Final answer:
Psychopathology is the study of psychological disorders and abnormal behavior. Determining abnormality is complex and involves several criteria, including deviation from norms, social violation, distress, dysfunction, and potential harm. The DSM offers specific diagnostic criteria, although there is ongoing debate about the overreach of diagnosing normal behaviors as pathological.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychopathology is the study of psychological disorders, their symptoms, and the behavior associated with mental, emotional, and cognitive abnormalities. It is a subfield within clinical psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The determination of what is considered 'abnormal' often involves several criteria, which include:
- The deviation from statistical norms or what is found to be rare or uncommon in the general population,
- Violation of social norms or standards,
- Personal distress,
- Disability or dysfunction in performing expected roles, and
- The potential for harm or danger to oneself or others.
These criteria can be subjective and what is viewed as abnormal may vary across different cultures and settings. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides guidance by outlining specific symptoms and thresholds for mental health diagnoses. However, identifying psychopathology accurately is complex, as the debate on the medicalization of human behavior is ongoing, with critics suggesting that the DSM pathologizes normal life variations.