormal behavior.
·Undercontrolled behavior: like aggression and disobedience in American children vs
Thai Overcontrolled behavior: such as shyness, anxiety, and depression would be
UNIT 3 SUMMARY
Distinguish between risk factors and causes of abnormal behavior.
List the perspectives that psychologists take to understand the causes of abnormal behavior.
Explain what the biological perspective tells us about abnormal behavior and also explain the
biological causal factors of abnormal behavior.
Describe the most prominent psychological perspectives on abnormal psychology.
3.5 Describe three social factors known to contribute to abnormal behavior.
3.6 Explain how cultural differences can influence perceptions of abnormal behavior.
QUIZ A Unit 1-3 [Show Less]