Chapter 4

Abnormal Behavior
ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR- is something deviating from the normal or differing from the
typical, is a subjectively defined behavioral characteristic, assigned to those with rare or
dysfunctional conditions. It may be abnormal when it is unusual, socially unacceptable,
self-defeating, dangerous, or suggestive of faulty interpretation of reality or of personal
distress.

It is also a behavior that is deviant, maladaptive, or personally distressful over a

long period of time.

The 4 D’s/Characteristics to determined abnormality

1. DEVIANCE- This term describes the idea that specific thoughts, behaviors and
emotions are considered deviant when they are unacceptable or not common in
society. Clinicians must, however, remember that minority groups are not always
deemed deviant just because they may not have anything in common with other
groups. Therefore, t define an individual's actions as deviant or abnormal when
his or her behavior is deemed unacceptable by the culture he or she belongs to.

2. DISTRESS- This term accounts for negative feelings by the individual with the
disorder He or she may feel deeply troubled and affected by their illness.

3. DYSFUNCTION- This term involves maladaptive behaviour that impairs the

individuals ability to perform normal daily functions, such as getting ready t work
in the morning or driving a car. Such maladaptive behaviour prevent the
individual from living normal, healthy lifestyle,. However, dysfunctional behaviour
is not always caused by a disorder, it may be voluntary, such a engaging hunger
strikes.

4. DANGER- This term involves dangerous or violent behaviour directed at the

individual, or others in the environment. An example of dangerous behaviour that
may suggest a psychological disorder is engaging in suicidal activity.
 LEGAL DEFINITION OF ABNORMALITY

According to the law, the distinction between normal and abnormal

behavior rests on the definition of insanity (one which cannot understand the
difference between right and wrong or inability to exert control over his behavior
at the time he or she commits a criminal act), which is a legal, but not
psychological, term.

CAUSES OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

1. ANXIETY (psychological perspective). Stressful situations that if become
extreme,it may result to maladaptive behaviour.

2. FAULTY LEARNING (behavior perspective). The failure to learn the necessary

adaptive behavior because of wrongful development. This usually results to delinquent
behavior based on the failure to learn the necessary social values and norms.

3. BLOCKED OR DISTORTED PERSONAL GROWTH (humanistic perspective).

Presumably, human nature tends towards cooperation and construction activities,
however, if we show aggression, cruelty or other maladaptive behavior, the result may
be an unfavorable environment

4. UNSATISFACTORY INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. Self-concept in early

childhood by over critical parents or by rigid socialization measures usually cause
deviant behaviors among individuals because they are not contented and even unhappy
on the kind of social dealings they are facing.

5. PATHOLOGICAL SOCIAL CONDITION. Poverty, social discrimination and

destructive violence always result to deviant behavior.

When a person is frustrated in

his attempts to adjust himself to
difficult situations over a
long period of time, he may try
to escape from these conflicts
by doing one of several
things:
1. He may compromise with
reality by developing imaginary
ailments, phobias,
obsessions, or compulsions.
This is known as neurosis.
2. He may withdraw from the
real world into the world of
fantasy and make-believe
where his hidden or
unexpressed desires can be
fulfilled. In this stage of mind,
the person becomes psychotic.
3. Instead of compromising
with reality or withdrawing into
his well-being, the
person may go to the other
extreme and may become very
aggressive and cruel
in his behavior towards others.
He is then known as an anti-
social personality or
a psychopath or sociopath, and
when his anti-social behavior
becomes in conflict
with the law, he becomes a
criminal
When a person is frustrated in his attempts to adjust himself to difficult situations over a
long period of time, he may try to escape from these conflicts by doing one of several
things:

1. He may compromise with reality by developing imaginary ailments, phobias,

obsessions, or compulsions. This is known as neurosis.

2. He may withdraw from the real world into the world of fantasy and make-believe
where his hidden or unexpressed desires can be fulfilled. In this stage of mind, the
person becomes psychotic.

3. Instead of compromising with reality or withdrawing into his well-being, the person
may go to the other extreme and may become very aggressive and cruel in his behavior
towards others. He is then known as an anti-social personality or a psychopath or
sociopath, and when his anti-social behavior becomes in conflict with the law, he
becomes a criminal.

