Challenges in Identifying Mental Disorders

After reading Chapter 2 of Ronald J. Comer’s book, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, I now understand key principles of 4 models that that contribute to understanding abnormalities. The first model is the biological model, which can be linked to Roman and Greek times as I read in chapter 1. It mainly states that the cause of psychological abnormalities is that of physical illness. In addition, the abnormalities are introduced because of malfunctioning parts in the brain. This includes the possible malfunction of neurons that are found in the cerebrum and the possible malfunction of these neurons and the transmissions between them. Other factors may include genes, evolution and viral infections

The question of what it means to be labelled ‘psychologically abnormal’ is examined closely in Rosenhans study of ‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’. This study highlights the usefulness and consequences of being diagnostically labelled.

Explain how mental ill health may be indicated through an individual’s emotions, thinking and behaviour?

1.4 Explain how mental ill health may be indicated through an individual's emotions,thinking and behaviour?

When using this approach to define abnormality you would first have to consider what is normal behaviour for that particular culture otherwise a person could be incorrectly diagnosed as abnormal. Cultural differences are also a problem for the 'Failure to Function Adequately' definition of abnormality. This classification of abnormality involves a person who conforms to their 7 characteristics of the abnormal as having ill mental health. Examples of these characteristics are vividness, unconventionality and observer discomfort.

In contrast, the adaptive features of these behaviours are more obscure even to the individuals themselves. Often they can not explain the real reasons for their behaviour because the reasons are outside of their conscious awareness. In fact, if they were aware of what motivated their behaviour, they could possibly change it, either through their own efforts or by asking for help and getting support from therapists or friends and family. Therefore the presence of a symptom signals that the individual has an underlying conflict.

Ever since my later adolescence years, I have always been intrigued by the diverse complexity of the human brain. Numerous days I have sat down obtrusively observing my surroundings just to satisfy my curiosity on how individuals think, reason and problem solve everyday life happenings. As such, when it was time to attend university, I decided to study psychology as a means of gaining knowledge and understanding about individuals’ cognitive processes and their behavior. During my undergraduate studies, for a particular reason, I was struck by Abnormal Psychology and spent hours thinking about the various disorders captured by the then Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV). I spent an awful lot of time trying to understand the differing disorders and how their impact on the behavior and thinking processes of individuals that are diagnosed with them.

Since our infancy we learn about behavior through the experiences and the knowledge that we get by observing other people or having relations with them. Living in society leads us to watch and try to explain the way people behave. But that is not always easy. Sometimes we cannot understand even ourselves. Psychology comes to give answers to all this uncertainty.

An abnormality can simply be defined as something which is different from the norm. This definition can easily be found out when looking in a dictionary or deciphering context clues in a book. However, when it comes to applying this definition to real world examples, it becomes more and more difficult to say what an abnormality is. For example, if someone from a foreign country decides to come to the United States, he or she may find the way of life in America to be abnormal. He or she may wonder why Americans drive on the right side of the road, or why the school system works the way it does or even why Americans think the way they do. This person will consider the American way of life “abnormal” because it is different than the lifestyle

Compare and contrast the various models of abnormal functioning using evidence from current psychological research.

At best, objective determination of normal/abnormal behavior is through diagnostic systems, one of which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also called DSM. Published

There are several models of abnormality in use today (Comer, 2009) lists “The Biological Model…”, “The Psychodynamic Model…”, The Behavioral Model…”, The Cognitive Model…”, The Humanistic-Existential Model…”, The Sociocultural Model…” (p.33). The biggest contrasts would be the Biological model, and the other models. Comparing the biological model, and the cognitive model will highlight those differences.

Abnormal is something deviating from what is normal or usual, typical in a way that is uncommon or irregular.

Abnormal behavior was once viewed as an embarrassment to society. Those who suffered from a mental illness or displayed abnormal behavior were locked away and never spoken of. Today abnormal behavior is viewed much differently. With the study of psychology and the help of the medical field, abnormal behavior has become better understood. This essay will discuss the major theories for the cause of abnormal behavior, how abnormal behavior is diagnosed and what type of behavioral issues are related to abnormal behavior.

What’s interesting to me about the chapter on psychological disorders is that we have so many terms and definitions describing disorders that would utter someone abnormal. My biggest thing is what is normal? Being normal can vary depending on where you come from, what your religion is or what you look like. It is also confusing on how we can label someone or something abnormal, but we don’t know what normal is at all. There is no universal measurement of normality neither is there a measure of abnormality. Just because someone is different doesn’t mean that they are necessarily abnormal and being normal doesn’t mean that you are perfect. Who is to say that people with abnormalities aren’t normal and who is to say that normal people aren’t abnormal? We will never know because we live in a world where our society is heavily based on judgement. That is why I like this subject the most because it happens daily in our world. People are constantly being put