3-5 minutes long
2 sources (Bible and something else)
Based on your understanding of a Christian worldview, how would you define psychopathology?
According to Abnormal Psychology, The science and treatment of psychological disorders 15th edition by
Kring and Johnson in 2021, psychopathology concerns the nature, development, and treatment of
psychological disorders. Based on my understanding of a Christian worldview, I would define
psychopathology as human imperfection that has the ability to be treated and fixed through Christ and
the Bible. 1(First) John 1:9 in the 2011 New International Version of the Holy Bible states, “If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
What does the Bible say about abnormality?
According to the Bible, abnormality can be defined through how God views thoughts, behaviors, and
emotions of those he has created. For example, in the 2011 New International Version of the Holy Bible,
Proverbs 6:16-19 states, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty
eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are
quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the
community.” Specifically, these behaviors can be considered abnormal and harmful, as they do not
please God and are therefore considered to be sinful. However, according to the Bible, abnormality has
the ability be changed and restored through Christ.
What is the secular view of abnormality?
When I personally think of the secular view of abnormality, the thing that first comes to mind is being
“different”. I think of my school age years when kids were bullied or picked on for simply being different
than others. According to Psychopathology from Science to Clinical Practice 2nd edition, by Castonguay,
Oltmanns, and Lott in 2021, The DSM5 defines abnormality through the term “mental disorder”, further
defining it on page 3 as “a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s
cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or
developmental processes underlying mental functioning”. Specifically, abnormality would mean that a
person’s experiences fit the description of one or more forms of a mental disorder in the DSM5.
References
Castonguay, L. G., Oltmanns, T. F., & Lott, A. P. (2021). Psychopathology, second edition: From
science to clinical practice (2nd ed.). Guilford Publications.
Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica
Kring, A. M., & Johnson, S. L. (2021). Abnormal psychology: The science and treatment of
psychological disorders (15th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
