Abnormal Psychology

AY2015/2016 Semester 2

We will explore the major approaches to understanding deviations from ?normal? behaviour, including the neurobiological, behavioural, psychoanalytic, humanistic, cognitive and social/family systems approaches. We will also look at the context within which abnormal behaviours are defined, including historical views of such phenomenon, changes in psychiatric classification and thinking in our century, and variations in symptoms, interpretations and treatment in different cultures. Apart from covering some of the major mental disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), we will also explore various treatment modalities and discuss the associated legal and ethical issues. d in understanding mental illnesses.