In the time in which the barber and surgeon were one in the same, these patients were poor, and cures ranged from a variety of cruel practices. Many, if they were poor or if it was well known that their parents had committed a sin, were left to be cared for by their families or wander the streets of the cities. Some, if possession had been the diagnosis, a Catholic exorcism would be done to remove it, while those diagnosed as witches were burned at the stake. In extreme cases, to remove the insanity, a surgeon would make a hole in the patient's head in order that the madness would escape, a treatment that was more fatal then its disease. If the mentally ill person was of a richer class, they would be either killed or be locked away all their lives.
The behavioral perspective indicates that the reasoning for abnormal behavior is because there is inadequate learning and conditioning. The cognitive perspective believes abnormal behavior is because of false assumptions of particular thoughts and behaviors. The social-cultural perspective defines abnormal behavior as behavior learned from the environment. Abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline over centuries of research. Abnormal psychology has been studied and examined for answers over these centuries.
Origins of Abnormal Psychology The deinstitutionalization movement began in the 1960s where the number of psychiatric hospitals radically decreased and conditions for patients improved drastically (Hansell & Damour, 2008). “The blunt realities of mental illness shatter our most deeply held convictions about the nature of human consciousness and behavior. The mentally ill are more different than us than we can imagine and more like us than we care to admit” (Bosco, p. 131). Past methods of treatment used to help the mentally ill has faced a great deal of controversy in society and was clear during this era the methods previously used had negative results on both society and the patients. While in the early stages of the deinstitutionalization the methods were radical and released patients from hospitals most programs were not well thought out or implemented.
For example, one psychologist may use descriptive psychopathology to which will strive to provide answers for symptoms or mental illness. Either way, psychopathology is formally used to study mental illness or the distresses which may be affecting an individual. The issues of the abnormal psychology will assist in the study by the way we would use it in the attempt to capture interest, trigger concerns, and demands our attention. It also brings us to form and ask certain questions pertaining to any study. Psychopathology is not the same as psychopathy, which has to do with antisocial
Unfamiliar is not the same as abnormal, distinction between these two is vital to understanding psychopathology and those affected by mental illness. As abnormal psychology evolves and progresses in treatments, therapies, and research the central theme of the six core concepts continues to guide researcher. These six concepts define and provide understanding of abnormality. The concepts also illustrate the range between normal and abnormal behavior of individuals experiencing personality disorders. Another concept is studying cultural and historical relativism in defining and classifying abnormality in relation to environment.
Analyzing the start of abnormal psychology, for thousands of year’s individuals has been trying to comprehend and modify what is apparent as abnormal behavior. Individuals believed that abnormal behavior was because of paranormal, genetic and mental. Individuals who demonstrate abnormal behavior, was primarily believed to be triggered by evil spirit, environmental
There is much debate over whether psychology is considered to be a science or not. So what is science? Science is generally defined as the knowledge gained through observations of the world via scientific methods, rather than what we believe to be true of the world (American Psychological Association, 2007). Psychology is widely recognised as the study of mental processes and behaviour (Wickens 2000). From this outline psychology could clearly be defined as a science as it involves gaining a deeper understanding of humans within the world.
However, less scientific evidence of this can be taken back to a much earlier period when psychosurgery was performed by Neolithic cultures by boring holes in a skull by a process called trepanning. These actions were most likely carried out to “liberate” demons and bad spirits which ancient doctors believed were responsible for madness and brain disease. Seen again in medieval times performed by quack doctors to cure brain damage or madness. Other studies to follow backed up the “Localization” theory in the form of brain tissue stimulation, brain damage case studies, or pure experimentation, which subsequently resulted in the mapping of the brain itself. On September 13th, 1848 a man named Phineas Gage was working as a foreman blasting rock to lay bed for a rail line.
The following essay will provide discussion on topic "What role does Freud have in modern psychology?” Although Freud’s theories have been widely criticized during his life and afterward, this essay will argue that his work is still playing important role in modern Psychology. Starting point for the discussion is to examine the definitions of relevant terms. Psychology, Themes and Variations defines psychology as the science that studies behavior and psychological and cognitive process that underline it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems (Weiten, W. 2004, p 18). Freud was born in 1856, the year Darwin published The Origin of the Species. He grew up in one of the most exciting times in human history, when the basis of modern science was being laid down by early psychophysicalists like Billroth, Helmholtz and Brucke (Sulloway, 1979).
According to Damour and Hansell (2008), these criteria are (a) seek help, (b) irrationality or dangerousness, (c) deviance, (d) emotional distress, and (e) significant impairment (p. 10). The first three are useful from a biological point of view, whereas the last two have a more scientific basis. For example, a person may seek help if physical changes occur as a result of depression such as weight loss. However, the emotional distress of depression or the impairment to the individual’s personality is measurable; therefore making the factors helpful in defining the scientific side of abnormal behavior. The history of abnormal behavior dates back to Before Christ (BC).