...History and Overview of Abnormal Psychology Gary D. Neer PSY/410 March 9th, 2012 Analu Sing History and Overview of Abnormal Psychology The science of abnormal psychology or known as psychopathology tends to be a controversial science. Within this science, there is no simple or direct answer, nor any precise definitions. As with the origin and still today, identifying normal from abnormal behavior is still challenging. However, to understand this science of mystery, one should look into the origin of abnormal psychology; including the challenges in defining what is abnormal psychology and categorizing normal and abnormal behavior, how abnormal psychology evolved, and analyze the psychosocial, biological, and socio-cultural theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology to come to a better understanding of abnormal psychology as a discipline. Origin of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology has been a continuous debate throughout history. Psychologists have development many theories trying to explain psychological instability. Generally, history has place abnormal psychology (psychopathology) into three diverse explanations (Barlow & Durand, 2004).The mystical view regards abnormal behavior as a direct result of supernatural possession. Between 1800 B.C. and 1700 B.C, the Hammurabi’s, in the Mesopotamian region, viewed abnormal behavior as the self-possession of gods, ghosts, and spirits, which caused disease in a person’s body or mind (Hornstein...
Words: 1127 - Pages: 5
...Chapter 1 - Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context Abnormal Psychology (PS265) Class Notes Guide Shoshana Sloman DEFINING "PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER" A psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a resonse that is not typical or culturally expected. Each criterion contributes something to the definition. Any one element, alone, would not constitute a psychological disorder. Criteria: (Standard for judging) Psychological Dysfunction: Breakdown of cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. (Examples?) Where do we draw the line? Considered a continuum or dimension, rather than being present or absent. (dys = Greek for bad, abnormal, difficult) (ab = Latin for off, away from; norma = rule -- abnormal = deviating from the norm, from the rule) Personal Distress or Impairment: Distress: The individual is usually extremely upset about the dysfunction. This is not ALWAYS the case, however, as is often true with mania. Impairment: Interferes with normal activities, with achieving things that the person wants to. But not always. Depends on the severity. (Some simple phobias, for example.) Illustrates how most psychological disorders are extreme expressions of otherwise normal behavior. Atypical or Not Culturally Expected: Deviates from the average, the greater the deviation, the more abnormal, but that doesn’t automatically imply a disorder. (Pro athletes, talented artists.) More productive...
Words: 1547 - Pages: 7
...Abnormal behavior is behavior that deviates from what’s accepted. There are certain disorders that are more common among certain parts of the population. Social factors like gender, race, and culture influence mental health. Social conditions such as poverty, discrimination, and environmental stressors must also be looked at when evaluating abnormal behavior. Anxiety disorder is a disorder marked by excessive apprehension that seriously interferes with a person’s ability to function. Anxiety disorders can be characterized by four components: physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral. A physical component of anxiety is dizziness. A cognitive component would be the fear of losing control. An emotional component would be a sense of terror or panic. Coping with abnormal anxiety may include behaviors such as escaping a situation. We all experience anxiety from time to time. People with anxiety disorders have concerns that are unrealistic and out of proportion to the amount of harm that could occur. Approximately 19% of Americans over 18 years of age are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in a given year. Women have consistently higher rates of anxiety disorders than men do. African Americans have a lower lifetime risk of anxiety disorders than European Americans and Hispanic Americans. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear and anxiety in the absence of danger that is accompanied by strong symptoms. It is estimated that between 1.5% and 5% of people...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
...Olajuwon Floyd Stacy Mann PSY 101 7/22/2013 Abnormal Behavior I think this study supports Rosenhan’s beliefs, that psychiatrists cannot be reliable in telling the differences between the sane and mentally insane. In this study all of the Pseudopatients arrived at the mental hospitals complaining about hearing voices. The voice, that they heard was unfamiliar and the same sex as themselves. Words like ‘empty’, ‘hollow’, ‘thud’ were used to raise apprehensions about how worthless their life where. Other details they gave were real general ups and downs in life. All but one was admitted and diagnosis with schizophrenia. After they were admitted to the psychiatric ward, the Pseudopatients stopped simulating any symptoms of abnormality. Inside the psychiatric ward Pseudopatients felt invisible and depressed. None of the staff at any of the 12 different hospitals in five different states in the USA noticed that all of the Pseudopatients stopped showing any symptoms of abnormality. I think behaviors from patients inside the psychiatric ward sometimes get misinterpreted by staff and psychiatrists. Their normal behaviors were often seen as part of their supposed illness. Some of the other patients suspect the Pseudopatients to be sain and even expressed their suspicions yelling “You’re not crazy”, “You’re a journalist”, or “a professor”. The patients were more reliably then the psychiatrists on telling the difference between people who are sane and those who are insane. All eight...
