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PSY 215 Module One Milestone Template
Using this template, respond to the below prompts, which focus on deconstructing the stigma
associated with abnormal behavior. Support your position with a minimum of 3 to 5 sentences per
bullet, using credible sources. Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant
information.
•Often a person describes an abnormal behavior as weird—a term that can elicit a range of
emotional responses (e.g., fear, anger, guilt, curiosity, withdrawal, compassion). Describe a
common psychological reaction that a person might have after hearing this description.
Someone who is called weird my have a reaction of anger and use violence to express that
anger. Someone who may be suffering from depression may hear the term weird and become
really withdrawn and feel a sense of anger at themselves for being considered “weird” by
others. Someone who may consider themselves “weird may embrace the term and it not bother
them at all because they accept themselves as who are they are.
•Describe why witnessing an abnormal behavior may cause a person to experience psychological
discomfort.
Witnessing abnormal behavior may cause psychological discomfort because most individuals
would find some behaviors “scary” or those behaviors may trigger fear of the “unknown”. For
example, when I first started working with the criminally insane and I had a severely
schizophrenic patient who was interacting with internal stimuli it was frightening to me. It was
out of the “norm” for me to see one talk to themselves or entertain hallucinations. I felt scared
of what that patient may do next because they were so unpredictable at that time.
•Describe the feelings a person may experience when witnessing a behavior that deviates from
the norm.
People can feel a high level of anxiety because they do not know how to react to abnormal
behavior. They have a fear of reacting negatively or just being uncomfortable in a situation
where you’re not sure how to react. Some individuals will act in a hateful manor if they feel
someone’s behavior doesn’t fit into their idea of “normal” behavior.
•Ironically, it is normal to perceive abnormal behavior as atypical, uncomfortable, or strange.
However, the labels that we use to describe abnormal behavior could contribute to its stigma. In
your own words, describe how abnormalities in the mind are not really different from other
physical or biological abnormalities.
I feel like abnormal behavior can be perceived many different ways by different individuals. I do
think abnormal behavior is and can be very uncomfortable and cause fear and anxiety to people
who are not educated on these behaviors or used to being around such behavior. I personally do
not find abnormal behavior uncomfortable or strange because abnormal behavior is part of my
daily life within my employment. I find abnormal behavior fascinating and in an odd way it is
“normal” to me, so in return that may make me be perceived as abnormal. Abnormalities in
one’s psychical appearance such as a missing limb or webbed feet makes them abnormal from
the outside, abnormalities in the mind make you different and can’t function normally from the
inside. So, weather you have a prosthetic leg, or you have delusions, it causes issues of
abnormity.
Reference
RHooley, Jill, M. et al. Abnormal Psychology. Available from: MBS Direct, (18th Edition).
Pearson Education (US), 2019
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