ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that studies, diagnoses, and
treats unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thoughts that could signify a
mental disorder.
The term "abnormal" in this context does not necessarily imply “negative” or
“bad.” It is a term used to describe behaviors and mental processes that
significantly deviate from statistical or societal norms. Abnormal psychology
research is pivotal for understanding and managing mental health issues,
developing treatments, and promoting mental health awareness.
Abnormal psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and
treatment of mental disorders. The topics and problems within the field of
abnormal psychology surround us every day. The term covers a broad range of
disorders, from depression to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to
personality disorders.
Definition of Abnormality
There is still no universal agreement about what is meant by abnormality or
disorder.
Abnormality refers to a deviation from what is considered typical, usual, or
expected. It is a term used to describe something that deviates from the norm or
standard, often indicating a departure from what is considered normal or healthy
within a particular context.In psychology and psychiatry, abnormality is often
associated with behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that significantly differ from the
average or normative patterns of behavior. These deviations may cause distress
to the individual or impair their functioning in various areas of life.
Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of problematic feelings, thoughts,
and behaviors associated with mental disorders. This area of science is designed
to evaluate, understand, predict, and prevent mental disorders and help those
who are in distress.
Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study,
understanding, and treatment of abnormal behavior, mental disorders, and
psychological dysfunction. It examines the causes, symptoms, and patterns of
abnormal behavior and seeks to provide explanations, interventions, and
therapies for individuals experiencing psychological distress or dysfunction.
,The phrases “normal” and “abnormal” are used to describe particular
behaviours, sets of behaviours, or patterns of behaviours, as well as thoughts
feelings and traits that may be biological or psychological. Normality and
abnormality are determined by individual perception and societal norms, as well
as by factors such as age, gender, situation, and context. Culture also has an
impact on how normalcy and abnormality are perceived. Even within a single
culture, the meanings of these two phrases change in accordance with shifting
societal standards.
What is Normality?
The term “normality” describes actions that are common or expected in a group
of people. It is the condition of falling within the range of what is normal or
expected. Being adaptable, practical, and socially acceptable are characteristics
of normal behaviour. It is behaviour that enables people to successfully interact
with their surroundings and meet their daily needs.
Criteria of Abnormality
1. Subjective distress:
➤ If people suffer or experience psychological pain we are inclined to consider
this as indicating abnormality. People with depression clearly report being
distressed, as do people with anxiety disorders.
Examples:
➤ But what of the patient who is manic and whose mood is one of elation? He or
she may not be experiencing any distress. In fact, many such patients dislike
taking medications because they do not want to lose their manic “highs.”
➤ You may have a test tomorrow and exceedingly worried. But we would hardly
label your subjective distress abnormal. Although subjective distress is an
element of abnormality in many cases, it is neither a sufficient condition (all that
is needed) nor even a necessary condition (a feature that all cases of
abnormality must show) for us to consider something as abnormal.
2. Maladaptiveness:
➤ Maladaptive behaviour is often an indicator of abnormality. The person with
anorexia may restrict her intake of food to the point where she becomes so
emaciated that she needs to be hospitalized.
➤ The person with depression may withdraw from friends and family and may be
unable to work for weeks or months. Maladaptive behaviour interferes with our
well-being and with our ability to enjoy our work and our relationships.
, Examples:
➤ But not all disorders involve maladaptive behaviour. Consider the con artist
and the contract killer. The first persuades people to part with their life savings;
the second to take someone’s life in return for payment. Is this behaviour
maladaptive? Not for them, because it is the way in which they make their
respective livings. We consider them abnormal, however, because their
behaviour is maladaptive for and toward society
3. Statistical deviancy:
➤ The word abnormal literally means “away from the normal.” Intellectual
disability which is statistically rare and represents a deviation from normal is
considered to reflect abnormality.
Examples:
➤ But simply considering statistically rare behavior to be abnormal does not
provide us with a solution to our problem of defining abnormality. Genius is
statistically rare, as is perfect poker. However, we do not consider people with
such uncommon talents to beabnormal in any way.
➤ Also, just because something is statistically common doesn’t make it normal.
The common cold is certainly very common, but it is regarded as an illness
nonetheless.
➤ This tells us that in defining abnormality we make value judgments. If
something is statistically rare and undesirable (as is severely diminished
intellectual functioning), we are more likely to consider it abnormal than
something that is statistically rare and highly desirable (such as genius) or
something that is undesirable but statistically common (such as rudeness).
4. Violation of the standards of society:
➤ A behaviour is most likely to be viewed as abnormal when it violates the
standards of society, whether it is statistically deviant or rare.
➤ When people fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of their
cultural group, they are often considered behaviour abnormal. For example, early
teenagers getting tattoos in most cultures is seen as a sign of rebellion and
therefore abnormal. While in many tribal communities in N.E. India not getting a
tattoo is considered abnormal.
Examples:
➤ Much depends on the magnitude of the violation and on how commonly the
rule is violated by others.
➤ Most of us have parked illegally at some point. This failure to follow the rules is
Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that studies, diagnoses, and
treats unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thoughts that could signify a
mental disorder.
