Ch 14: AP Psychology: Abnormal Psychology
About This Chapter
AP Psychology: Abnormal Psychology - Chapter Summary
While research psychologists are interested in determining how the brain works normally, clinical psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists work with patients who exhibit abnormal brain function. In this chapter, you'll explore various disorders, their symptoms, possible causes, and typical treatments. You'll learn about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM, and how it seeks to help classify diagnoses. These lessons are a great way to study for these types of questions on the AP Psychology Exam. After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
- Give examples of different types of psychological disorders
- Understand the behavioral, cognitive and sociocultural models and how they relate to abnormal functioning
- Discuss possible physiological causes and explanations for mental disorders
- List the strengths and weaknesses of the biological model of abnormal functioning
- Understand the psychoanalytic schools approach to psychopathology
- Describe mental health and the dimensions of psychopathology
- Discuss the humanistic approach to psychopathology theory
- Explain the role of psychological evaluations in the determination of competency to stand trial
This chapter has been created by our expert instructors to help guide you through the information that you need to understand abnormal psychology. By using the available resources, such as our engaging video lessons, our bold-face highlighting of important terms, and our chapter-ending quiz, you will be able to quickly assess your progress in your mastery of this material. Be sure to track that progress by checking your Dashboard regularly.
1. Psychological Disorders: Definition, Examples & Approaches to Treatment
When someone's brain functioning and perception start working improperly, it may be due to a psychological disorder. Learn the definition of psychological disorders through some examples and explore the different treatment approaches.
2. Mental Health & Psychopathology: Definition & Dimensions
Distinguishing between mental health and psychopathology requires evaluating certain criteria to determine whether a person is mentally well or not. Explore the definition of mental health and psychopathology and learn the key dimensions for diagnosing mental illness, as well as additional factors.
3. Psychoanalytic Schools Approach to Psychopathology Theory
Psychoanalytic schools have their own approach to psychopathology, in which they consider unconscious conflicts and processes as a central part of their theory. Learn about psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches and discover how psychoanalysis tries to explain mental illness.
4. Humanistic Approach to Psychopathology Theory
Humanism is a psychological approach which states that people face psychopathology due to unmet needs that prevent them from achieving self-realization. Explore what gave rise to the humanistic theory, and delve into how humanism views and treats psychopathology.
5. The Behavioral Model and Atypical Functioning
In the behavioral model of psychology, atypical functioning is caused by a person's learned behavior. Explore several definitions and understand the behavioral model including the treatment method called counterconditioning.
6. The Sociocultural Model and Atypical Functioning
One approach to understanding atypical functioning is the sociocultural model. Learn the key components of this model: society's pressures, cultural rules, and expectations about race, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as treatments for atypical functioning.
7. Physiological Causes & Explanations for Mental Illness
There are three possible physiological causes of mental illness. Understand physiological psychology, and discover the impact of infections, malnutrition, and metal poisoning as possible influences of mental illness.
8. Assessing the Biological Model: Strengths and Weaknesses
The biological model of psychology treats mental illness like physical illnesses, as it addresses physical issues to treat behavioral abnormalities. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the biological model and then explore its benefits and drawbacks.
9. The Cognitive Model in Psychology and Atypical Functioning
The cognitive model in psychology targets an individual's thought patterns to understand and treat atypical functioning, or psychological issues. Explore atypical functioning, the cognitive model, and the A-B-C theory of processing.
10. Psychological Evaluations & the Law: Competency to Stand Trial and the Insanity Defense
By law, some individuals charged by a crime must undergo psychological evaluations to determine if they are competent to stand trial, as well as to determine if they should use the insanity defense. Learn about psychological abnormalities, explore forensic psychology, and review competence and the insanity defense, including its controversies.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AP Psychology: Exam Prep course
- AP Psychology: History and Development of Modern Psychology
- AP Psychology: Research Methods Used in the Study of Psychology
- AP Psychology: Intelligence Testing
- AP Psychology: Biology in Psychology
- AP Psychology: The 5 Senses & Psychology
- AP Psychology: Sleep and Other States of Consciousness
- AP Psychology: Learning & Conditioning
- AP Psychology: Memory & Cognition
- AP Psychology: Emotion
- AP Psychology: Motivation in Psychology
- AP Psychology: Child Development in Psychology
- AP Psychology: Personality Development and Theories
- AP Psychology: Study of Social Psychology
- AP Psychology: Types of Psychological Disorders
- AP Psychology: Treatment Methods for Psychological Disorders
- AP Psychology: Test Strategy
- AP Psychology Flashcards