Question

If psychological disorders are deviant, distressful and dysfunctional patterns, how do those three terms interact to determine when something is a disorder?

Answer 1

In order for a pattern of behaviours to be classified as a psychological disorder, it must be deviant, distressful anc dysfunctional. If a behaviour falls under just one category, it cannot be necessarily linked to a psychological disorder. Dysfunctional behaviour tends to upset an individual’s day to day functioning such that they are unable to care for themselves or others around them. Distress is associated with an individuals' subjective feelings of pain, anxiety, depression, agitation, disturbance in sleep, loss of appetite, numerous aches and pains. Finally, deviant behaviours involve those that differ markedly or are against established standards of behaviour expected in a social or cultural setting.