PATTERNS OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

1. NEUROTIC BEHAVIORS - group of mild functional personality disorders in
which there is no gross personality disorganization and the individual is not
required for hospitalization. People with neurotic behaviors are sometimes called
psychoneurotic. These are persons who are in the twilight zone between
normality and abnormality. They are not insane, but neither are they normal.
They are always tense, restless and anxious. Frequently, they have obsessions,
compulsions, phobias and in some cases, amnesia. Anxiety is the dominant
characteristics

NEUROTIC BEHAVIORS are composed of the following disorders:

1. Anxiety disorders - These are commonly known as “neurotic fear”. When
it is occasional but intense, it is called “panic”. When it is mild but continuous,
it is called “worry”.
They are considered as the central feature of all neurotic patterns. They
are characterized by:
a. mild depressions
 b. fear and tensions
c. mild stresses

Anxiety disorders are grouped as:

a. Obsessive-compulsive disorders
 When an individual is compelled to think about something that he
don’twant to think about or carry out some action against his will.

 The experience of persistent thoughts that we cannot seem to get out

of our mind such as thoughts about haunting situations.
 This disorder may lead to committing immoral acts, etc.b. Asthenic
Disorders (Neurasthenia)

b. Asthenic Disorders (Neurasthenia)
An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic mental and physical fatigue and
various aches and pains.
Symptoms includes:
1) Spending too much sleep to avoid fatigue but to no avail, even feelsworsen
upon awake.
2) Headaches, indigestion
3) Back pains and dizziness

c. Phobic Disorders – the persistent fear on some objects or situation that

present no actual danger to the person.

Example of Phobias

Acrophobia - high places

Agoraphobia - open places

Algophobia – pain

Asthraphobia - storms, thunder, lightning

Claustrophobia - closed places

Hematophobia – blood

Hydrophobia – water

Mysophobia - contamination/germs

Monophobia - being alone

Nyctophobia – darkness

Ocholophobia – crowd

2. Somatoform Disorders - Complains of bodily symptoms that suggest the

presence of physical problem but no organic basis can be found. The individual is pre-
occupied with his state of health or diseases.

Somatoform disorders are grouped as:

a. Hypochondriasis – the excessive concern about state of health or physical condition
(multiplicity about illness).A Hypochondriacally person tend to seek medical advises, but
their fears is not lessened by their doctor’s reassurances, and they maybe disappointed
when no physical problem is found.

b. Psychogenic Pain Disorder – characterized by the report of severe and lasting pain.
Either no physical basis is apparent or the reaction is greatly in excess of what would be
expected form the physical abnormality.

c. Conversion Disorders (Hysteria) – a neurotic pattern in which symptoms of some

physical malfunction or loss of control without any underlying organic abnormality.

3. Dissociative Disorders - A response to obvious stress characterized by:

a. Amnesia – partial or total inability to recall or identify past experiences.

1) BRAIN PATHOLOGY AMNESIA – total loss of memory and it can not be retrieved by
simple means. It requires long period of medication.

2) PSYCHOGENIC AMNESIA – failure to recall stored information and still they are
beneath the level of consciousness but “forgotten material”.

b. Multiple Personality – also called “dual personalities”. The person manifests two or
more symptoms of personality usually dramatically different.

c. Depersonalization – loss of sense of self or the so called out of body experience

4. Affective Disorders - The affective disorders are “mood disorders”, in which extreme
or inappropriate levels of mood – extreme elation or extreme depression. Forms of
affective disorders:

a. Milder forms of affective disturbances

SadnessDiscouragement

Sense of hopelessness

Grief and the grieving process

b. Neurotic affective – also called “neurotic mania”, characterized by overactive,

dominating, and deficient in self-criticism.

c. Neurotic depression – sadness and dejection (grave sadness). The individual often
fails to return to normal after a reasonable period of time resulted to high level of anxiety
and lowers self-confidence and loss of initiative.

d. Major depressive disorders – also called “severe affective disorders” with the
following classifications:

1) Sub-acute major depressive disorders – symptoms of this depressive disorder

includes loss of enthusiasm, feeling of dejection, feeling of failure and unworthiness,
fatigue and loss of appetite.

2) Acute major depressive disorder – symptoms includes mild hallucinations, feeling of

guilt, want to be alone, and increasingly inactive.

3) Depressive stupor – a severe degree of psychomotor retardation, almost

unresponsive, refuse to speak, and confusions or hallucinations.
2. PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR - the second groups of abnormal behaviors typically
stemmed from immature and distorted personality development, resulting in persistent
maladaptive ways of perceiving and thinking.

