Abnormality

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Abnormality
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Abnormality

• How to distinguish abnormal behavior from normal
  behavior?
• What constitutes normal behavior?

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Defining Abnormality

• Deviation from the Average
• Statistically rare behavior
• Deviation from an Ideal
• Subjective Discomfort
• Does the behavior produce discomfort in the
  individual? Does it harm others?
• Inability to Function Effectively
• Cannot adapt to demands of society

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The Mental State of the Union

• All diagnosable mental disorders 22 (44
  million)
• Depressive disorders 9.5 (19 million)
• Anxiety disorders 13.3 of people between 18 and
  54 (19 million)
• Many have more than one disorder

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Abnormality and the Legal System

• When should society intervene in the presence of
  abnormal behavior?
• All states allow involuntary commitment
• Actual or anticipated harmful behavior toward
  others or toward self
• Long-term Dangerousness and need treatment in a
  setting no less restrictive than a hospital

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Abnormality and the Legal System

• How to decide if a mentally ill person is
  dangerous?
• A small correlation exists between mental illness
  and violence
• Great difficulty predicting long-term
  dangerousnessWhy?
• More accuracy predicting short-term
  dangerousnessWhy?

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Abnormality and the Legal System The Insanity
Defense
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Abnormality and the Legal System The Insanity
Defense

• Insanity is a legal termnot a psychological one
• Many jurisdictions use a standard in which, at
  the time of the crime, the defendant
• Does not know the behavior was wrong
• Does not have the capacity to control behavior

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Abnormality and the Legal System The Insanity
Defense

• Common beliefs about insanity defense
• Large number of defendants use it
• Most who use it are acquitted
• Defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity
  are released soon after trials
• Persons found insane are extremely dangerous

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Abnormality and the Legal System The Insanity
Defense

• Truth
• Used in about 1 of criminal cases
• Successful only 26 of the time
• When found NGRI, defendants serve about the same
  amount of time as those found guilty
• NGRI no more dangerous (statistically) than other
  criminals

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Models of Abnormality

• Superstition
• Abnormal behavior the result of possession by a
  demon or Satan
• Treatment includedwhipping, starvation,
  bleeding, etc.

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Models of Abnormality

• Medical Model
• Abnormal behavior the result of physical
  abnormality
• Treatment focuses on underlying disorder
• Criticism
• Some abnormalities have no physical cause
• Implies something is wrong with the person, and
  they have no responsibility for their actions

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Models of Abnormality

• Psychoanalytic Model
• Abnormal behavior the result childhood conflicts
  over sexual and aggressive impulses
• Treatment involves resolving those conflicts
• Criticism
• Little connection between childhood conflicts
  and adult behavior
• People have little control over own behavior

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Models of Abnormality

• Humanistic Model
• Abnormal behavior arises from a persons
  inability to fulfill needs difficulty relating
  to the world
• People are ultimately responsible for their own
  behavior can choose what works for them

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Models of Abnormality

• Behavioral Model
• The fact of abnormal behavior is all we need know
• Treatment involves retraining normal behavior
• Criticism
• Sometimes abnormal behaviors have emotional
  causes that need to be addressed

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Models of Abnormality

• Cognitive Model
• Abnormal behaviors arise from dysfunctional
  cognitions
• Teach new ways of thinking often used in
  conjunction with teaching new behaviors from the
  behavioral model

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Models of Abnormality

• Sociocultural Model
• Abnormal behavior shaped by family, society
• Environments can give rise to abnormal behavior