Defining Abnormality

· Assessment Instructions

For this assessment, select a theory from the biological or psychological point of view and use it to describe the cause of an abnormal behavior of your choice. Your assessment should be 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages.

Locate a minimum of two professional sources, such as a textbook or professional Web site, and at least one peer-reviewed journal article on your selected theory.

Potential biological points of view could include:

. Neurotransmitter or hormone imbalance.

. Genetic vulnerabilities.

Potential psychological points of view could include:

. Psychoanalytic theory.

. Ego psychology.

. Objects-relations theory.

. Classical conditioning.

. Instrumental conditioning.

. Humanistic perspective.

. Existential perspective.

. Cognitive-behavioral perspective.

In your assessment, cover the following:

. Describe your selected theory in detail and how the theory views behavior in general.

. Explain how the theory describes the cause of your selected abnormal behavior.

. Compare and contrast the point of view you chose with the sociocultural viewpoint.

13. How might they view the abnormal behavior similarly?

13. How might they view the abnormal behavior differently?

13. What are the benefits or drawbacks to applying multiple theories to defining abnormal behavior?

. Include and cite references.

If you wish, you may use the APA Paper Template, linked in the Resources, to complete this assessment.

Additional Requirements

For this assessment, you are expected to meet the following requirements:

. Title page: Include a title, your name, course, date, and faculty name.

. Reference: Use a minimum of two professional sources and one peer-reviewed journal article. You may use additional references.

. Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.

. APA formatting: Resources and citations should be formatted according to APA style and formatting.

. Length: Your assessment should be 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages.

. Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Resources

Click the links provided to view the following resources:

· APA Paper Template.

Multimedia

Click the links provided below to view the following multimedia pieces:

· History of the DSM | Transcript.

Library Resources

The following e-books or articles from the Library are linked directly in this course:

· American Psychiatric Association. (2013).  Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders  (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author.

23. DSM-5 Diagnostic Classification.

23. Use of the Manual.

23. Cautionary Statement for Forensic Use of DSM-5.

. Haslam, N. (2006). Dehumanization: An integrative review. Personality and Social Psychology Review,10(3), 252–264.

. Overbeck, J. R., & Park, B. (2001). When power does not corrupt: Superior individuation processes among powerful perceivers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(4), 549–565.

. Zimbardo, P. G. (2007). Revisiting the Stanford prison experiment: A lesson in the power of situation. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 53(30), B6–B7.

. Wakefield, J. C., & First, M. B. (2013). Clarifying the boundary between normality and disorder: A fundamental conceptual challenge for psychiatry. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 58(11), 603–605.

Course Library Guide

The University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the PSYC-FP3110 – Abnormal Psychology Library Guide to help direct your research.

Internet Resources

Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have either been granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.

. Bewley, T. (2008). Historical background: 1780–1840. In Madness to mental illness: A history of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (pp. 4–9). London, England: RCPsych Publications. Retrieved from http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/files/samplechapter/madnesstomillnessschap.pdf

. Foerschner, A. M. (2010). The history of mental illness: From "skull drills" to "happy pills." Student Pulse, 2(9), 1–4. Retrieved from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/283/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-drills-to-happy-pills

. Stavis, P. F. (1995). Civil commitment: Past, present, and future [Address at the National Conference of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill]. Retrieved from http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/component/content/article/360

Bookstore Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S. M., & Hooley, J. M. (2014). Abnormal psychology (16th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

30. You may find Chapters 1, 2, and 10 particularly relevant to the topics in this assessment.