Weekly Overview

Disorder and Wellness

What does it mean to be mentally “healthy”? Does it mean that you are happy? Does it mean that you face difficulties with grace? Does it mean that you think clearly?

What does it mean to be mentally “ill”? Does it mean you are very sad and anxious? Everyone feels sad or anxious sometimes — but when are sadness and anxiety signs of illness, and when are they "normal"?

In this unit, you will learn about mental illness and mental wellness. You will learn why it is usually not easy to distinguish the difference between the two. You will also learn how some mental illness is treated, and how to support mental health. You'll be hearing from a professional therapist, Ricardo Hidalgo at the University of Washington, who will explain what it means to be "mentally ill" or "mentally healthy," and what people can do to support their own mental health.

Objectives

Explain the meaning of the American Psychiatric Association's definition of a psychological disorder, and name the book that catalogs all known mental disorders.
Use the American Psychiatric Association's definition of a psychological disorder to distinguish between a disorder and normal variations in thinking, feeling, and acting.
Explain the terms sane, competent, and functional.
Explain why many people do not acknowledge or seek treatment for psychological disorders.
Define anxiety disorder and mood disorder.
Distinguish between three types of anxiety disorders and three types of mood disorders.
Define three main types of dissociative disorders.
Identify the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Explain the main characteristics of behaviorist, humanist, biomedical, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to therapy for anxiety and mood disorders.
Define happiness and explain the origins of positive psychology.
Identify the needs in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Identify examples of the adaptation-level principle and role deprivation theory in action.
Define learned optimism and name some of the health benefits of optimism.

Assignments

Psych 2e Readings

Psych Explained Videos

Discussion

Final Project