Abnormal Psychology
Introduction (from the specification)
Abnormal psychology focuses on diagnosing, explaining and treating humans suffering from psychological disorders. This option begins with a consideration of normal and abnormal behaviour. An understanding of issues related to diagnosis provides a framework for the subsequent study of disorders and therapeutic
approaches.
Although there are numerous psychological disorders this option focuses on the following three groups of disorders:
• anxiety (for example, agoraphobia)
• affective (for example, depression)
• eating (for example, bulimia).
By studying one disorder from two of these groups of disorders, students are encouraged to develop an awareness of the range of psychological disorders. This approach embraces the etiology, symptoms and prevalence of each disorder. As a consequence of this understanding, it is possible to administer effective
treatments while at the same time having an appreciation of relevant cultural and gender variations.
approaches.
Although there are numerous psychological disorders this option focuses on the following three groups of disorders:
• anxiety (for example, agoraphobia)
• affective (for example, depression)
• eating (for example, bulimia).
By studying one disorder from two of these groups of disorders, students are encouraged to develop an awareness of the range of psychological disorders. This approach embraces the etiology, symptoms and prevalence of each disorder. As a consequence of this understanding, it is possible to administer effective
treatments while at the same time having an appreciation of relevant cultural and gender variations.
At JIS this year, we will be studying anxiety disorders and affective disorders. This means that for each case below, you DON'T NEED TO KNOW about eating disorders
Credit
The creation of the abnormality section has been greatly aided by Aiden Sammons' brilliant 'Psycholtron' website, as well as Saul McLeod's 'Simply Psychology' site. I acknowledge these sources with grateful thanks.