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Abnormal could be defined as a deviation from customary thoughts and behaviors. I think people can be born with or without abnormal characteristics, and both are influenced by their environment after birth. Abnormal development can be caused by both biological factors, including genetics, prenatal care, exposure to toxins, nutrition, and changes in hormones, and environment, which includes social and cultural factors (Neukrug, 2007). However, it is hard to say whether abnormal development is influenced more by biology or environment.
The theory of personality development a counselor embraces affects their approach in treating an “abnormal” client. I do not think counselors would be wise to embrace only one of the theories of personality development. Depending on the abnormality the client presents, the counselor may need to consider another model of personality development besides their primary theory of belief. For example, since the environment cannot cause a person to become autistic, the biological model of personality development must be considered when designing a treatment plan and choosing interventions.
Five axes make up the DSM-IV-TR classification system of mental disorders. This classification system has become important in the diagnosis and treatment of clients. When doing an overall assessment of an individual, many clinicians use multiple axes to paint a thorough picture of the client’s abnormal thoughts or behaviors (Neukrug, 2007). Disorders described as Axis I and Axis II can be caused by either biology or environment, and disorders placed in the Axis IV category are strictly caused by environmental factors. Environment can affect biology, such as in cases of alcohol-related delirium, and sometimes biology is only expressed under certain environmental conditions according to the biological model of personality development. Disorders that are biologically-based and disorders that result from environmental factors...