CASE STUDIES
1. For each example
2. Highlight the behaviour or characteristics
that make it abnormal
3. Think about why it may be abnormal
4. Decide which definition you would
categorise it under
5. Be prepared to discuss your answers
Sue reports that she has an acute fear
of snakes. She cannot bear to watch any films
or television programmes which include
snakes. If she sees a picture of a snake, she
becomes very anxious or distressed. If she
sees a toy snake in a toy shop, she wants to
walk away. She certainly will not go anywhere
near a zoo.
Martin lives with his mother, believes that the
world beyond his house is filled with radio
waves which will insert evil thoughts into his
head.
For this reason, he never leaves the house. He
covers his bedroom window with aluminium foil
because he believes that this will protect him.
He claims to hear voices which tell him that he
should give up the fight against the evil
waves.
Janet has an extreme fear of germs and
bacteria. She will only allow visitors into her
house if she is convinced that they are clean.
She goes through elaborate rituals when
performing ordinary tasks. For example,
when making a cup of tea, she will fill and
empty the kettle fourteen times in order to
make sure that the water is clean.
Joyce lived on the street in a wealthy area of New
York. She used the pavement as a toilet, soiled
herself, and smelt awful. Passers-by were abused,
and any money they gave her was burned. In 1987
she was picked up during a government campaign
aimed at helping the homeless, taken to a psychiatric
hospital and diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.
She protested that her civil rights had been violated.
When lawyers from the Civil Liberties union had her
reassessed, she was found not to be schizophrenic.
• Darla refused to throw anything away. She hoarded
rubbish to such an extent that she had to buy an exopera house to store it in. Among her possessions
were theatrical costumes, a papier-maché mermaid,
and stuffed alligators. She wore a fireman's coat and
played in a kazoo band.
• John had lived for 10 years in a cave
that flooded with seawater at high tide.
In the past he has walked from Land's
End to John o'Groats in his bare feet,
wearing only pyjamas. In order to raise
money for conservation, he volunteered
to spend 6 months in a cage at London
Zoo as a human exhibit, but the
authorities declined the offer.
• June. Was born in Jamaica, is a
follower of the Pentecostal church
and believes that on occasions she
is possessed by spirits which make
her ‘speak in tongues’.
• Davey. Is intensely afraid of
heights. He has left a job because it
was on the fifth floor, and refuses to
visit his daughter who lives in
Austria because of the mountains.
• Ben. Is a street musician who
recently dropped out of school. He
likes to perform using a variety of
vegetables and dead fish .
• Chris. Has always lived in an
isolated cottage. He has six dogs
which he looks after. He never goes
out of the cottage unless absolutely
necessary, and has no friends or
visitors.
Behavioural Characteristics
Sue
Martin
Janet
Joyce
Darla
Davey
June
Ben
Chris
John
Definition
Behavioural Characteristics
Sue
Martin
Janet
Joyce
Darla
Davey
June
Ben
Chris
John
Definition