Introduction to Psychology and Psychopathology

The assignment content discusses introduction to psychology, psychological disorders, and the cultural context of psychopathology. It also mentions the Rosenhan study (1973) which highlights how pseudo-patients were misdiagnosed due to issues such as overlap between sane and insane behavior, staff and doctor bias, and monitoring process limitations. Additionally, the content touches upon eating disorders, with a personal anecdote about the author's struggles with food addiction.

Introduction to psychology
Introduction to psychology
[Type the date]
Introduction to psychology
Psychological Disorders
h- s3463194
1

Task A. Answer two (2) of the following learning objectives (~300 words)
1. Define psychopathology and explain the cultural context of
psychopathology
Psychopathology is considered as a study related to the phenomena
abnormal psychology, and is usually related to the study of the mental
disorders (Burton L, Westen D and Kolwaski R). In the case of
psychopathology, a problematic pattern related ot behaviour, feeling and
even the thoughts were considered and further includes mental disorders of
three classes: Personality disorders, Neuroes, and Psychoses. The patterns
usually cause a considerable depressed social behaviour, distress and
considerable dysfunction, important functions and disrupted occupational
functions. (Gottesman I, n.d)
The pathology and its manifestation is usually seen to be diverse in nature
across the cultures. These context are used for deciding the behaviour the
people be it abnormal or normal. Culture is seen to affect the behaviours
greatly and how they treat others and are themselves being treated in case of
the mental ill health. (Hassim J and Wagner C 2013).
2. Outline the key symptoms of substance-related disorders,
Mood disorders and anxiety disorders
The key symptoms of substance-related disorders:
 Neurological impairments like the case of driving.
 The basic obligations at the work, school or family are seen to be
failed in getting fulfilled like the tardiness, absenteeism, neglecting
towards the responsibility for children etc.
 Insane behaviors like quarrel, causing public disorder, physical fight
etc.)
Symptoms of mood disorders
Long-term fatigue, Often sleepiness, loss of confidence, sadness, no interest,
feeling abandoned, decreased libido, hobby, thinking of death, feeling not
get sympathy etc.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders
 The anxiety disorders in any patients suffering from symptoms in the body
can lead to formation of a new syndrome known as ALPIM. It stands for
A: Anxiety; L: Laxity; P: Pain; I: Immune; M: Mood.
 Even when the situation occurs, there is an excessive fear in the people,
prolonged influence towards adaptation in their life, ridiculous nature

inculcation. This anxiety and fear is seen to occur even when the people to
have come out of the situation. (Rockville MD 2005)
Task B: Watch the following 5 minute video (~200 words)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD_ytS-RsGg
Refer to the following website for more information
http://www.holah.co.uk/study/rosenhan/
1. Describe why you think the pseudo-patients were misdiagnosed in the
Rosenhan study (1973). Support your response with suitable references.
The pseudo-patients were misdiagnosed in the Rosenhan study (1973) for 3
reasons:
The pseudo patients were seen to go to the mental hospital so as to test all the
wellbeing of their mental state. It was seen that they presented the same existential
symptoms as they had already. They also added that they were hearing voices
coming from same sex voice like ‘thud’, ‘hollow’ etc. this was one of the problems
leading to problems in the diagnosis.
Then a large overlap was seen to be present between the insane and sane behavior
and it was due to the motive of the behavior of the psychiatric patient. Further the
staff and doctors might be able to suppose that the normal behavior of the patients
is a symptom of their mental disorder. For example, the patients were seen to be
delusional regarding their roles by the staffs and doctors while maintaining a record
of the patients. And these patients were seen to call themselves as sane people. This
leads to various issues and problems among doctors who might not be able to
determine if the patient is acting normally or not. It is imposed that the patients
have to agree on their mental problems and then only the medical treatment would
be followed and diagnosed.
Lastly, it might be the case that the patients are being misdiagnosed while the
monitoring process is taking place. They should live in special environment and are
seen to interact with the people suffering from mental illness. The patients are seen
to be confined and their privacy is highly restricted. Then their actions and behavior
is evaluated. It is however, seen that the person having a sane behavior if placed
with people with insane behavior might end up looking like abnormal.

Task C. Either describe the most interesting/surprising aspect of the chapter
or apply (or explain) some aspect of this material to your life (or your
future work life). (~100 words)
The most important part of the lesson was the one with eating disorders as I myself
am addicted to food. Being tall and appropriate weight signifies that I am healthy
but I am obsessed with the fact that I look fat. Although I have been trying to lose
some weight but I was unable to do it. I used to check on my diets and even did
exercises. I lost weight and regained it once again. I even went to fasting for two or
three days and even used to hook throat so as to vomit the meals. But while I was
doing all this, I felt irritable, tired and even depressed. Therefore I think I should
consider the issues seriously and take serious advices.

References
 Burton, L., Westen, D., & Kowalski, R. (2015). Psychology: Psychological
disorders, 4th edn. Milton Qld. John Wiley.
 Hassim, J and Wagner, C (2013). Considering the cultural context in
psychopathology formulations: Culture and psychopathology, 19 (1), 7-10.
Retrieved from
http://repository.up.ac.za/dspace/bitstream/handle/2263/21504/Hassim_Consideri
ng%282013%29.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
 Gottesman, I (n.d). Psychopathology. Retrieved from
http://www.learner.org/series/discoveringpsychology/21/e21expand.html
 Rockville, MD (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons With Co-
Occurring Disorders: Substance-Induced Disorders [EBL reader version].
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64197/