Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

Casey Parker
11/19/07
Psychology 01A

Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

Abnormal behavior is like a pattern of emotion, personal thought, and action that is deemed pathological for one or more than one reason, such as statistical infrequency, disability or dysfunction, personal distress, or violation of the normal (norms). Statistical infrequency is when a behavior is judged as abnormal if it occurs often in a socially based environment. Disability or dysfunction is when people who suffer from psychological disorders may be unable to socialize with other people, may have difficulties with trying to keep an occupation, may be unable to eat suitably, or be unable to clean themselves. Personal distress is an individual’s own reasoning of his or her level of functioning. Violation of norms is the nonconformance to social norms, which guides behavior in certain situations.
Insanity is the legal term when people are not to be held accountable for their actions, or are considered inept to manage their own affairs, because of their mental illness.