Abnormal Psychology - 1605 Words

Abnormal Psychology Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It seeks to comprehend people by understanding mental functions and social behavior. It also explores neurobiological and physiological processes that can drive cognitive functions and behaviors. It is this drive to understand mental processes that pushes psychologists to want to learn about what is normal and abnormal behavior. People have tried for thousands of years to understand and define abnormal behavior. In the past 100 years it has undergone â€Å"tremendous change, progress, and controversy†(Hansell, J amp; Damour, L., 2009, p.3). Throughout the modifications certain principles have remained which are known as the core concepts. These core concepts are what define†¦show more content†¦Differences in culture, environment, and upbringing are just some of the factors that can determine what is normal to a person. Due to these differences there can’t be a universally accepted definition to describe abnorma l behavior. Instead there is a set of criteria that is used in defining abnormalities. It is made up by five characteristics that are condensed in the acronym HIDES. The first is help seeking, which implies that a person that seeks help has an abnormality. This is not always accurate as there are many people who â€Å"Seek psychotherapy for help with â€Å"normal† life stresses† (Hansell, J amp; Damour, L., 2009, p.10). The second is Irrationality, it associates mental illnesses with irrational or dangerous behavior. This is also very deceiving because most people with mental disorders are not irrational. The third letter stands for deviance, which refers to a behavior that differs from usual behaviors. A person might categorize a person that deviates as being weird or strange. Having a deviant behavior tends to have a negative connotation attached to it, but it can be positive. Albert Einstein was one who was different from the usual, â€Å"yet he was highly construc tive and creative†(Hansell, J amp; Damour, L., 2009, p.12). The fourth is emotional distress, which is when a person has feelings of â€Å"sadness or anxiety, it is associated with most forms of psychopathology, making it moreShow MoreRelated Abnormal Psychology2516 Words   |  11 PagesThe field of abnormal psychology engages with the obscure line between normal and abnormal behaviour. This blur is as a result of the dissonance that occurs when the two terms are defined for example, when cultural perspectives are taken into consideration-where behaviour (for example sake, experiencing hallucinations) considered deviant in one population is normalcy in another. In attempt to make the field comprehensive a middle ground was determined by drawing on the common elements or patternsRead MoreThe Psychology Of Abnormal Behavior2157 Words   |  9 PagesThe Psychology of Abnormal Behavior can be describe as has having a behavior that deviates form what is the expected and normal. If abnormal psychology is the study of unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and though, then Hollywood depiction of mental disorder in the movie Helen meets the criterion of the teaching of Dr. Conley’s Abnormal Psychology class. Goole Play synopsis of the 2008 Sandra Nettelbeck’s Helen. On the outside, Helen( Aheley Judd) has the perfect life a loving family, a beautifulRead MoreAbnormal Psychology967 Words   |  4 PagesAbnormal 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: theRead MoreAbnormal Psychology. Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior20707 Words   |  83 Pages3 CHAPTER Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior CHAPTER OUTLINE HOW ARE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS METHODS OF ASSESSMENT 80–99 CLASSIFIED? 70–77 The Clinical Interview The DSM and Models of Abnormal Behavior Computerized Interviews Psychological Tests STANDARDS OF ASSESSMENT 77–80 Neuropsychological Assessment Reliability Behavioral Assessment Validity Cognitive Assessment Physiological Measurement SOCIOCULTURAL AND ETHNIC FACTORS IN ASSESSMENT 99–100 SUMMING UP 100–101 TRead MoreQuestions on Abnormal Psychology4701 Words   |  19 Pagesand perceptual factors.   C.Medical, sociological, and psychological factors.   D.Cultural, medical, and gender factors. 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It is important to consider characteristics in defining abnormal such as whether the behavior is causingRead MorePathological Psychology : Abnormal Behavior948 Words   |  4 Pages According to the modern perspective of abnormal psychology, abnormal behavior exists when an individual is behaving dangerously and/or showing patterns of behavior that are dysfunctional. Nevertheless, determining insanity among sanity has proven to be much more complicated than it sou nds. An individual whose behavior strays from societal standards is not necessarily abnormally deviant or insane. John Hu simply exhibits behaviors that are different from that of typical European/French social normsRead MorePathological Psychology : Abnormal Psychology1204 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinition for behavior that is labeled abnormal. It is this way due to the fact that society in its entirety has to agree on normative behavior. Because society will never have the exact same views, opinions, beliefs, or culture, an unmistakable definition will not occur. A simplified definition of this behavior is unusual conduct that goes against what is classified as ordinary in society. The study of this sort of behavior is abnormal psychology. Abnormal psychology focuses on atypical sequences of conductRead MoreAbnormal Psychology Essay855 Words   |  4 PagesAbnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology in the area within psychology that is focused on maladaptive behavior-its causes, consequences, and treatment. Abnormal psychology deals with how it feels to be different, the meanings the get attached to being different, and how society deals with people whom it considers to be different. The spectrum of differences is wide, ranging from reality defying delusions and severe debilitations to worries and behavioral quirks that we would be better off notRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Abnormal Psychology1527 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to Cherry (2016), abnormal psychology is a branch within psychology that focuses on behaviour that is unusual and not deemed as normal within society. This branch of psychology is composed of a variety of disorders and their causes as well as possible management and/or treatment. With this in mind and within this assignment, I will discuss the causes of abnormal behaviour, discuss the causes and symptoms of mood disorder as well as discuss the background and importance of Sigmund Freud