ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY

Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology



Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology

Examining Abnormal Psychology 

The abnormal psychology studies the abnormal psychological behavior for describing, predicting, explaining, and changing abnormal patterns of cognitive functioning. Abnormal psychology studies the nature of abnormal psychology and its causes (etiology). This knowledge is applied to treat patients with psychological disorders in clinical psychology (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

Psychopathological symptoms are signs that it is important to recognize, understand, decode, and make under the therapeutic use. It is not just about the morbidity in general. The abnormal psychology should lead us closer to the whole person and not just his abnormally experience and demonstrated behaviors. Anyone who has learned to observe and describe carefully and critically, will soon recognize that abnormal psychology is something constantly in motion, and nothing contrast between descriptive abnormal psychology and psychodynamics.

Origins of Abnormal Psychology

The psychology historians trace the advent of abnormal psychology from the prehistoric period. This practice evolved from the delineation of trephining. Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, expounded various behavioral problem, and he also formulated the reasons and cure for it. This discipline continued to practice without any scientific application in the Middle Ages too. During the Renaissance period, there were instances of people getting into hospitals for mental illness. People who suffered from these problems were treated inhumanly in the initial period, but this practiced was reformed in the 18th century.

Challenges in defining and classifying Normal and Abnormal Behavior

The term psychopath is a non-diagnostic label used to describe persons who possess characteristics at variance with general community standards and practices. He exhibits anomalous behavior. It is difficult for people to bifurcate a normal and abnormal behavior. People having abnormal behavior is widely viewed as aggressive, insensitive, charismatic, irresponsible, intelligent, dangerous, hedonistic, narcissistic, and antisocial. Psychopaths are perceived as exceptional manipulators who can feign emotions to carry out their personal agendas. Without remorse for the plight of their ...