The term "abnormal" in this context does not necessarily imply “negative” or
“bad.” It is a term used to describe behaviors and mental processes that
significantly deviate from statistical or societal norms. Abnormal psychology
research is pivotal for understanding and managing mental health issues,
developing treatments, and promoting mental health awareness.
Abnormal psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and
treatment of mental disorders. The topics and problems within the field of
abnormal psychology surround us every day. The term covers a broad range of
disorders, from depression to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to
personality disorders.
Definition of Abnormality
There is still no universal agreement about what is meant by abnormality or
disorder.
Abnormality refers to a deviation from what is considered typical, usual, or
expected. It is a term used to describe something that deviates from the norm or
standard, often indicating a departure from what is considered normal or healthy
within a particular context.In psychology and psychiatry, abnormality is often
associated with behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that significantly differ from the
average or normative patterns of behavior. These deviations may cause distress
to the individual or impair their functioning in various areas of life.
Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of problematic feelings, thoughts,
and behaviors associated with mental disorders. This area of science is designed
to evaluate, understand, predict, and prevent mental disorders and help those
who are in distress.
Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study,
understanding, and treatment of abnormal behavior, mental disorders, and
psychological dysfunction. It examines the causes, symptoms, and patterns of
abnormal behavior and seeks to provide explanations, interventions, and
therapies for individuals experiencing psychological distress or dysfunction.
,The phrases “normal” and “abnormal” are used to describe particular
behaviours, sets of behaviours, or patterns of behaviours, as well as thoughts
feelings and traits that may be biological or psychological. Normality and
abnormality are determined by individual perception and societal norms, as well
as by factors such as age, gender, situation, and context. Culture also has an
impact on how normalcy and abnormality are perceived. Even within a single
culture, the meanings of these two phrases change in accordance with shifting
societal standards.
What is Normality?
The term “normality” describes actions that are common or expected in a group
of people. It is the condition of falling within the range of what is normal or
expected. Being adaptable, practical, and socially acceptable are characteristics
of normal behaviour. It is behaviour that enables people to successfully interact
with their surroundings and meet their daily needs.
Criteria of Abnormality
1. Subjective distress:
➤ If people suffer or experience psychological pain we are inclined to consider
this as indicating abnormality. People with depression clearly report being
distressed, as do people with anxiety disorders.
Examples:
➤ But what of the patient who is manic and whose mood is one of elation? He or
she may not be experiencing any distress. In fact, many such patients dislike
taking medications because they do not want to lose their manic “highs.”
➤ You may have a test tomorrow and exceedingly worried. But we would hardly
label your subjective distress abnormal. Although subjective distress is an
element of abnormality in many cases, it is neither a sufficient condition (all that
is needed) nor even a necessary condition (a feature that all cases of
abnormality must show) for us to consider something as abnormal.
2. Maladaptiveness:
➤ Maladaptive behaviour is often an indicator of abnormality. The person with
anorexia may restrict her intake of food to the point where she becomes so
emaciated that she needs to be hospitalized.
➤ The person with depression may withdraw from friends and family and may be
unable to work for weeks or months. Maladaptive behaviour interferes with our
well-being and with our ability to enjoy our work and our relationships.
, Examples:
➤ But not all disorders involve maladaptive behaviour. Consider the con artist
and the contract killer. The first persuades people to part with their life savings;
the second to take someone’s life in return for payment. Is this behaviour
maladaptive? Not for them, because it is the way in which they make their
respective livings. We consider them abnormal, however, because their
behaviour is maladaptive for and toward society
3. Statistical deviancy:
➤ The word abnormal literally means “away from the normal.” Intellectual
disability which is statistically rare and represents a deviation from normal is
considered to reflect abnormality.
Examples:
➤ But simply considering statistically rare behavior to be abnormal does not
provide us with a solution to our problem of defining abnormality. Genius is
statistically rare, as is perfect poker. However, we do not consider people with
such uncommon talents to beabnormal in any way.
➤ Also, just because something is statistically common doesn’t make it normal.
The common cold is certainly very common, but it is regarded as an illness
nonetheless.
➤ This tells us that in defining abnormality we make value judgments. If
something is statistically rare and undesirable (as is severely diminished
intellectual functioning), we are more likely to consider it abnormal than
something that is statistically rare and highly desirable (such as genius) or
something that is undesirable but statistically common (such as rudeness).
4. Violation of the standards of society:
➤ A behaviour is most likely to be viewed as abnormal when it violates the
standards of society, whether it is statistically deviant or rare.
➤ When people fail to follow the conventional social and moral rules of their
cultural group, they are often considered behaviour abnormal. For example, early
teenagers getting tattoos in most cultures is seen as a sign of rebellion and
therefore abnormal. While in many tribal communities in N.E. India not getting a
tattoo is considered abnormal.
Examples:
➤ Much depends on the magnitude of the violation and on how commonly the
rule is violated by others.
➤ Most of us have parked illegally at some point. This failure to follow the rules is
