Lecture on Psychopathology

Overview of Psychopathology

• Definition: Study of mental disorders, derived from psycho (mind) and pathology (study of disease).
• Focus on mental health conditions: OCD, depression, and phobias.
• Different psychological approaches for each condition:
  • Behaviorist approach: Applied to phobias.
  • Cognitive approach: Applied to depression.
  • Biological approach: Applied to OCD.

Defining Mental Abnormality

• Challenge in defining abnormality clearly and objectively.
• Importance of a definition that includes all necessary individuals without overextending.

Definitions of Abnormality

1. Statistical Infrequency

   • Concept: Mental abnormality is defined by rarity in the population.
   • Method: Uses statistics and normal distribution curves.
   • Example: Intelligence measured by IQ (average is 100); low intelligence defined as two standard deviations from the average.
   • Strengths: Objective measurement not reliant on clinician's subjective opinion.
   • Criticisms:
     • Subjective cutoff points affect many people closely around the cutoff.
     • Not all rare traits are negative (e.g., high intelligence).
     • Some common mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety) contradict the rarity definition.

2. Failure to Function Adequately

   • Concept: An individual's inability to cope with daily life.
   • Features (Rosenhan and Seligman):
     • Maladaptive behavior
     • Personal anguish
     • Observer discomfort
     • Irrationality and unpredictability
     • Unconventionality
   • Criticisms:
     • Subjective and observer-dependent.
     • Excludes functional but abnormal individuals (e.g., psychopaths).
     • Not all maladaptive behavior indicates mental illness.
   • Strengths: Respects individual experiences.

3. Deviation from Social Norms

   • Concept: Abnormality defined by deviation from cultural expectations.
   • Considerations:
     • Variability between cultures and over time.
     • Examples include differences in social norms between settings (nightclub vs. classroom).
   • Strengths: Respects cultural differences; not ethnocentric.
   • Criticisms:
     • Difficult to apply across cultures.
     • May unfairly label individuals deviating from norms.

4. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health (Jahoda)

   • Concept: Focus on achieving positive mental health traits.
   • Features:
     • Environmental mastery
     • Autonomy
     • Resistance to stress
     • Self-actualization
     • Positive self-attitude
     • Accurate perception of reality
   • Criticisms:
     • Reflects Western, individualistic perspectives.
     • Difficult to meet all criteria at once.
   • Strengths: Positive, holistic approach; provides personal development suggestions.

Conclusion

• Emphasized the complexity of defining mental abnormality.
• Highlighted the importance of choosing appropriate definitions based on individual and cultural contexts.

Additional Resources and Acknowledgments

• Over 170 videos available for students on Psychopathology.
• Exclusive content for Patreon supporters including exam questions and tutorial videos.
• Acknowledgments to supporters enabling part-time teaching and resource creation.