...Joan Didion: What is Home? In Joan Didion’s essay “On Going Home” she writes about leading a double life. She feels like one person when she’s with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles, and a completely different person when back “home” surrounded by her childhood family in the Central Valley of California. During this particular trip, she begins to reflect on her life in Los Angeles. Didion contemplates the fact that she often feels uneasy around her husband, just like he feels uneasy being around her family. At a crossroad, she must decide not only who she is, and the life she wants, but also the kind of life she wants for her daughter. Her life in Los Angeles has cleansed her from her youth—one that was dusty and full of useless trinkets. She ponders the time her husband wrote the word “D-U-S-T” on those useless trinkets and she remembers her feelings of sadness and indignation. She says, “We live in dusty houses…filled with mementos quite without value to him” (139-40). The dust-covered trinkets signify what is important to her, or what needs to be addressed in her marriage. Yet, these objects just lay there waiting for someone to see them—for someone to dust them off and care for them—not unlike how Didion wishes her husband would see her and nurture her in their marriage. Didion wonders which of her two homes is normal or if they are both flawed. When she and her husband are with her family, he becomes apprehensive about her behavior, “…because once there I fall...
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...One of the trickiest scientific ideas to define is abnormal psychology. There are very few universally accepted theories in the science of psychology and with a field that is so open to interpretation defining what is normal is a tall order. Interpreting the meaning of research data is a matter of perspective and is often open to debate. Everyone perceives things through their own concept of the world and since no two people experience the world in the exact same way the definition of normal varies from person to person and culture to culture. In this paper we will examine the field of abnormal psychology, a few common disorders, and the varying methods of therapy from the differing psychological schools of thought. Normal vs. Abnormal Psychology “Defining what is abnormal depends on how one first defines what is normal” (Davis & Buskist, 2008, p. 237). Psychology in general terms is the study of the mind. We study mental processes and human behavior to better understand the human condition. In trying to study the mind and understand the processes of thought there is much overlap from other disciplines; to fully understand behavior we must gain an understanding of all that goes into the process. There are biological, neurological, and evolutionary components to cognition and reaction. There is also a strong philosophical aspect to appreciating the idiosyncrasies of human behavior. In modern psychology there are four main schools of thought: psychodynamic, behaviorist, cognitive...
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...Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abstract In the following paper, abnormal psychology will be discussed in length. The origins of abnormal psychology will be discussed, including the challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. There will also be a brief overview of how abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline. Finally the biopsychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theoretical models, will also be analyzed in relation to the development of abnormal psychology. Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology, also known as psychopathology, is the subfield of psychology devoted to the study of mental disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The subfield also aims to understand the nature, causes, and treatment of these mental disorders (Pearson Higher Education, 2010). Abnormal psychology has come a long way in regard to how it is defined, viewed, and even treated. There are many challenges when it comes to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. Over time, abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline. When it comes to the development of abnormal psychology, there are many theoretical models in which we can study as well. Origins of Abnormal Psychology It is difficult to define abnormality, and the scientific characterization of abnormality depends on five criteria: help seeking, irrationality/dangerousness, deviance, emotional distress, and significant...
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...are multiple causes to abnormal behavior, understanding this can lead to learning about and treating abnormal behavior. These multiple causes can be comprehended by learning about the psychosocial, biological, and sociocultural theoretical models related to the development of abnormal behavior. Abnormal The study of abnormal behavior began early in time when people tried to explain deviant behaviors. Abnormal behavior may have been first attributed to evil spirits. It was common for abnormal behaviors to be associated with witches or sorcerers. With time different areas, such as the psychosocial, biological and sociocultural, saw that they could find an explanation for these odd behaviors. Throughout time there have been problems with defining abnormal behaviors....
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...Defining Abnormality Paper This paper will be about the challenges in defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. There are several challenges that arisen when defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. The challenges that will be elaborated will be situational context, culture, and mind and body. Efforts to understand, clarify and control challenging behaviors can be found back to more than a few years. Influences can range from age and gender to culture and situational contexts. When bearing in mind the age of an individual, experts have their work cut out for them, anyone from any age group can experience from abnormal behaviors, this makes it challenging to make a diagnosis Certain cultures have what some would think of being odd or “abnormal” customs. Even with each of these concerns taken into account, mind, body, culture, and situational context, trying to determine if a person is displaying normal or abnormal behaviors can still be challenging. Many human behaviors can follow what is known as the normal curve. Looking at this bell-shaped curve, the majority of individuals are clustered around the highest point of the curve, which is known as the average. People who fall very far at either end of the normal curve might be considered "abnormal” (Sherry, K., N.d.). Situational Context Situational context is a social situation, behavioral setting, or general circumstances in which an action takes place. If the situational context is not considered...
