PSY 340 NOTES1
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY2
What is Psychopathology?
1. Broadly refers to the study of mental illness or mental disorders, or psychological
impairment(s)
2. Speci cally, it concerns itself with nature, causes, and development of
pathological or ‘abnormal’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Clinical PRACTITIONERS: professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat
psychopathology/mental illness or disorders
Clinical SCIENTISTS: professionals who systematically gather information to
describe, predict, and explain the psychopathology/mental illness
THE 4 D’S OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
1. Deviance
2. Distress
3. Dysfunction (also known as Maladaptive)
4. Danger
These four categories are valuable because it is relative to time, place, and culture, ie
gender identity or orientation. However, is useful BUT imprecise.
Thomas Szasz’s argument AGAINST psychopathology: all the mental problems/
illnesses that people experience are just ordinary human experiences
> basically, just saying that life is not fair; obviously, people are a little messed
up, but that is what is normal
THE DSM (DIAGNOSTIC STATISTICAL MANUAL DEFINITION OF MENTAL
ILLNESS)
1 These notes are compiled from the student slideshow presentations from PSY 340
2source: Comer, R. [2014] Abnormal Psychology: DSM-5 Update. [10th Edition]. New York:
Worth Publishers
fi
, A dysfunction of psychological, biological, or developmental processes
involving:
a. Cognition
b. Emotional regulation
c. Behavior
▪ Usually associated with signi icant distress and disability.3
6 FACTOR MODEL FOR WELL-BEING - BY CAROL RYFF4
1. Self-acceptance
2. Positive relationship(s) with others
3. Autonomy
4. Environmental mastery
5. Purpose in life
6. Personal growth
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: THE III TRENDS
1. Supernatural
2. Biological
3. Psychological
EXPLANATIONS AND TREATMENTS FOR THE III TRENDS
A. SUPERNATURAL EXPLANATIONS:
- Forces beyond scienti ic explanation
3 APA, 2022
4Carol Ry , Professor of Psychology @ UW- Madison in the 1990s proposed a model for
psychological well-being
ff f f
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY2
What is Psychopathology?
1. Broadly refers to the study of mental illness or mental disorders, or psychological
impairment(s)
2. Speci cally, it concerns itself with nature, causes, and development of
pathological or ‘abnormal’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Clinical PRACTITIONERS: professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat
psychopathology/mental illness or disorders
Clinical SCIENTISTS: professionals who systematically gather information to
describe, predict, and explain the psychopathology/mental illness
THE 4 D’S OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
1. Deviance
2. Distress
3. Dysfunction (also known as Maladaptive)
4. Danger
These four categories are valuable because it is relative to time, place, and culture, ie
gender identity or orientation. However, is useful BUT imprecise.
Thomas Szasz’s argument AGAINST psychopathology: all the mental problems/
illnesses that people experience are just ordinary human experiences
> basically, just saying that life is not fair; obviously, people are a little messed
up, but that is what is normal
THE DSM (DIAGNOSTIC STATISTICAL MANUAL DEFINITION OF MENTAL
ILLNESS)
1 These notes are compiled from the student slideshow presentations from PSY 340
2source: Comer, R. [2014] Abnormal Psychology: DSM-5 Update. [10th Edition]. New York:
Worth Publishers
fi
, A dysfunction of psychological, biological, or developmental processes
involving:
a. Cognition
b. Emotional regulation
c. Behavior
▪ Usually associated with signi icant distress and disability.3
6 FACTOR MODEL FOR WELL-BEING - BY CAROL RYFF4
1. Self-acceptance
2. Positive relationship(s) with others
3. Autonomy
4. Environmental mastery
5. Purpose in life
6. Personal growth
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: THE III TRENDS
1. Supernatural
2. Biological
3. Psychological
EXPLANATIONS AND TREATMENTS FOR THE III TRENDS
A. SUPERNATURAL EXPLANATIONS:
- Forces beyond scienti ic explanation
3 APA, 2022
4Carol Ry , Professor of Psychology @ UW- Madison in the 1990s proposed a model for
psychological well-being
ff f f
