Final answer:
The guideline for defining atypical behavior involving psychological disorders that includes personal suffering is the distress-based criterion. It is highlighted in the DSM-5, which incorporates cultural concepts of distress, and it signifies that such disorders result in significant impairment or distress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the general guideline for defining atypical behavior, particularly involving psychological disorders that include personal suffering. The guideline can be understood as distress-based criteria, which posit that any behavior or mental pattern causing significant distress to an individual can be considered atypical or indicative of a possible psychological disorder.
This distress criterion is a key aspect of various definitions of mental disorders, including those classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It emphasizes that disorders result in significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This concept is also supported by cultural concepts of distress (CCD), which pinpoint how culture informs the experience and expression of suffering.
The DSM-5 is the standard classification of mental disorders used by clinicians across the globe. It provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders, being particularly mindful of the culturally specific nuances. While some behaviors related to personality disorders may appear normal to the individual, they can lead to impairment or notable distress, thereby meeting the criteria for a psychological disorder.
Treatments for psychological disorders often focus on the symptoms, particularly since the complete etiology of many disorders involves a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors that are not fully understood.
The distress criterion, CCD, and the DSM-5 are all integral to the current understanding and definition of psychological disorders.