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...Classifying Psychopathology Categorical and Dimensional Approaches 4225 Loyola University Chicago Classifying Psychopathology: Categorical and Dimensional Approaches The classification of mental disorders is a fundamental component to the science and practice of psychopathology (Widiger & Sankis, 2000). Despite this centrality, evidence supporting the distinction between healthy functioning and mental disorders remains disjointed. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) defines a mental disorder in part as “… a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction...
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...Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) One definition of abnormality is “deviation from social norms” and under this definition a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. For example, someone would be classified as being abnormal if they laughed at a funeral, as this is socially unacceptable. A weakness of this definition is that it lacks cultural relativity as social behaviour varies when different cultures are compared. For e.g. it’s common in south Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK. As well as this voice pitch and volume, touching, directions of gaze and acceptable subjects for discussion have all been found to vary between cultures. This means what is considered deviant or abnormal varies considerably across cultures, thus weakening this definition. Another limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks time validity. This is because social norms change over time; behaviour that was once seen as abnormal may be acceptable and vice versa. For example, drink driving was once considered acceptable but is now seen as socially unacceptable whereas homosexuality has changed the other way. Until 1980 homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder but is considered acceptable today. This is a weakness...
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...Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) One definition of abnormality is “deviation from social norms” and under this definition a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. For example, someone would be classified as being abnormal if they laughed at a funeral, as this is socially unacceptable. A weakness of this definition is that it lacks cultural relativity as social behaviour varies when different cultures are compared. For e.g. it’s common in south Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK. As well as this voice pitch and volume, touching, directions of gaze and acceptable subjects for discussion have all been found to vary between cultures. This means what is considered deviant or abnormal varies considerably across cultures, thus weakening this definition. Another limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks time validity. This is because social norms change over time; behaviour that was once seen as abnormal may be acceptable and vice versa. For example, drink driving was once considered acceptable but is now seen as socially unacceptable whereas homosexuality has changed the other way. Until 1980 homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder but is considered acceptable today. This is a weakness because...
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...Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Sandra Hall PSY 410 - Abnormal Psychology May 6, 2013 Dr. Kristi Husk Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Psychology is a diverse discipline with many facets. Throughout the years, scientists have developed a variety of disciplines to understand and explain human behavior from their respective fields. One such development is the discipline of abnormal psychology. It is a relatively young discipline and consists of six core concepts. These concepts aid in the diagnosis of abnormal behavior, and includes various theoretical models to help understand psychopathology. The Origins of Abnormal Psychology and Its Evolution into a Scientific Discipline Andrew Colman defines abnormal psychology as “a branch of psychology devoted to the study of the classification, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and disabilities” (Colman, 2009, p. 2). The desire to understand human behavior and (mental) illness dates back to the Ancient Greeks. In 460 BCE, Hippocrates documented his first attempts to understand mental illness. He believed illnesses are the result of an imbalance of various bodily fluids. Hippocrates’ observations led to the development of the very first biological theory of mental illness and emphasized the importance of the observation of the patient’s symptoms rather than relying on religious beliefs (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Hippocrates’ findings began the progress of...
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... | | |College of Social Sciences | | |PSY/410 | | |Abnormal Psychology | Copyright © 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to theories and research concerning abnormal behavior (psychopathology). The course will address such topics as the incidence (frequency) of abnormal behavior of various types; how abnormal behaviors are classified into various diagnostic categories; the etiologies (causes) of psychological disorders; and the variety of methods employed in the treatment of abnormal behavior. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each...
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...characterized by multiple types of psychological instability and impulsiveness, often involves intense and frequent mood changes, fear of abandonment, and a risk of suicide according to Merriam-Webster.com. In Oldham’s article “Personality Disorders” he states that in many important ways, we are what we do. It is easier to determine the “what” of our personality rather than the “why”. We all have unique personalities and no two people are the same, for instance like our fingerprints. Individuals’ temperament is a key component of a person’s developing personality, along with the shaping and molding influences of family, caretakers, and environmental experiences. Personality disorders are diagnosed by a classical system of descriptive psychopathology within a framework adopted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and published in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (). The DSM has had many revisions with the latest revision being published in 2000. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV-TR) is used to diagnose psychiatric illness. The DSM-IV TR has a multiaxial approach that includes five dimensions. Axis I: Clinical Syndromes, Axis II: Personality and Mental Retardation, Axis III: Medical Conditions, Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems, and Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning (PsychiatryOnline.org). Oldham places personality disorders on Axis II and this is also a general consensus...
