The Field of Abnormal Psychology

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY C-PSYM311A 1ST SEMESTER – PROF. DE ALA – MIDTERMS M1: THE FIELD OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY i. WHAT IS ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY? Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on psychopathology, or the study of symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental and behavioral disorders. Its main goal is to describe, explain, predict, and modify abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For example, this field looks at both extreme cases such as homicide, suicide, or psychotic breakdowns, and more common but less sensational problems like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse. People working in this field aim to reduce suffering and life disruption not only for the individual but also for their families and communities. ii. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments. ●​ “Pathology” means the study of disease, so psychopathology literally means the study of mental illness or abnormal behavior. ●​ Example: If a person constantly experiences hallucinations, psychopathology examines what symptoms are present, what caused them, and what treatment might help. iii. DEFINITION OF MENTAL DISORDER (APA, 2022) A mental disorder is defined as a syndrome characterized by significant disturbance in: ●​ Cognition (thinking abilities), ●​ Emotion regulation (control of feelings), or ●​ Behavior (actions and habits). This disturbance must reflect a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes. Mental disorders are usually linked with distress (mental pain, sadness, anxiety) or disability (problems in work, school, relationships). However, not all unusual behavior counts as a mental disorder. For example: ●​ A normal reaction to stress or loss, such as grief after a loved one dies, is not considered a disorder. ●​ Social deviance (e.g., unusual political or religious beliefs) is not a disorder unless it comes from dysfunction in the person’s mind. Diagnosis of a mental disorder should be clinically useful, meaning it should guide the clinician in predicting the course of the problem, making a treatment plan, and estimating possible outcomes. iv. DEFINITION OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Different authors define abnormality in different ways: Barlow & Durand (2018): Abnormal behavior refers to unexpected actions that are often judged negatively because they differ from what is typical or usual. Sue et al. (2016): Proposed that abnormality can be understood using four main factors, known as the 4 Ds: ●​ Distress ●​ Deviance ●​ Dysfunction ●​ Dangerousness v. THE 4Ds OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Distress: Distress means emotional, social, or physical suffering. Most people who seek therapy do so because they are experiencing distress. ●​ Social distress: avoiding people, isolating oneself, or behaving inappropriately with others. ●​ Emotional distress: extreme sadness, anxiety, or prolonged depression. ●​ Physical distress: headaches, fatigue, hypertension, or heart palpitations caused by emotional problems. It is important to note that everyone feels sad or anxious sometimes. A reaction becomes abnormal only if it is excessive, prolonged, or disruptive to daily life. Dysfunction: Dysfunction occurs when emotional problems interfere with daily roles and responsibilities (work, school, relationships, family life). ●​ Example: A student’s grades suddenly drop because of depression or substance abuse. PAGE 1 CREATED BY JEMS ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY C-PSYM311A 1ST SEMESTER – PROF. DE ALA – MIDTERMS ●​ Example: An employee can no longer perform well at work because of anxiety or panic attacks. ●​ Etiology: The study of the causes of disorders (biological, psychological, social). Dysfunction means the person cannot reach their potential or fulfill expected roles. ●​ Course: The expected pattern a disorder takes (chronic, episodic, or time-limited). ●​ Involves assigning numerical values to objects, events, or their characteristics based on conventional rules. ●​ Used in research to quantify the size, quantity, or quality of observed events. ●​ Prognosis: The predicted outcome (likelihood of recovery or persistence). Dangerousness: Dangerousness refers to the risk of harming oneself or others. ●​ Public media often links mental illness with violence, but in reality, only a small percentage of violent crimes are caused by people with mental disorders. ●​ Substance abuse (alcohol, drugs) is more strongly connected to violence than mental illness. ●​ Still, therapists are legally required to act if a client poses a risk of suicide or homicide. Even though violence is rare, assessing potential danger is a critical part of mental health practice. vi. SUMMARY OF 4Ds ●​ Distress = Emotional/physical suffering that is overwhelming. ●​ Deviance = Unusual or bizarre behavior compared to norms. ●​ Dysfunction = Inability to function in daily life roles. ●​ Dangerousness = Risk of harm to self or others. These four criteria help professionals decide whether a behavior may be considered abnormal. a) Other Useful Terms ●​ Clinical description: The complete picture of a client’s symptoms and behaviors. ●​ Presenting problem: The main issue that brings a client to seek help. ●​ Prevalence: How common a disorder is in a population. ●​ Incidence: The number of new cases of a disorder over a period of time. PAGE 2 CREATED BY JEMS b) Key Ideas to Remember A behavior is considered abnormal if it causes significant distress, deviates from social norms, creates dysfunction in life, or poses danger to self or others.