The Writer's Guide to Psychology; How to Write Accurately About Psychological Disorders, Clinical Treatment and Human Behavior

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9781884995682
• ISBN10: 1884995683
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2010-12-01
• Publisher: Linden Publishing

Summary

An accurate and accessible survey of modern psychological theory and practice, this reference offers professional writers practical advice for incorporating psychological elements into their work. With easy-to-understand explanations and definitions, this book is an invaluable resource for any writer wishing to add realistic details to scenes that depict psychologists, mental illnesses and disorders, and psychotherapeutic treatments. Designed around the needs of professional fiction and nonfiction writers, this is an easy-to-use resource that includes historical and modern psychological treatments and terms and refutes popularly held misconceptions.

Author Biography

Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD, is a professor at Columbus State Community College. She is a full member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the APA’s Media Psychology division. She lives in Westerville, Ohio.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. v
Foreword	p. ix
Introduction	p. xi
Common Myths and Mistakes
A Look at Fictional Portrayals of Psychological Problems, Professionals, and Treatments	p. 1
Why People Do What They Do
Learning to Think Like a Shrink	p. 17
The Therapist's Profession
Degrees, Training, and Ethics	p. 37
Behind Closed Doors
How Real Therapy Sessions Work	p. 47
Disorders and Diagnosis
When Does a Problem Become a Disorder?	p. 63
The Disorders, Part I
Mood, Anxiety, and Psychotic Disorders	p. 77
The Disorders, Part II
Childhood Disorders, Dementia, and Eating Disorders	p. 109
The Disorders, Part III
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociation	p. 125
The Disorders, Part IV
Personality Disorders	p. 145
Psychopaths and Villains
Crossing the Line	p. 163
Physical and Biological Interventions
Medications, Electroshock, and One Really Horrible Idea	p. 175
Emergencies in Psychotherapy
Suicidality, Homicidality, and Hospitalization	p. 195
Conclusion	p. 211
Glossary	p. 212
Note About the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)	p. 217
Bibliography	p. 219
Index	p. 224
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