Words: 382 - Pages: 2
...Case Study-Abnormal Behavior Case Study in Abnormal Behavior Valvita Isaac PSY/410 April 4, 2011 Dr. Melda Jones CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY: I certify that the attached paper, which was produced for the class identified above, is my original work and has not previously been submitted by me or by anyone else for any class. I further declare that I have cited all sources from which I used language, ideas and information, whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, and that any and all assistance of any kind, which I received while producing this paper, has been acknowledged in the References section. This paper includes no trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet, which I do not have written permission to include. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student's signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature): ____Valvita___Isaac____________________ ___ Case Study in Abnormal Is this essay helpful? Join OPPapers to read more and access more than 470,000 just like it! GET BETTER GRADES Behavior Psychological is very important in making criminal decisions. Criminal responsibility depends on the related disciplines that are found in the field of psychology. Abnormality differs depending upon what is considered to be typical within a culture. What is typical lies on the surface of cultural morality. Culture is considered to be...
Words: 323 - Pages: 2
...1) In regard to the issues of the extent of abnormal behavior, explain the following terms: (Ch1.Pg12) a. Epidemiology: the study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population. b. Prevalence: refers to the number of active cases in a population during any given period of time. c. Lifetime Prevalence: an estimate of the number of people who have had a particular disorder at any time in their lives (even if they are now recovered). 2) What are some of the biological causal factors of abnormal behavior?(Ch3.Pg61) a. Some of the biological causal factors of abnormal behavior are: i. Neurotransmitter and hormonal abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems ii. Genetic vulnerabilities iii. Temperament iv. Brain dysfunction and neural plasticity 3) Briefly describe the psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. a. (Ch3.Pg80) Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective: Generally focuses on how thoughts and information processing can become distorted and lead to maladaptive emotions and behavior. One central construct for this perspective is the concept of a schema, which was adapted from cognitive psychology by Aaron Beck, another pioneering cognitive theorist. b. (Ch3.Pg78)Humanistic Perspective: Views human nature as basically “good.” Paying less attention to unconscious processes and past causes, it emphasizes present conscious processes and places strong emphasis on people’s inherent capacity for responsible...
Words: 535 - Pages: 3
...DKarnsM1_A1.doc. May 12, 2014 Since the industrial revolution many things have changed in our world, from polluted waters, global warming to birth defects. Now with hydro-fracking and methane getting into our water things are only getting worse. With the polluted waters, we now have to resort to fish farming so we know the fish is healthy, even this is questionable because the fish are given antibiotics, and growth hormones in order to enhance and speed up the breeding and growth. That intern we consume with ill effects. Is this something we really want for our children, let alone with ourselves? Global warming has taken one a whole new term all itself. This past winter was the coldest I have ever felt, and even still the nights are seasonably cold. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ) has issued many storm warning throughout the winter, and even now that spring is here;…..here in upstate NY we have had three major thunder storms. Indiana was severely hit last summer with tornados. One hit three miles away from my aunt Gloria in Kokomo. If we don’t cut down on air pollution or find a way to eliminate it, we may be looking at another event such as the one that killed the dinosaurs thousands of years ago. To cut down on the pollution we can take the public transit, ride a bike, walk, or if you must have a car, purchase a smart car such as a VW Volt. My youngest...
