PSYC-3004-1 Psychological Disorders

To prepare for this assignment: Review Chapter 1 in the course textbook, paying particularly close attention to the section beginning on page 2 entitled “What Is Psychological Abnormality?” Consider some personal encounters that you have had with others during which you thought that their behaviors might be deemed “abnormal.”

The assignment (1–2 pages): Describe and analyze your personal experiences and encounters with abnormal behavior. Describe in detail three examples of abnormal behavior, based on your personal experiences, encounters with others, or examples from the news. Identify elements in these examples that relate to “the four D’s” that can be used to identify what is abnormal, including deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. Discuss cultural factors that might have an impact on whether or not the behavior you described would be considered abnormal. Discuss any limitations to “the four D’s” approach to defining abnormal that are highlighted by your three examples and your analysis of these examples.