People with psychopathic behaviors are also called sociopaths or

psychopaths.These are persons who do not have any neurotic or psychotic symptoms
but are not able to conform to prevailing customs and standards of conduct of his social
group. Some common characteristics are

1. absence of a conscience

2. emotional immaturity

3. absence of a life plan

4. lack of capacity for love and emotional involvement5. failure to learn from
experience

Further, they are generally called “personality or character disorders”. These

groups of disorders are composed of the following:

1. PERSONALITY DISORDERS – disorders of character, the person is

characterized as a“problematic” without psychoses. This disorder is characterized by
disrupted personal relationship, dependent or passive aggressive behavior. The types
of personality disorders are:

a. Paranoid Personality – characterized by suspiciousness, rigidity, envy,

hypersensitivity, excessive self-importance, argumentativeness and tendency to blame
others for one’s own mistakes.

b. Schizoid Personality – characterized by the inability to form social

relationship and lack interest in doing so. The person seem to express their feelings,
they lack social skills. They are the so called “loners”

c. Schizotypal Personality – characterized by seclusiveness, oversensitivity,

avoidance of communication and superstitious thinking is common.

d. Histrionic Personality – characterized by immaturity, excitability, emotional

instability and self-dramatization.

e. Narcissistic Personality – characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-

importance and pre-occupation with receiving attention. The person usually expects and
demands special treatment from others and disregarding the rights and feeling of
others.

f. Borderline Personality – characterized by instability reflected in drastic mood

shifts and behavior problems. The person usually display intense anger out burst with
little provocation and he is impulsive, unpredictable, and periodically unstable.

g. Avoidant Personality – characterized by hypersensitivity to rejection and

apprehensive alertness to any sign of social derogation. Person is reluctant to enter into
social interaction.

h. Dependent Personality – characterized by extreme dependence on other

people – there is acute discomfort and even panic to be alone. The person lacks
confidence and feels helpless.

i. Passive-Aggressive Personality – characterized by being hostile express

inindirect and non-violent ways. They are the so called “stubborn”.
 j. Compulsive Personality – characterized by excessive concern with rules,
order, and efficiency that everyone does things their way and an ability to express warm
feeling. The person is over conscientious, serious, and with difficulty in doing things for
relaxation.

k. Anti-social Personality – characterized by continuing violation of the rights of

others through aggressive, anti-social behavior with out remorse or loyalty to anyone

d. Histrionic Personality –
characterized by immaturity,
excitability, emotional
instability and self-
dramatization.
e. Narcissistic Personality –
characterized by an exaggerated
sense of self-
importance and pre-occupation
with receiving attention. The
person usually
expects and demands special
treatment from others and
disregarding the
rights and feeling of others.
Common Characteristics of anti-social personalities

1) Inadequate conscience development and unable to accept ethical values.

2) Irresponsible and impulsive behavior; low frustration tolerance.

3) Ability to impress and exploit others; projecting blame unto others of their own anti-
social acts.
4) Rejection of authority.

5) Inability to maintain good interpersonal relationship

2. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR - The disorder used to describe the behavior of a person who
commits serious crimes from individual to property crimes and the disobedience of
societal rules in general.

3. PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR - The group of disorders involving gross structural defects

in the brain tissue, severe disorientation of the mind thus it involves loss of contact with
reality.

People suffering from psychotic behaviors (psychosis) are also called

PSYCHOTIC.They are regarded as the most severe type of mental disorder. A
psychotic has tensions that disturb thinking, feeling and sensing; the perception of
reality is distorted. He may have delusions and hallucinations.

1. ORGANIC MENTAL DISORDERS - this occurs when the normal brain has
been damage resulted from any interference of the functioning of the brain.

Types of Organic Mental Disorders

a. Acute brain disorder – caused by a diffuse impairment of the brain function.

Its symptoms range from mild mood changes to acute delirium.

b. Chronic brain disorder – the brain disorder that result from injuries, diseases,
drugs, and a variety of other conditions. Its symptoms include impairment of orientation
(time, place and person), impairment of memory, learning, comprehension and
judgment, emotion and self-control

Groups of Organic Mental Disorders

a. Delirium – the severe impairment of information processing in the brain

affecting the basic process of attention, perception, memory and thinking.

b. Dementia – deterioration in intellectual functioning after completing brain

maturation. The defect in the process of acquiring knowledge or skill, problemsolving,
and judgment.

c. Amnestic Syndrome – the inability to remember on going events more than a

few minutes after they have taken place.

d. Hallucinosis – the persistent occurrence of hallucinations, the false perception

that arise in full wakefulness state. This includes hallucinations on visual and hearing or
both.

e. Organic Delusional Syndrome – the false belief arising in a setting of knownor

suspected brain damage.
 f. Organic Affective Syndrome – the extreme/severe manic or depressive state
with the impairment of the cerebral function.

g. Organic Personality Syndrome – the general personality changes following

brain damage.

h. General Paresis – also called “dementia paralytica”, a syphilitic infection of the

brain and involving impairment of the CNS.

2. DISORDERS INVOLVING BRAIN TUMOR - A tumor is a new growth

involving abnormal enlargement of body tissue. Brain tumor can causes variety of
personality alterations, and it may lead to any neurotic behavior and consequently to
psychotic behavior.