Words: 442 - Pages: 2
...I have always been sure of myself. Since I was a young child my parents instilled in my brother and I that we always are sure of whom we are and be confident in that as well. Knowing that I was taught to always be sure of myself, I developed a sense of confidence about my self. Something like an aura, when I would walk into a room. With that sense of pride there also came a sense of entitlement. I felt as though I was very special and that I should be praised for the things I did growing up because I was so original and so unique. I remember in pre-school I got an award at our graduation for being the bossiest person in the classroom. Some people would have been offended by that, however, I was so proud that I got that award. Even today, when someone says I’m bossy I should be offended but often times I’m not because I have accepted the fact that it is who I am regardless if I like it or not. So after that introduction it should be no surprise that Narcissistic Personality Disorder was the highest rank personality disorder that I ranked for. Understanding that I narcissism is something that could easily be seen in me it is almost a most that I keep myself in check, meaning I maintain my humility while in therapy. Not to think too highly of myself and ensure that I will continue to have empathy and sympathy towards to clients that I will see in therapy. However there are some pros and cons to having a tad bit NPD. I could easily become a role model because I think high of myself...
Words: 1728 - Pages: 7
...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. However, to completely understand what abnormal psychology is we need to understand the origins of abnormal psychology as well as the challenges of defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. It is also important to understand how abnormal psychology evolved into a scientific discipline as well as the different viewpoints or models of abnormal psychology. The following paragraphs will hopefully help us to completely understand the branch of abnormal psychology. Origins of Abnormal Psychology The field of abnormal psychology...
Words: 1738 - Pages: 7
...Abnormal Psychology Roshaun Hatchett PSY/410 April 25, 2012 Dr. Christopher Daub Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology has been in existence for more than a century. Mental illness was approached from a spiritual point of view. Individuals of certain beliefs would misdiagnose others from the spiritual perspective and would assume that evil spirits controlled his or her’s physical, mental, and observable world (Tyrer, 2010). The following will be covered in this document: the origins of abnormal psychology, classification of normal and abnormal behaviors, how abnormal psychology evolved into a scientific discipline, and the theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology. The practice of trephination, a procedure that bore holes in a individuals skull to release evil spirits, was taken place in 3000 B.C. in Peru and Bolivia (Tyrer, 2010). Hippocrates was the first to approach abnormal behaviors from a biological perspective. He believed, “When the fluids were out of balance, this was the cause of mental illness” (Tyrer, 2010, para. 6). His theory was considered and almost close to the truth, in time his theory was proven to be inaccurate. Years later, Freud suggested the idea of conscious and subconscious processes to be the explanation of odd behaviors. He continued to suggest ideas from a psychodynamic perspective, but in the end lacked evidence in his theory. Freud’s theory inspired Wilhelm Wundt to elaborate on his theory. He...
Words: 979 - Pages: 4
...Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abstract In the following paper, abnormal psychology will be discussed in length. The origins of abnormal psychology will be discussed, including the challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. There will also be a brief overview of how abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline. Finally the biopsychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theoretical models, will also be analyzed in relation to the development of abnormal psychology. Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology, also known as psychopathology, is the subfield of psychology devoted to the study of mental disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The subfield also aims to understand the nature, causes, and treatment of these mental disorders (Pearson Higher Education, 2010). Abnormal psychology has come a long way in regard to how it is defined, viewed, and even treated. There are many challenges when it comes to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. Over time, abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline. When it comes to the development of abnormal psychology, there are many theoretical models in which we can study as well. Origins of Abnormal Psychology It is difficult to define abnormality, and the scientific characterization of abnormality depends on five criteria: help seeking, irrationality/dangerousness, deviance, emotional distress, and significant...
