Abnormal Psychology: Concepts of Normality

This chapter provides a framework for developing an undergraduate course in abnormal psychology. Authors make recommendations about how to structure the course and outline necessary competencies, including the M.A.P.S. framework for understanding the limits of diagnostic classification systems. By identifying challenges associated with defining abnormality, problems with a strict medical model for understanding mental illness, not understanding the etiology of symptoms, pigeonholing individuals, and only paying attention to superficial symptoms, the authors suggest ways to ensure that students view the classification of mental disorders through a critical lens and take a wider view of diagnosis. Concrete tools and sample activities are included to help instructors expand their teaching repertoire for abnormal psychology.