Question

Chapter 15 Psychological Disorders: What is Abnormal? (23 marks)

Rationale: The purpose of this activity is to review criterion for psychological disorders.

PART 1: Instructions: For the exercise below, review the criteria we talked about in class used for assessing abnormal behavior. Then, for each scenario below, pick ONE criteria that you believe applies. Write down what the criteria is under each scenario, and provide a very brief (one or two sentence) explanation why this scenario demonstrates that criteria

What Is Abnormal?

4. Sam is afraid of snakes. He refuses to go for walks where there are trees because of this. _________________________

   5.   Sandy has been plotting to assassinate the governor next time she appears locally. _________________________

   6.   Mary continues to be very upset about her sister’s death, even though the accident that killed her happened two years ago. She still wears dark mourning clothes and cries almost every day whenever she thinks of her sister. She doesn’t eat well, and has had problems sleeping for the past two years_________________________

Answer 1

4. This is not abnormal.

5. This is abnormal behaviour because Sandy is a threat to the safety of another individual.

6. This is abnormal behaviour because Mary's condition causes significant distress and has lead to several changes in her everyday life.