Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology

The study of abnormal behavior has been a topic of debate and profound interest for nearly 100 years. Abnormal psychology outlines the differences between what is considered normal or abnormal behavior among people of all ages and walks of life. Throughout the evolution of abnormal psychology, areas of focus within the discipline have been broken down into six core concepts, which provide for more accurate definition(s) of what is considered to be normal and abnormal behavior in individuals. To fully understand the scope and significance of contemporary abnormal psychology, it is important to understand that psychopathology and its origins has evolved into a scientific discipline and are met with constant challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior. The following will discuss the origins of abnormal psychology, how the field has evolved into a scientific discipline in addition to a brief analysis of the psychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theoretical models, which directly relate to the development of abnormal psychology.

Origins of Abnormal Psychology

The science of abnormal psychology is still considered to be relatively young and having only existed for approximately 100 years. However, the presence of psychopathologies among people worldwide has been recorded throughout history. Before more detailed explanations of abnormal behavior were known, many primitive cultures viewed symptoms of what would today be schizophrenic or depressive in nature, associated with demon possession. Most early or primitive cultures were spiritually driven, and archeologists have documented evidence of a treatment known as Trephination among the Egyptian culture going back as early as 3000 BCE. Trephination was a particularly brutal practice, which consisted of boring holes into an afflicted individual's skull in an attempt to release possessive and evil spirits (Hansell & Damour, 2008). This archaic treatment was deemed both a reasonable and logical approach to treating the debilitating condition of demon possession.

Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, abnormal behavior was often viewed as demon possession, or the work of Satan. This was mainly attributed to the strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Accusations of witchcraft evolved as popular theory to explain abnormal behavior (primarily in women), and as a result more than 100,000 people were slain, and 80-85% of those murdered were women. Unfortunately, according to historic relativism, these gruesome acts were normal reactions to otherwise debilitating mental afflictions.

Evolution Of Abnormal Psychology Into A Scientific Discipline

Classical Greek and Roman views of abnormal behavior made a profound connection between the human body and mind. Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), considered to be the father of medicine, made interesting links between behavior in relation to the human body. Hippocrates was the first to identify the following psychological symptoms; hallucinations, delusions, hysteria, melancholia (depression), and mania. In 1994, Maher and Maher argued that the doctrine of the four humors, which is associated with Hippocrates and Galen, contributed to one of the earliest typologies of human behavior. Hippocrates believed that the four elements that made up the world (earth, air, fire, and water), combined to form four essential ...