ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY

Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology

Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology

The subject of abnormal psychology addresses how abnormal behavior is defined, classified, explained, and treated. The subject of abnormal psychology is about 100 years old. Throughout its history, decisions about how to define, explain, classify, and treat abnormal behavior have revolved around certain perceptions. The subject of abnormal psychology is about 100 years old. Throughout its history, decisions about how to explain, classify, treat and define abnormal behavior have revolved around certain perceptions. This paper discusses the historical perspectives of Abnormal Psychology.

The modern history of abnormal psychology began with Sigmund Josef and Freud Breuer's work with “conversion disorder”, then known as hysteria. In his treatment of Anna O., Breuer discovered that each of her physical complaints, such as her coughing spells, was rooted in an emotional conflict. (Barlow, 2004)

The modern history of abnormal psychology began with the research on “conversion disorder”, then called hysteria. In the 1890s Sigmund Josef and Freud Breuer were struggling to understand clients who would today be diagnosed with “conversion disorder”.

We discuss six core perceptions that continue to shape the subject of abnormal psychology:

Body and mind connection

Historical and cultural relativism in classifying and defining abnormality

Limitations and advantages of diagnosis

Multiple causality principle

Range between abnormal and normal behavior

Significance of context in understanding and defining abnormality

The six core perceptions remind us that while abnormal psychology involves the research of syndromes and diagnoses, the subject is ultimately about people and ideas.

Freud and Breuer coined the term hysterical conversion to describe the conversion of uncomfortable emotions into physical indications. Later, Freud postulated that conversion indications typically arose from emotional conflicts over sexual feelings, wishes, or impulses. Modern psychodynamic theorists emphasize that conversion indications can result from the repression of any feeling that a person considers “forbidden” or intolerable, whether it ...