Abnormal Psychology Lisa Mac Donald-Clark PSY/410 December 19, 2011 Mark Hurd Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology, also known as psychopathology, is the branch of psychology that deals with abnormal behaviors and mental illness (Hansell & Damour, (2008). Although psychopathology is a fascinating field of study it can be equally challenging, covering a broad range of disorders, illnesses, and symptoms. Defining abnormal psychology also poses a challenge. The fundamental concept of abnormal would seem simple in that it would include anything that falls outside of what societies considers normal. Narrowing the group association is essential in defining the behavior as normal or abnormal.
The untrained individuals would look at psychopathology as being a study of mental disorders on the mere manifestation of different behaviors. However, we in the field of psychology would determine what is by going through the basics. It is commonly referred to as abnormal psychology which is the clear understanding of nature, certain treatments, and the many different causes. There are several ways in fact to where individuals in the field of psychology may use to explain psychology. For example, one psychologist may use descriptive psychopathology to which will strive to provide answers for symptoms or mental illness.
Abnormal behavior and conditions vary by tradition to tradition and person to person. Nowadays, abnormal functioning is typically connected to several types of psychological illness (Frude, 1998). Abnormal psychology comprises of studying individuals who cannot adjust and act usually below situations that are believed to be typical. This could generally happen due to heredity, group connections, physical conditioning, knowledge and logic (Frude, 1998). 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.
Several perspectives have an explanation for the causes of abnormal behavior. These perspectives include medical perspectives, psychodynamic perspectives, behavioral perspectives, cognitive perspectives, and social-cultural perspectives. The medical perspectives focus on the biological and physiological factors. The psychodynamic perspective focuses on the idea that the causes of abnormal behaviors are a consequence of unresolved anxiety and unconscious conflicts. The behavioral perspective indicates that the reasoning for abnormal behavior is because there is inadequate learning and conditioning.
Culminating in the identifying the differences between each disorder. Webster’s dictionary defines personality as “The complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual.” Everyone has a personality and it is the thing that makes every unique. Sometimes in a person’s life personality can go astray and be completely unbalanced causing difficulty in how an individual relates to the environment and to others around them. (Webster’s Dictionary 2010) Psychologists have named people with such an extreme in personality as possibly having what they call a personality disorder. A person may feel lonely, unhappy, and unaccepted by the general public.
Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Ann Bacon Psy/410 Abnormal Psychology October 24, 2011 Kristi Lane University of Phoenix Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology What is abnormal psychology? Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with behaviors that are not considered normal as well as psychological phenomena such as dreams and altered mental states, which have not been explained. The goal of this branch of psychology is to understand abnormal behavior as well as to determine how and if the behavior needs to be addressed and to develop a treatment plan that will help individuals. This branch of psychology also recognizes that there are many influences such as environmental influences on psychological development. The goal of many mental health professionals is not to force an individual to achieve normality but to help individuals who struggle with mental and emotional disorders to achieve fulfilling and active lives.
Chris Gibson 12/5/2010 Fall 2010/ Psych 220-1603 Chp. 15 Psychological Disorders Psychological Disorders are a way of life, but what is normal and abnormal. Normal is what is set by our society. So abnormal is not acting up on the standards that are set. So people with disorders or phobias are abnormal because they act in way that are contrast to what is normal.
History of Psychological Assessment Mandana Smith PSY/525 November 6, 2011 Christa Washington History of Psychological Assessment Assessments used in psychology have quite an extensive history within the discipline and mental health field. Roles of assessments continue to vary according to prevention and treatment methods used for mental illnesses. Assessments within the psychology field are described by separate spectrums that include the differential treatment, therapeutic, and information-gathering models (McIntire & Miller, 2007). Gathering information to determine a diagnosis and facilitation of communication are important. This model contains standard testing providing comparison of individuals with similar traits allowing prediction of behavior outside an environment of testing.
Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology is defined as the study of psychological characteristics that often deviate outside of the norm (Cherry, 2005). This perspective generally encompasses an array of perspectives ranging from disorders to altered mental patterns that affect the normal functioning of an individual as part of society. Typically, this type of impairment is accompanied by behavior, either disruptive or of a distorted nature. There are several approaches used in abnormal psychology in addition, it is important to examine the origin of abnormal psychology in an effort to rationalize the evolution of this scientific discipline (Cherry, 2005). To understand the basis of abnormal psychology, it is essential to recognize that the individuals who make up these categories fall very far at the other end of the normal spectrum.
Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology When distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior, what appears to be abnormal behavior to some people may be normal by others. Psychopathology is also another term used to describe abnormal psychology. Feelings, thoughts, and behaviors are distinguishing factors to consider in assessing mental health behaviors. The following information provides a brief history and origin of abnormal psychology, the development of abnormal psychology into a scientific discipline, and the application of the three theoretical models of abnormal psychology. 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).