Question

How does insanity differ from an abnormal psychological disorder? Give an example of each.

Answer 1

Abnormal behavior is clearly separated from normal behavior, and there are several criterions which are used to differentiate normal from abnormal behavior. These criterions are as follows:

Harm: Harmful behavior exhibited by person. This behavior may cause harm to ones own self or others. Example. Suicide, murder, harming animals etc.

Distress: Experiencing distress is a major sign that a person is experiencing abnormality in behavior. Example. Suffering from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts etc.

Deviations from cultural standards: Behaving inappropriately in a society and deviating from the cultural norms and violating norms of the society. Example. Practicing nudity in a conservative country.

Abnormal psychological disorder consists of various types of disoders which a person may be suffering from. These disorders inlude personality disorders, anxiety disorders, addiction disorders etc. Whereas, insanity is a term which is no longer used in mental heath. Insanity, in the modern day may refer to psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in which a person is not able to distinguish real from imagined.

Example of Psychological disorder - A person consumes a quart of whiskey per day, he has trouble remembering the names of those around him. This is alcohol abuse, and even possibily has affected the brain which may be causing these memory impairments.

Example of Insanity -  A person believes that part of her body is missing and cries out about this missing part all day long, and aslo complains that she hears devil to her. She is having delusions. Delusion and hallucinations are psyhotic symptoms.