Chapter 1: What is Abnormal Psychology?

Question 1

What are the criteria for determining abnormal behaviour?

Answer 1

• unusual
• socially unacceptable/violates social norms
• faulty perception/interpretation of reality
• individual is in significant personal distress
• maladaptive/self-defeating
• dangerous

Question 2

What are psychological disorders?

Answer 2

• mental disorders
• abnormal behaviour patterns that disturb mental health/psychological functioning

Question 3

How does cultural beliefs and norms relate to abnormal behaviour?

Answer 3

• some behaviours seen as normal in one culture can be viewed as abnormal in another
• behaviour patterns can take different forms in varying cultures
• models and societal views vary across culture

Question 4

What was Hipprocrates’ theory about?

Answer 4

• imbalance of humours: phlegm (green); black bile; yellow bile; blood (red)
• break from demonology
• underlying biological processes

Question 5

What are the imbalances of bodily humours?

Answer 5

• phlegmatic: lethargic/sluggish/slow/stolid; excess of phlegm
• melancholia: depression; excess of black bile
• sanguine: cheerful/confident/optimistic; excess of blood
• choleric: quick-tempered/bilious; excess of yellow bile

Question 6

What is the Demonological Model?

Answer 6

• abnormal behaviour as a result of supernatural/divine causes
• trephining: cutting a hole in a person’s skull to release the demons

Question 7

Who is Johann Weyer?

Answer 7

• abnormal behaviour and thought patterns were caused by physical problems

Question 8

What was Hotel Dieu?

Answer 8

• first asylum in North America (1963)
• care for people with psychological disorders, intellectual disabilities, poor, destitute, physically disabled

Question 9

Who is Pussin?

Answer 9

• first official to unchain the “incurably insane”
• if treated with kindness chains would not be needed
• forbade staff from treating residents harshly
• residents became manageable and calm when unchained

Question 10

Who is Pinel?

Answer 10

• continued humane treatment
• spent hours talking to inmates with the belief that showing understanding and concern can restore normal functioning

Question 11

What is moral therapy?

Answer 11

• providing humane treatment in a relaxed, decent, encouraging environment can restore functioning

Question 12

Who is DIx?

Answer 12

• publicly denounced deplorable conditions in jails, charitable housing where deranged people were placed
• resulted in mental hospitals established outside of Quebec