Eccentric, Disordered, or Schizophrenic?
We often use terms such as “crazy”, “psycho”, and even “ODC” to describe people’s unusual behaviors. However, there is a distinct difference between a person who prefers a tidy house and someone who meets the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In this assignment, students will distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior.
Step 1:
Consider the following scenario:
Suppose you had a friend who said, “You never know what’s in processed foods. There could be thousands of carcinogens in any box of cereal or carton of ice cream. That’s why I only eat organically grown foods, and I never eat in restaurants. In fact, I won’t even eat at other people’s houses. The only food I trust is what I prepare myself in my own kitchen.”
Some might describe this friend as paranoid about food. But exactly what would they mean by that term? “Paranoid” can be used (as it is in this chapter) to denote a specific type of personality disorder or to describe a symptom of Schizophrenia, but is that what this friend is experiencing? Maybe, or maybe not.
Step 2:
In an essay, thoroughly discuss the following:
Do the criteria for abnormality given in the chapter apply to your friend’s behavior?
What additional knowledge would be helpful in deciding whether your friend’s behavior is abnormal?
Suppose you decide that your friend’s behavior is abnormal. Does it fit best with the description of paranoid personality disorder or paranoid schizophrenia? Why?
Formatting Requirements:
Use 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font
Use double line spacing in the document
1-inch margins all around
Citing Sources: You must use APA style to reference your source(s) at the end of your submission. For this assignment, you must include reference information for your textbook and the 3D brain website or app. Information on how to format reference information (including a reference generator) in APA style can be found on the Purdue Online Writing Lab website at https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html (opens in a new window).
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