Psychological Disorders

• a harmful dysfunction, which heavier is judged to be typical, disturbing, maladaptive, unjustifiable
• what is abnormal

Early Theories

• Afflicted people were possessed by evil spirits
• mental disorders
• medical perspective: a psychological disorders are sicknesses and can be diagnosed, treated and cured

Bio-Psycho-Social

• perspective assumes biological, psychological and sociocultural factors combine to interact causing psychological disorders
• used to be called Diathesis stress model: diathesis meaning predisposition and stress meaning environmental

DSM-IV: Diagnostic statical manual of mental disorders: Big book of disorders

Neurotic Disorders 

• Distress but one can still function in society and act rationally

Psychotic Disorders

• person loses contact with reality experiences  distorted perception