mental disorder Essay -- essays research papers fc

The definition of the concept of a â€Å"mental disorder,† is fundamental to the mental health field and has been an important yet controversial issue in psychology. To properly assess, treat, and even prevent mental disorders, psychologists must initially develop a clear understanding of the term. Labeling a person’s behavior as a mental disorder can affect the way they are viewed by others and the way in which they view themselves. Thus, it is important to achieve a good measure of what constitutes a mental disorder so that they are accurately diagnosed and treated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is a mental disorder? Currently, there are four criteria that are used to determine whether a person has a mental disorder. First, maladaptiveness of behavior refers to behavior of the individual that does not promote the well being of another individual or social group. Next, deviation from social norms is concerned with behavior straying from the standards that have been set by a particular society. Third, deviation from statistical norms refers to any type of behavior that is statistically rare and therefore unusual (Smith). However, according to this definition, a person who is extremely intelligent would be classified as abnormal. Thus we must consider yet another possibility. The fourth criterion considers mental disorder in terms of the individual’s personal distress rather than his or her behavior. This explanation is based on bizarreness, discomfort, and inefficiency. Whil...