Detecting Psychological Disorders
Four Observable Differences Between Eccentricity and Insanity
Four factors commonly establish psychological disorders. Here's how to tell if people like Britney Spears, Howard Hughes, or Hitler are immature, eccentric, or insane.
Extreme mental illness, insanity, or psychotic disorders are defined by actions that fall out of the realm of normal human behavior. There are four observable differences that determine the difference between harmless eccentricity (such as Woody Allen) and insanity (Hitler). Since, however, Woody Allen married his adopted daughter, he may not be the best example of “harmless eccentricity.”
Britney Spears may be a class unto herself.
Standards of acceptability for behaviors vary from culture to culture. In some societies, people walk around naked and it’s perfectly normal. In fact, wearing clothing is abnormal behavior and can be even deemed "insane."
Four criteria are used to determine psychological disorders. Now, you can decide for yourself whether people like Woody Allen, Howard Hughes, and Hitler are criminally insane or harmlessly eccentric.
Four Observable Differences Between Eccentricity and Psychological Disorders:
1. Atypical behavior. Behavior that is psychologically disordered is outside the range of “normal” human behavior, which is defined by the culture or community. However, use caution when judging atypical behavior. Olympic athletes are atypical because of the inordinate time they spend exercising – and they’re not usually insane. “Being different than most other people is part of what it takes to define a psychological disorder,” says Psychology textbook author David G. Myers. Being different isn’t enough to warrant insanity or a psychological disorder.
2. Disturbing others. People are usually disturbed by insanity or psychological disorders, whether it's excessively worrying about your son or being directly affected by harmful behavior. "Disturbing others" depends on the situation: mass killing is heroic during war but insane during peacetime. Homicidal terrorists are called freedom fighters by some and murderers by others, depending on the perspective. Homosexuality was once categorized as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association – but now it’s believed to be unconnected to psychological problems. So, whether a behavior is disturbing or abnormal may be subject to the culture, situation, and even the decade or century.
3. Maladaptive thoughts or behavior. Psychological disorders are often behaviors that don't allow people to adapt to life successfully. For instance, hearing voices or being unable to leave the house because of an extreme fear of birds is maladaptive (unless you're in an Alfred Hitchcock movie). Atypical and abnormal behaviors are more likely to be classified as psychological disorders when they’re harmful. Maladaptive behaviors produce physical damage and disabling symptoms.
4. Unjustifiable behavior. Psychological disorders aren't easily justified to other people. Abnormal behaviors aren't seen as possible, believable, or suportable. If a seemingly abnormal behavior is unjustifiable, it’s more likely to be a psychological disorder.
When you're trying to determine if an eccentricity is a psychological disorder or simply immature or odd behavior, compare it to the four factors that are commonly used to establish psychological disorders. It may be easier than you think to detect truly abnormal behavior.
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