Question

Abnormal Psychology

Discussion Prompt: I’d like us to think about this- What is abnormal?

Consider the following situations. Is this behavior abnormal? Most people would consider at least some of the actions of the people involved to be abnormal. What do you think? Think about each one. What questions would you need to be answered to determine an answer (e.g., how old is this person?) Explain your reasoning for your judgment. You will have to “dig” mentally to put some of these reasons into words. Here are the situations:

1. Your uncle consumes a quart of whiskey per day; he has trouble remembering the names of those around him.

2. Your grandmother believes that part of her body is missing and cries out about this missing part all day long. You show her that the part she thinks is missing actually is not, but she refuses to acknowledge this contradictory information.

3. Your neighbor has vague physical complaints and sees two or three doctors weekly.

4. Your neighbor sweeps, washes, and scrubs his driveway daily.

5. Your cousin is pregnant and is dieting (800 calories per day) so that she will not get “too fat” with the pregnancy. She has had this type of behavioral response since she was 13 years old.

6. A woman’s husband dies within the past year. The widow appears to talk to herself in the yard, doesn’t wash herself or dress in clean clothes, and appears to have lost a lot of weight.

7. A 10-year-old wants to have his entire body tattooed.

8. A 23-year-old female smokes marijuana every day is a straight-A student in college, has a successful job, and is in a solid long-term relationship.

9. A person experiences several unexpected panic attacks each week, but is otherwise happily married, functions well at work, and leads an active recreational lifestyle.

10. A 35-year-old happily married man enjoys wearing women’s clothes and underwear on the weekends when he and his wife go out on the town.

Answer 1

1) This is alcohol abuse, and even possibily has affected the brain which may be causing these memory impairments.

2) She is having delusions. Delusion are abnormal behaviour.

3) This could be some psychosomatic disorder or could be hypochondriasis.

4) Cleaning, scrubin and washing the driveway daily is little too much. It could be obsessive compulsive diorder if the persons has obsssive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

5) If she undereats too much and thinks that she is fat eventhough she is thin then she may have anorexia nervosa or body dysmorphic disorder.
6) This may be a normal reaction and a part of the grieving processs. But if it increases and stays overtime then it may lead to depression or even psychotic symptoms.
7) This couldnt be termed abnormal, as a en year old may not understand the concept of tatto totally.
8) Her marijuana use is not excessive, nor is it interfering with other aspcts of her life. So, it is completely normal behavior..
9) This is abnormal, as he is having panic attacks, which may be panic disorder.
10) This is a fetish, but it is not hampering the life or causing him ditress. So, it is normal.