Unit 4 Learning Objectives
How do psychologists identify, explain, and classify abnormal behavior?
 Describe five common myths regarding mental health and illness (p.456).
 Define abnormal behavior, and describe and evaluate the strengths and limitations of the
 four basic standards for identifying such behavior (pp. 457-459).
Summarize the historical progression in the definition of abnormality, and discuss criticisms
 of the medical model of mental illness (pp. 459-461).
Based upon Rosenhan’s study, discuss how psychiatric labels influence how other people expect to see in those people with the label (p. 461).
 Describe the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), including the
DSM-IV-TR’s classification system, purpose, and limitations (pp. 461-464).
What are some of the major issues in therapy?
 Discuss the five goals of therapy (pp. 525-526).
 Differentiate between the various types of mental health professionals and compare the approaches taken by these professionals who practice in the various fields of therapy (pp.
526-527).
 Describe similarities and differences in therapy across cultures, and the five major areas of concern for women in therapy (pp. 527-529).
 Discuss the controversies regarding deinstitutionalization and involuntary commitment;
 discuss community mental health centers as an alternative to institutionalization (pp. 529-
531).
Describe the results of controlled research regarding the effectiveness of therapy and discuss several strategies for finding an appropriate therapist (pp. 531-532).
When do disturbances in mood become abnormal?
 Describe two major mood disorders: Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar disorder (pp.
470-472).
 Discuss the possible biological and psychosocial causes of mood disorders including the relationship between learned helplessness and depression (pp. 472-473).
 Discuss ten common myths regarding suicide, and describe what steps to take if someone you know is suicidal (pp. 473-474).
What are the core treatment techniques in cognitive therapy?
 Define cognitive therapy, and describe its emphasis on changing self-talk via cognitive restructuring (pp. 506-507).
 Compare Ellis’s rational-emotive behavior therapy with Beck’s cognitive-behavior therapy

(pp. 507-509).
Describe the successes and criticisms of cognitive therapies (p. 509).
What are the major biomedical therapies?
 Define biomedical therapy and discuss the advantages of psychopharmacology, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery (pp. 519-522).
 Discuss the limitations of psychopharmacology, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery (pp. 522-524).

What is PTSD, and what are anxiety disorders, and what causes them?
 Describe the nature and symptoms of PTSD, and identify the five important tips for coping with crisis (pp. 105-106).
 Describe the major anxiety disorders and phobias (pp. 465-468).
 Discuss the possible causes of anxiety disorders (pp. 468-470).
How are learning principles used in behavior therapy?
 Define behavior therapy, and describe how classical conditioning (systematic desensitization
 and aversion therapy), operant conditioning (shaping and reinforcement), and observational learning (modeling therapy) are applied to increase adaptive behaviors and decrease maladaptive behaviors (pp. 514-518).
Describe the successes reported for behavioral therapy with specific types of problems, and discuss the three major criticisms of this method (p. 518).
What are eating disorders?
 Define and discuss symptoms/characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and state the causes and risk factors for the development of these eating disorders (pp. 384-385).
How are substance, dissociative, and personality disorders identified?
 Define comorbidity and describe theories regarding why substance-related disorders often
 overlap with other mental disorders (pp. 483-484).
Identify the common characteristic for all dissociative disorders, and differentiate between
 dissociative amnesia, fugue, depersonalization, and identity disorder (pp. 484-485).
Describe the essential characteristics for all personality disorders, the four hallmark symptoms for an antisocial personality disorder, and the core features of borderline personality disorder; discuss the possible causes of these personality disorders (pp. 485-
487).