3. DISORDERS INVOLVING HEAD INJURY - Injury to the head as a result of

falls, blows, and accidents causing sensory and motor disorders; and mental disorder
such as:

a. Retrograde Amnesia – the inability to recall events preceding immediately the

injury.

b. Intra-cerebral Hemorrhage – gross bleeding at the site of damage.

c. Petechial Hemorrhage – small spots of bleeding at the site of damage

These injuries may also impair language and other related sensory motor
functions and may result to brain damage such as:

1) Auditory Asphasia – loss of ability to understand spoken words.

2) Expressive Asphasia – loss of ability to speak required words.

3) Nominal Asphasia – loss of ability to recall names of objects.

4) Alexia – loss of ability to read.

5) Agraphia – loss of ability to express thoughts in writing

6) Apraxia – loss of ability to perform simple voluntary acts.

4. SENILE AND PRE-SENILE DEMENTIA

a. Senile Dementia – mental disorder that accompanied by brain degeneration

due to old age.

b. Pre-senile Dementia – mental disorder associated with earlier degeneration of

the brain.

5. MENTAL RETARDATION - A mental disorder characterized by sub-average

general functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior. It is a
common mental disorder before the age of 18. The person is suffering from low I.Q,
difficulty in focusing attention and deficiency in past learning.

Levels of Mental Retardation

a. Mild Mental Retardation (I.Q. 52-67) - “educable”

b. Moderate Mental Retardation (I.Q. 36-51) - “trainable”

c. Severe mental Retardation (I.Q. 20-35) - “dependent retarded”

d. Profound Mental Retardation (I.Q. under 20) – “life support retarded”

 6. SCHIZOPHRENIA AND PARANOIA

SCHIZOPHRENIA – refers to the group of psychotic disorders characterized by

gross distortions of reality, withdrawal of social interaction, disorganization and
fragmentation of perception, thoughts and emotion. It also refers to terms such as
“mental deterioration”, “dementia praecox”, or “split mind”.

Types of Schizophrenia

1. Simple Schizophrenia (Undifferentiated Type) – the schizophrenia in which

symptoms are rapidly changing mixture of all the primary indicators of schizophrenia.
The varying combinations of delusions, hallucinations, thoughtdisorders, and gross
bizarreness.

2. Paranoid Schizophrenia – it is the illogical, changeable delusions frequently

accompanied by vivid hallucinations, with a resulting impairment of critical judgment,
unpredictable and occasionally dangerous behavior.

3. Catatonic Schizophrenia – it is the altering period of extreme withdrawal and

extreme excitement. The individual may talk or shout incoherently and engage in
uninhibited, impulsive behavior. The person may be dangerous.

4. Hebephrenic Schizophrenia (Disorganized Type) – there is emotional

distortion manifested in inappropriate laughter, peculiar mannerism, and bizarre behavio

Paranoia – the same as “delusions”, “impaired contact with reality”. A psychotic

behavior characterized by delusion of apprehension following a failure or frustration.

Symptoms of the Disorder include feeling of being mistreated, ignored, stolen

from, spied upon, and over suspicious. The Disorder is characterized by: (sequence of
events in paranoia).

a. Suspiciousness – the individual mistrust the motives of others and fear that he
will be taken advantage.

b. Protective thinking – blame others for one’s own mistake

c. Hostility – respond to alleged mistreatment with anger and hostility, the person
becomes increasingly suspicious.

d. Paranoid illumination – strange feelings of events being experienced.e.

Delusion – feeling of persecution.

Other Groups of Human Disorders

A. Addictive Groups of Disorders - This group of disorders includes substance

use, obesity and pathological gambling.

1. Substance Use (Alcohol and Drug Abuse)

Alcoholism or “problem drinking” is an addictive source of human disorders. It

is evident by its general effects as follows:

a. It serves as a depressant
 b. It numbs the higher brain center

c. It impairs judgment and other rational

d. It lowers self-control. Deterioration of perception

Drug abuse or the inappropriate/misuse is a threat to normal behavior. It is an

addictive disorder, the fact that causes both physical and psychological dependency to
the drug.

2. Extreme obesity – also known as “habitual over eating” is an addictive form

ofdisorder. It is a life threatening disorder, resulting in such conditions as diabetes, high
blood pressures and other cardiovascular diseases that can place an individual at high
risk of heart attack.

3. Pathological gambling – is an addictive form of disorder, which does not

involvechemically addictive.

B. Sexual Deviations or Dysfunction – these are characterized by abnormal

sexual desires or acts which are also known as sexual perversion. Examples of these
are;

1. Bestiality 3. Lesbianism 5. Sodomy

2. Homosexuality 4. Pedophilia 6. Prostitution