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...History and Overview of Abnormal Psychology Gary D. Neer PSY/410 March 9th, 2012 Analu Sing History and Overview of Abnormal Psychology The science of abnormal psychology or known as psychopathology tends to be a controversial science. Within this science, there is no simple or direct answer, nor any precise definitions. As with the origin and still today, identifying normal from abnormal behavior is still challenging. However, to understand this science of mystery, one should look into the origin of abnormal psychology; including the challenges in defining what is abnormal psychology and categorizing normal and abnormal behavior, how abnormal psychology evolved, and analyze the psychosocial, biological, and socio-cultural theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology to come to a better understanding of abnormal psychology as a discipline. Origin of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology has been a continuous debate throughout history. Psychologists have development many theories trying to explain psychological instability. Generally, history has place abnormal psychology (psychopathology) into three diverse explanations (Barlow & Durand, 2004).The mystical view regards abnormal behavior as a direct result of supernatural possession. Between 1800 B.C. and 1700 B.C, the Hammurabi’s, in the Mesopotamian region, viewed abnormal behavior as the self-possession of gods, ghosts, and spirits, which caused disease in a person’s body or mind (Hornstein...
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...and abnormality. You also have to keep in mind that social context or historical context must be taken into account when answering the question as each culture and social structure has its own consideration of the two different facets of human behavior or thinking. 1. Help seeking- Abnormality can be identified by simply seeing who seeks treatment for emotional problems. 2 .Irrationality/Dangerousness-Mental illnesses is often associated with irrational, dangerous, or out-of-control behavior. 3 .Deviance-This refers to differentness, which is behavior or feelings that are extreme or statistically unusual. 4 .Emotional distress-This can be in the form of sadness or anxiety, it is associated with most forms of psychopathology and is a useful criterion for defining and identifying mental illness. 5. Significant...
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...workers , medical and nursing students, pastoral counselors, and other professionals in health care and social service fields. The book's title is often shortened to DSM , or an abbreviation that also indicates edition, such as DSM-IV-TR, which indicates fourth edition, text revision of the manual, published in 2000. The DSM-IV-TR provides a classification of mental disorders, criteria sets to guide the process of differentialdiagnosis , and numerical codes for each disorder to facilitate medical record keeping. The stated purpose of the DSM is threefold: to provide "a helpful guide to clinical practice"; "to facilitate research and improve communication among clinicians and researchers"; and to serve as "an educational tool for teaching psychopathology." The multi-axial system The third edition of DSM , or DSM-III , which was published in 1980, introduced a system of five axes or dimensions for assessing all aspects of a patient's mental and emotional health. The multi-axial system is designed to provide a more comprehensive picture of complex or concurrent mental disorders. According to the DSM-IVTR, the system is also intended to "promote the application of the biopsychosocial model in clinical, educational and research settings." The reference to the biopsychosocial model is significant, because it indicates that the DSM-IV-TR does not reflect the view of any specific "school" or tradition within psychiatry regarding the cause or origin (also known as "etiology") of mental...
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...people of all ages and walks of life. Throughout the evolution of abnormal psychology, areas of focus within the discipline have been broken down into six core concepts, which provide for more accurate definition(s) of what is considered to be normal and abnormal behavior in individuals. To fully understand the scope and significance of contemporary abnormal psychology, it is important to understand that psychopathology and its origins has evolved into a scientific discipline and are met with constant challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. The following will discuss the origins of abnormal psychology, how the field has evolved into a scientific discipline in addition to a brief analysis of the psychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theoretical models, which directly relate to the development of abnormal psychology. Origins of Abnormal Psychology The science of abnormal psychology is still considered to be relatively young and having only existed for approximately 100 years. However, the presence of psychopathologies among people worldwide has been recorded throughout history. Before more detailed explanations of abnormal behavior were known, many primitive cultures viewed symptoms of what would today be schizophrenic or depressive in nature, associated with demon possession. Most early or primitive cultures were spiritually driven, and archeologists have documented evidence of a treatment known as Trephination among the...
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