I. Identifying Abnormal BehaviorsA. Four Basic Standards1. It is unusual2. It it maladaptive, meaning it interferes with a person’s ability to function normally3. It is disturbing to others4. It is distressful to others. It prevents a person from thinking clearly and making rational decisions.B. The DSM-IV-TR1. It provides a set of diagnostic categories for classifying over 300 specific psychological disorder2. It uses a process known as multiaxial diagnosis to help evaluate the entire person:■ Axis 1: clinical disorder, such as depression or anxiety disorder■ Axis 2: personality disorder, such as antisocial behavior and mental retardation■ Axis 3: general medical conditions, such as diabetes ■ Axis 4: psychosocial and environmental problems, such as the death of a family member or loss of a job■ Axis 5: global assessment of a person’s overall level of functioning on a scale of 1 (serious attempt at suicide) to 100 (happy)II. Theories of Abnormal BehaviorA. The psychoanalytic perspective views mental disorder as the product of conflicts among the identity, ego, and the superego1. These conflicts result from unresolved traumatic expressions that took place as a child.B. The humanist perspective looks to a person’s feelings, self-esteem, and self-concept for the causes of mental behavior. They believe that behavior is the result of choices we make in struggling to find meaning in life.C. The cognitive perspective focuses on faulty, illogical, and negative ways of thinking. Negative ways of thinking, for ie, can lead to depression.D. The behavioral perspective stresses that abnormal behavior is learned. Perhaps a behavior has been reinforced and rewarded. For ie, being afraid of getting into an elevator, the power going out and further causing anxietyE. The biological perspective argues that many disorders are caused by hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances, differences in brain structure, and inherited predisposition.III. Anxiety DisorderA. General Characteristics1. Anxiety is a feeling of tension, apprehension, and worry that occurs during everyday life. It is irrational, uncontrollable, and disruptive.B. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, uncontrollable, and ongoing apprehension about a wide range of life situations. It can lead to chronic fatigue, irritability, and affects twice as many women as men.C. Panic Disorder is characterized by sudden periods of anxiety. Panic attacks are accompanied by a pounding heart, rapid breathing, sudden dizziness, and a feeling of lightheadedness. They think they are going to die.D. Phobias are characterized by a strong, irrational fear of specific objects or situations that are normally considered harmless. Agoraphobia, for ie, is an irrational fear of public places.E. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by persistent, repetitive, and unwanted thoughts (obsessions), and behaviors (compulsions). Obsessions can cause a person great anxiety and distress. Obsessive thoughts often lead to compulsive behaviors, such as repeatedly checking to make sure that doors are locked, lights turned off, and windows are closed.F. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is characterized by intense feelings of anxiety, horror, and helplessness after experiencing a traumatic event, such as a violent crime, natural disaster, or military combat. These people continue to experience recurrent memories of the incident, frequently replaying it in their minds. It can lead to depression, uncontrollable crying, edginess, and an inability to concentrate.IV. Mood DisorderA. General Characteristics1. They are serious, persistent disturbances in a person’s emotions. Major depression and bipolar disorder are the main types of mood disorder.B. Major Depression is characterized by a lasting and continuous depressed mood. These people often feel deeply discouraged and lethargic.C. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by periods of both depression and mania. During a manic episode, the individual is hyperactive and may not sleep for days at a time. Sufferers frequently exhibit racing thoughts, a shortened attention span, and an inflated sense of importance.V. Somatoform DisorderA. General Characteristics1. Characterized by physical complaints or conditions, which are caused by psychological factorsB. Conversion Disorder is a type of somatoform disorder marked by paralysis, blindness, deafness, or other loss of sensation, but with no discernible physical cause. The term “conversion” refers to an unconscious displacement into physical symptoms.C. Hypochondriasis is a type of somatoform disorder involving an exaggerated concern about health and illness. A person with this will frequently meet with doctors and constantly read about health symptoms.VI. SchizophreniaA. Affects 1% of the population, ½ of all people admitted to the mental hospitals have this, it typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, and is equally prevalent in men and women.B. Characteristic Symptoms1. Delusional beliefs, hallucinations, disorganized speech (word salad) and thought, and emotional and behavioral disturbances (flattened affect).C. Explaining Schizophrenia1. Genetic Basis: increased risk genetic similarity, it tends to cluster in certain families2. Dopamine Hypothesis: over-activity of certain dopamine neurons in the brain may contribute. Drugs that increase the amount of dopamine can produce symptoms and drugs that block dopamine activity can reduce or eliminate some symptoms of it.3. The Diathesis-Stress Model: People inherit a predisposition or diathesis that increases their risk of schizophrenia. Stressful life experiences, then trigger schizophrenic episodes.VII. Personality DisorderA. Theses people are inflexible and maladaptive across a broad range of situations.1. They usually become evident during adolescence or early adulthoodB. Narcissistic Personality Disorder: characteristized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, fantasies of unlimited success, need for excessive admiration, and a willingness to exploit others to achieve personal goals. 1. The causes of this disorder are unknownC. Antisocial Personality Disorder: characterized by a profound disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others. People with the antisocial personality disorder lack a conscience and show no remorse for actions that harm others. They often display insight into the weaknesses of others and are surprisingly poised when confronted with