CASE STUDIES

1
CASE STUDIES

1. For each example
2. Highlight the behaviour or characteristics that
   make it abnormal
3. Think about why it may be abnormal
4. Decide which definition you would categorise it
   under
5. Be prepared to discuss your answers

2

• Sue reports that she has an acute fear
• of snakes. She cannot bear to watch any films or
  television programmes which include snakes. If
  she sees a picture of a snake, she becomes very
  anxious or distressed. If she sees a toy snake in
  a toy shop, she wants to walk away. She certainly
  will not go anywhere near a zoo.

3

• Martin lives with his mother, believes that the
  world beyond his house is filled with radio waves
  which will insert evil thoughts into his head.
• For this reason, he never leaves the house. He
• covers his bedroom window with aluminium foil
• because he believes that this will protect him.
• He claims to hear voices which tell him that he
  should give up the fight against the evil waves.

4

• Janet has an extreme fear of germs and bacteria.
  She will only allow visitors into her
• house if she is convinced that they are clean.
  She goes through elaborate rituals when
  performing ordinary tasks. For example, when
  making a cup of tea, she will fill and empty the
  kettle fourteen times in order to make sure that
  the water is clean.

5

• Joyce lived on the street in a wealthy area of
  New York. She used the pavement as a toilet,
  soiled herself, and smelt awful. Passers-by were
  abused, and any money they gave her was burned.
  In 1987 she was picked up during a government
  campaign aimed at helping the homeless, taken to
  a psychiatric hospital and diagnosed as a
  paranoid schizophrenic. She protested that her
  civil rights had been violated. When lawyers from
  the Civil Liberties union had her reassessed, she
  was found not to be schizophrenic.

6

• Darla refused to throw anything away. She hoarded
  rubbish to such an extent that she had to buy an
  ex-opera house to store it in. Among her
  possessions were theatrical costumes, a
  papier-maché mermaid, and stuffed alligators. She
  wore a fireman's coat and played in a kazoo band.

7

• John had lived for 10 years in a cave that
  flooded with seawater at high tide. In the past
  he has walked from Land's End to John o'Groats in
  his bare feet, wearing only pyjamas. In order to
  raise money for conservation, he volunteered to
  spend 6 months in a cage at London Zoo as a human
  exhibit, but the authorities declined the offer.

8

• June. Was born in Jamaica, is a follower of the
  Pentecostal church and believes that on occasions
  she is possessed by spirits which make her speak
  in tongues.

9

• Davey. Is intensely afraid of heights. He has
  left a job because it was on the fifth floor, and
  refuses to visit his daughter who lives in
  Austria because of the mountains.

10

• Ben. Is a street musician who recently dropped
  out of school. He likes to perform using a
  variety of vegetables and dead fish .

11

• Chris. Has always lived in an isolated cottage.
  He has six dogs which he looks after. He never
  goes out of the cottage unless absolutely
  necessary, and has no friends or visitors.

12
Defining Abnormality
Behavioural Characteristics Definition
Sue
Martin
Janet
Joyce
Darla
Davey
June
Ben
Chris
John
13
Defining Abnormality
Behavioural Characteristics Definition
Sue
Martin
Janet
Joyce
Darla
Davey
June
Ben
Chris
John