Chapter 14: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Testing your knowledge of idioms and other vocabulary
How familiar are you with American idioms? Match each item in column A with the appropriate meaning given in column B. If you are unsure, look at the sentence context given below. Answers are given on last page of this document.
COLUMN A COLUMN B a. to give rise to 1. to be the cause of b. culture-bound 2. decreased; made dull or flat c. mixed feelings 3. highly desirous of; eager to d. to get a word in edgewise 4. to take part in a conversation which other people monopolize e. intent on 5. to contribute to; to be a part of f. to get in tune with 6. dishonest g. blunted 7. to understand, be in agreement with h. catchall 8. customs, beliefs, and ideas limited to a specific group or culture i. to play a role in 9. opinions that are not decisive, both good and bad together j. crooked 10. general category that takes a variety of things into consideration
Sentence context a. Pinel's medical model eventually gave rise to the modern specialty of psychiatry. (p. 494) b. It (DSM-IV) does provide a culture-specific section and a glossary of culture-bound syndromes, such as amok (Indonosia), genital retraction syndrome (Asia), and windigo psychosis (First Nations cultures), which we discussus later in this chapter. (p.498) c. Although her husband had verbally and physically abused her for years, she had had mixed feelings about staying in the marriage. (p. 505) d. Speech is also rapid ("pressured speech"), and it is difficult for others to get a word in edgewise. (p. 506) e. Suicidal people are fully intent on dying. (p. 506)
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers f. If it is just one person speaking, that's not so bad, but if others join in then I can't pick it up at all. I just can't get in tune with the conversation. (p. 511) g. The senses of people with schizophrenia may be either enhanced (as in the case with Mrs. T) or blunted. (p. 510) h. Furthermore, undifferentiated type is a catchall for cases that are difficult to diagnose. (p. 512) i. According to the diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia, stress plays an essential role in triggering schizophrenic episodes in people with an inherited predisposition (or diathesis) toward the disease. (p. 515) j. Although serial killers are often seen as classic examples of antisocial personality disorder, many sociopaths harm people in less dramatic ways – for example, as ruthless businesspeople and crooked politicians. (p. 519)
Reviewing your knowledge of English grammar
In the last chapter, we began to take a look at certain verbs that, when followed by complements, are always followed by a gerund form. There are also certain classes of these verbs that are always followed by the infinitive form. These verbs can be also classified into several categories, such as:
· CHOICE OR INTENTION (propose, decide, expect, intend, mean, wish, prefer, etc.) While it is tempting to want to place people in tidy, discrete categories, abnormal behavior exists along a continuum. Now, not only could you be possessed, you could also choose to consort with the devil. Just as physicians need to differentiate between cancer and heart disease, psychiatrists must make a distinction between anxiety attacks and feelings of paranoia. · REQUEST AND RESPONSE (offer, promise, threaten, vow, etc.) Does a compulsively neat student who types all of his lecture notes and refuses to write in any textbook qualify for a psychiatric examination? When asked to think about their lives, respondents in need of mental health services all named one or more of the same 12 symptoms. The subjective discomfort standard allows people to define for themselves what they accept as normal or abnormal. · MENTAL ACTIVITY (learn, know how, forget, remember, etc.)
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers People learn to express their problems in ways acceptable to others in the same culture. All neurotic conditions were believed to reflect underlying problems with repressed anxiety.
Read the paragraph below and decide if the verbs in parentheses should appear in the infinitive or in the gerund form. Insert the appropriate form of the verb in the space given. When you are finished, you may check your answers in the answer key.
By publishing the DSM-I in 1952, the American Psychiatric Association hoped ______(categorize) abnormal behavior. Designed as a tool to help practitioners ______(diagnose) mental disorders, the APA expected ______(alleviate) many problems that had in the past caused individuals ______(be) misdiagnosed and imprisoned in mental institutions. The APA considered ______(explain) the causes of the disorders, but then proposed ______(limit) the entries to descriptions only. The APA has offered ______(revise) the manual four times. Each revision intends ______(reflect) changes in the way abnormal behaviors are viewed within our social context. The third edition was published in 1987, and the APA plans ______(release) the fourth edition in 1994.
Finding key information
Writing in English is characterized by linear thought patterns; that is, generally there is a statement in the introduction directly stating what will be discussed and then the following paragraphs fulfill that promise. Also, in extended writing, authors sometimes insert linking sentences or paragraphs, to remind the reader of what has been discussed and what is yet to come. These linking sentences or paragraphs are very useful, as they allow readers to set up their notes and outlines clearly, and confirm that indeed they have been able to pull out the key information from the text. It is a good idea to map out the information set up in these linking, or transition sentences or paragraphs, in order to follow the authors' argument more smoothly. Look at the example below.
abnormal behavior exemplified by windigo psychosis: cultural relativity ô
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers LINK: Some researchers question the famine explanation for windigo psychosis and even the idea of culture-bound disorders. However, there is little doubt that some mental disorders are at least somewhat culture-bound. ô Nishimoto: several culture- general and culture specific symptoms useful in diagnosing mental health difficulties
Practice making a linking map of your own, using the information presented in the “Phobias” section on pages 501. Be sure to locate the complete linking sentences. When you have finished, compare your responses with the answers provided in the answer key.
ô LINK:
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Examining structural clues
Often, writers want to remind the reader of important information they have presented at an earlier point in the text. They use specific referent cues or triggers to spark the reader's memory. Sometimes, the authors are very specific and repeat the information fully; other times, they make just passing reference to the information. To see how these triggers are used, study the sentences below:
As the introductory cases show, abnormal behavior varies from person to person and in its severity. As mentioned earlier, students who begin studying abnormal behavior sometimes have unnecessary worries about their own mental health. The learning perspective on anxiety disorders suggests that phobias and other reactions are the result of classical and operant conditioning (see chapter 5).
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers At the beginning of this chapter, we discussed how some researchers believe that certain mental disorders may be culturally universal, and schizophrenia is a prime example. Recall that some cases of severe depression are linked to biochemical imbalances. Some researchers suggest that covariance between hormones and serotonin may explain gender difference in depression. As we discussed, some theories suggest that stress may trigger the onset of schizophrenia.
Find five more referent cues from this chapter and write them in the spaces below. Study these sentences. What information are the authors reminding you of? Are they specific or is it just a passing reference?
1. ______
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2. ______
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3. ______
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4. ______
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5. ______
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Answer key
Testing your knowledge of idioms and other vocabulary
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers a. 1; b. 8; c. 9; d. 4; e. 3; f. 7; g. 2; h. 10; i. 5; j. 6;
Reviewing your knowledge of English grammar
By publishing the DSM-I in 1952, the American Psychiatric Association hoped to categorize abnormal behavior. Designed as a tool to help practitioners diagnose mental disorders, the APA expected to alleviate many problems that had in the past caused individuals to be misdiagnosed and imprisoned in mental institutions. The APA considered explaining the causes of the disorders, but then proposed to limit the entries to descriptions only. The APA has offered to revise the manual four times. Each revision intends to reflect changes in the way abnormal behaviors are viewed within our social context. The third edition was published in 1987, and the APA plans to release the fourth edition in 1994.
Finding key information
simple phobias: a specific stimulus elicits a strong fear response. e.g. fear of spiders, blood, enclosed places. ô LINK: In addition to Maria's agoraphobia and specific phobias, such as fears of knives, rats, or spiders, there is another category of phobias known as social phobias. ô social phobias: fear of being evaluated by others or being publicly embarrassed, so pervasive that normal life becomes impossible
Examining structural clues
Answers will vary.
Handbook for Non-Native Speakers