abnormal psychology

Question 1

mental illness

Answer 1

Mental illness refers to conditions affecting thinking, emotions, behavior, or mood, often disrupting daily life, relationships, and the ability to handle stress. These conditions stem from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors, including genetics and brain chemistry. Mental illnesses are medical conditions, not personal weaknesses, and can range from mild to severe, requiring professional care and support for effective management.

Question 2

two major categories ot mental illness

Answer 2

psychosis - hallucination, delusions
neurosis - (non psychotic illness) whether or not you are in touch with reality

Question 3

mental health problem

Answer 3

A mental health problem refers to issues like stress, grief, or relationship difficulties that affect emotional well-being but may not meet the criteria for a mental illness. These problems are often temporary or situational, less severe, and can cause distress or impact daily life. Support from friends, family, or professionals can help manage them.

Question 4

6 approaches to defining normality

Answer 4

cultural norms, functional, historical, situational, medical, and statistical

Question 5

cultural norms

Answer 5

What is considered normal behaviour in one culture may differ from another, reflecting the diversity of human experiences and societal standards.

Question 6

functional normality

Answer 6

Focuses on whether an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviours enable them to function effectively in their daily life. If someone can meet their basic needs and maintain relationships, their mental and emotional state may be considered normal.

Question 7

historical

Answer 7

The concept of normalcy has evolved, reflecting changes in societal values, scientific understanding, and philosophical perspectives

Question 8

situational

Answer 8

Recognizing the situational nature of normalcy emphasises the importance of considering context, diversity, and individual differences when assessing behaviours or conditions.

Question 9

medical

Answer 9

This approach treats abnormal behavior as medical conditions that can be diagnosed and treated. It focuses on identifying symptoms, making clinical diagnoses, and using treatments like medication, assuming that abnormality has biological, psychological, and social causes. The goal is to reduce symptoms and return individuals to normal functioning.

Question 10

dysfunctional

Answer 10

In psychology, dysfunction is a term used to describe a breakdown in a person’s behavior, cognition, or emotion

Question 11

diagnosis

Answer 11

In psychiatry, a diagnosis is the process of identifying and classifying a mental disorder based on a patient’s signs and symptoms

Question 12

DCM/ICD

Answer 12

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are both classification systems for mental disorders

Question 13

prevalence

Answer 13

In psychology, prevalence is the proportion of a population that has a specific characteristic at a given time, regardless of when they first developed the characteristic.