FSU PSYC342 2021 February Discussion 5 Latest

PSYC342 Intro to Clinical & Counseling Psychology

Discussion 5

Abnormality & Diagnoses (Read Chapters 7 & 8)

For your initial post, address the following two major questions:

Who should define abnormality?

What motivations might encourage various groups to seek influence on this definition (if any)? For example, why might a pharmaceutical company seek to influence the definition of abnormality? Why would clinical or counseling psychologists? Psychiatrists? Managed care companies? The government?

Do clients benefit from formal diagnoses? What aspects of assigning a DSM diagnosis may prove beneficial? What aspects may prove unfavorable? Think about this from both the clients' and "therapists' perspectives.