It is the rare human being who makes it through the life span without having at least some difficulties adapting to the challenges of living. Each phase of the life span has own unique challenges, and some of us inevitably run into trouble mastering them. Criteria for diagnosing Psychological disorders.
Three broad criteria are often applied in diagnosing psychological disorders:
1. Statistical deviance
This is criterion used when individual are identified as mentally retarded, partly on the basis of their subaverage IQ scores. In other situations, a disorder is said to exist when otherwise normal behavior occur with great frequency, severity or persistence. Thus a mild and temporary case of would not be diagnosed as clinical depression because it is so statistically common, but more enduring and severe case might be.
2. Maladaptiveness
Two men might have the same thirst for a few beers after work, but one might be able to perform his job effectively and maintain close social relationship, whereas the other might repeatedly lose jobs and alienate family members because of his drinking. Maladaptive behavior also includes endangering others by behaving aggressively, as well as endangering oneself by attempting suicide.
3. Personal distress
Many common psychological disorders- for example, depression, anxiety disorders, and phobias – clearly involve a good deal of personal suffering. There are of concern for that reason alone.
Although these guidelines are a start at defining abnormal behavior, we may have noticed that they are not very specific. That is, they do not tell us precisely where the dividing line between normal and abnormal behavior can be found. What’s more, we must ask which forms of statistical deviation, which failures of adaptation, or which kind of personal distress are most significance. To define psychological disorder, we must consider more specific standards of behavior.
Three broad criteria are often applied in diagnosing psychological disorders:
1. Statistical deviance
This is criterion used when individual are identified as mentally retarded, partly on the basis of their subaverage IQ scores. In other situations, a disorder is said to exist when otherwise normal behavior occur with great frequency, severity or persistence. Thus a mild and temporary case of would not be diagnosed as clinical depression because it is so statistically common, but more enduring and severe case might be.
2. Maladaptiveness
Two men might have the same thirst for a few beers after work, but one might be able to perform his job effectively and maintain close social relationship, whereas the other might repeatedly lose jobs and alienate family members because of his drinking. Maladaptive behavior also includes endangering others by behaving aggressively, as well as endangering oneself by attempting suicide.
3. Personal distress
Many common psychological disorders- for example, depression, anxiety disorders, and phobias – clearly involve a good deal of personal suffering. There are of concern for that reason alone.
Although these guidelines are a start at defining abnormal behavior, we may have noticed that they are not very specific. That is, they do not tell us precisely where the dividing line between normal and abnormal behavior can be found. What’s more, we must ask which forms of statistical deviation, which failures of adaptation, or which kind of personal distress are most significance. To define psychological disorder, we must consider more specific standards of behavior.