Words: 1027 - Pages: 5
...‘Critically consider definitions of abnormality’ Abnormal psychology (or psychopathology) deals with sets of behaviors or symptoms that produce a functional impairment in people’s lives. There are many definitions to consider in Abnormality, and below i have stated them. Statistical Infrequency.In this definition of abnormality, behaviors which are seen as statistically rare, are said to be abnormal. However this definition obviously has limitations, it fails to recognize the desirability of the particular behavior. This definition also implies that the presence of abnormal behavior in people should be rare or statistically unusual, which is not the case. Instead, any specific abnormal behavior may be unusual, but it is not unusual for people to experience some form of prolonged abnormal behavior at some point in their lives. Deviation from Social Norms defines the departure or deviation of an individual, from society's norms. For example if some was to witness a man running around nude on the streets, the man would be perceived as abnormal, as he has broken society's norms about wearing clothing. There are also a number of factors to be examined before reaching a judgment as to whether someone has deviated from society's norms. The first of these factors being culture. What may be seen as normal in one culture, may be seen as abnormal in another. The second factor being the situation & context the person is placed in. For example going to the toilet is a normal...
Words: 448 - Pages: 2
...Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Jessica King, Galen Gill, Nathan Ferrell PSY January 6, 2015 Wanda Meneese Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Psychology is defined as the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). There are two types of psychology that will be compared and contrasted within this paper; normal and abnormal. What is considered normal? What is considered abnormal? What distinguishes one from the other? How are both types alike? Abnormal Psychology is associated with diagnosis and therapy, while normal psychology focuses on understanding the cognition and behavior of those who are not. Both types of therapy can enlist many different types of approaches such as psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, biological, and humanistic. There is no clear and concise way to define abnormal behaviors that are studied within psychology. Abnormal behaviors are considered those behaviors within a certain society or group that are atypical. Determining a way to define abnormal behavior has been a work in progress for centuries. Social behaviors that are typically not considered acceptable within a group may classify someone as abnormal while in another group these behaviors may be acceptable and thus the person would be considered normal. Individuals that are considered abnormal have a difficult time functioning and adapting to specified conditions. Abnormal behavior studies include mental processes and psychopathology...
Words: 1337 - Pages: 6
...Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper David Brown, Charles Hodge PSY/300: General Psychology Susan Bonnell June 2, 2015 University of Phoenix Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper Abnormal psychology is the study of unusual behavior, thoughts, and emotion by members of a society (American Psychological Association, 2015). To meet the definition of abnormal, the behavior, actions, or thoughts must be atypical of the culture (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). Herein is where the challenge lies, due to the fact that our world encompasses many cultures and definitions of normal are significantly different from one region to the next. The paper will provide examples of abnormal psychology in the form of mental disorders and illnesses. Additionally, treatments for these disorders and illnesses will be discussed. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal and abnormal psychology can differ by culture. One’s normal behavior is that which allows for a society to maintain a productive and relationship driven life that does not differ drastically from the normalcy of said society (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). When an individual’s behavior is maladaptive to the culture he or she belongs, others will then classify said behavior as abnormal, and then will attempt to change that behavior. Wen-Sing Tseng, M.D. (2013), described a Latino man who hit his body and yelled very loudly, alone while in public, upon hearing of his wife’s death. The treating doctor was unsure if the man’s behavior...
Words: 1450 - Pages: 6
...abnormal psycology Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Jessica University of Phoenix PSY/410 Facilitator: Maria Neely; MA; M.ed. 19 December 2011 Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology * There is a fine line when comparing normal and abnormal behavior. What appears to be abnormal is considered normal by others. Abnormal behaviors are defined as psychopathology, which relates to abnormal behavior that can be defined, classified, explains, and treated (Hansell & Damour, 2008). This paper will examine the origins of abnormal psychology, include challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior, provide a brief overview of how abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline, and the last part will analyze the psychosocial, biological/medical, and socio-cultural theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology. When assessing a person with a mental health problems looking at factors such as feelings, thoughts, and behaviors can play a very important role. The origins of abnormal behavior started...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
