Which of the following is a criticism of the DSM in diagnosing psychological disorders?

• A. It provides clear biological causes for all listed disorders.
• B. It can lead to overdiagnosis and labeling of normal behavior as pathological.
• C. It eliminates cultural bias in the diagnosis process.
• D. It discourages the use of standardized criteria for diagnosis.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is a tool used by clinicians to diagnose psychological disorders based on standardized criteria.
2. Recognize that one common criticism of the DSM is that it may contribute to overdiagnosis, meaning that normal variations in behavior or mild symptoms might be labeled as pathological disorders.
3. Consider that the DSM does not provide clear biological causes for all disorders; many diagnoses are based on observed symptoms rather than definitive biological markers.
4. Acknowledge that the DSM attempts to reduce cultural bias but does not completely eliminate it, as cultural differences can influence how symptoms are expressed and interpreted.
5. Note that the DSM encourages the use of standardized criteria rather than discouraging it, which helps improve reliability in diagnosis across different clinicians.