This class is looking at a branch of psychology called abnormal psychology. When looking at this branch of psychology, one must look at the psychological definition of abnormal behavior. When looking for a psychological definition the most common place to look is the Diagnostic and Statistical Model or the DSM. The DSM is currently on the fifth version, DSM 5, and does include a definition of abnormal behavior. There are four components that are found in the DSM that are associated with abnormal behavior. When looking at the definition of abnormal behavior one must look at these components. The purpose of this paper is to look at some of the problematic aspects of the definition of abnormal behavior, including the four components of the
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Deviance is a component of the definition of abnormal behavior because the DSM’s definition of abnormal behavior includes “a response that is not an expectable response to a stressor or loss” (Sue et al. p.6). The problem with the component of deviance lies within the definition of deviance, or more particularly with the definition of deviant. Deviant means straying from the norm, however in terms of psychology the norm is what is normal for a population based on different psychological studies. However, cross cultural psychology has shown that norms of behavior vary within different cultures. Norms of behavior also vary from person to person. The way that a person reacts to different stressors may differ from the way that the person sitting next to him or her may react. There is a debate in psychology about what affects the way that an individual is going to behave to a stressor nature or nurture. According to simplypsychology.org psychologists have come to understand that an individual is affected by both nature and nurture. Because of the unique combination of nature and nurture that every individual has there is no guarantee that a particular individual’s response to a stressor is abnormal for that individual, even if the response is abnormal according to research. When looking at an individual to determine if that individual is exhibiting abnormal behavior the person’s pervious responses to stressors and losses must be looked along with the expectable response that the DSM
Deviance is a component of the definition of abnormal behavior because the DSM’s definition of abnormal behavior includes “a response that is not an expectable response to a stressor or loss” (Sue et al. p.6). The problem with the component of deviance lies within the definition of deviance, or more particularly with the definition of deviant. Deviant means straying from the norm, however in terms of psychology the norm is what is normal for a population based on different psychological studies. However, cross cultural psychology has shown that norms of behavior vary within different cultures. Norms of behavior also vary from person to person. The way that a person reacts to different stressors may differ from the way that the person sitting next to him or her may react. There is a debate in psychology about what affects the way that an individual is going to behave to a stressor nature or nurture. According to simplypsychology.org psychologists have come to understand that an individual is affected by both nature and nurture. Because of the unique combination of nature and nurture that every individual has there is no guarantee that a particular individual’s response to a stressor is abnormal for that individual, even if the response is abnormal according to research. When looking at an individual to determine if that individual is exhibiting abnormal behavior the person’s pervious responses to stressors and losses must be looked along with the expectable response that the DSM