The study of abnormal psychology is known as psychopathology, which refers to the problematic patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that disrupt an individual’s sense of well-being of social or occupational functioning (Kowalski and Westen, 2011). There is a fine line between normal and abnormal behavior, and there are many ways we can distinguish between the two. Normal behavior is someone who conforms and accepts the society’s norms, an individual who is living free without any mental disorders. Abnormal behavior deals with those individuals who have some sort of mental disorders. What we think is to be normal may be abnormal to others. When psychologists or any medical professionals are trying to describe abnormal behavior they may rely on the 4 D’s of behavior; deviant, dysfunctional, danger and discomfort. In the next few paragraphs we will look in depth at how each of these determine abnormal behavior. Deviant behavior that is contrary to the norms of society. There are many different theories in which causes am individual to perform deviant behavior, including biological, psychological, and sociological explanations (Crossman, 2015). An example of deviant behavior would be a murderous act, in which the murderer has a form of deviant behavior and is violating the norms of society seeing that murder is against the law. Psychologists are interested in the thought processes behind normal and deviant behavior, ranging from depression, which causes people to act out, to the study of early childhood, which explains how people learn their behavioral boundaries (McMahon, 2015). Next, we look at dysfunctional behavior which is defined as not following the normal patterns of social behavior thus being able to function in a normal way. Dysfunctional individuals may not be able to manage daily functions in life such as the basic need of taking care of themselves or even functioning in society. The next form of abnormal behavior is danger. Danger usually results in an individual’s posing a threat to themselves and those around them whether it being careless or hostile environment. The majority of those who experience abnormal “dangerous” behavior are those who are dealing with anxiety or maybe even forms of depression. Another form of abnormal behavior is discomfort. According to many clinical theories, behavior, ideas, or emotions usually have to cause some sort of distress before one can label the behavior abnormal (Comer, 2010). There are some similarities and differences between normal and abnormal psychology. The differences are in normal psychology individuals are in perfect health whether it’s physical or mental. They also form to the social norms and the overall general expectations. Abnormal psychology is the individuals state of mind is altered whether it be threw a mental illness or them not conforming to what society thinks and deems acceptable. The abnormal individual could have a maladaptive and dysfunctional disease such as those listed above referring to the four “D’s”. We will then look at how abnormal psychology plays a part in personality disorders.
There are many different variations in Psychological therapy (treatment), ranging far over 350 therapies. In the next few paragraphs we will uncover the most popular schools of thought listed in table 15.1 of the textbook. Psychodynamic attempts to change personality patterns through insight (using free association and interpretation) and the therapist-patient relationship. Within the psychodynamic there is psychoanalysis which is known as an intensive therapy, in which the individual attends therapy sessions three to five times a week. The session consists of the patient lying on a couch and talking about whatever comes to their mind, using the free association technique. The second psychodynamic therapy is psychotherapy, which is a semi-intense therapy session ranging from one to three times a week. Where the patient discusses certain issues that come to mind while sitting face to face in a chair with their therapist. In this session the patient and therapist are more goal directed being as they are on a time crunch. In the next section we see Cognitive-behavioral therapy in which this therapy attempts to change problematic behaviors and cognitive processes. There are 6 different therapies starting with systematic desensitization which is a form of classical conditioning where the therapist induces relaxation and encourages their patient to approach a phobic stimulus in their imagination. This technique is most widely used in cognitive approaches. Cognitive-behavioral is used to treat conditions such as anxiety, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders. Exposure technique is exposes the patient to their feared object in real life, either all at once or gradually. Operant techniques is more of a therapeutic approach where the therapist induces change by altering patterns of reinforcement and punishment. The therapist uses flooding and graded exposure to help their patients overcome their fears. Participatory modeling is a cognitive-social technique in which the therapist models behavior and encourages the patient to partake in it. Normally if the patient has a fear of cats, the therapist will hold the cat and show their patient that the cat means no harm. He will then coax his patient into doing the same. Skills training is another form of cognitive-behavioral therapy where the therapist teaches behaviors necessary to accomplish goals, as in social skills or assertiveness training. The next section of therapies is Humanistic which attempts to restore a sense of genuiness and attunement with inner feelings. Under this therapy is 2 techniques is the Gestalt therapy focuses on the here-and-now and brings out disavowed feelings. Client-centered therapy comes next where the therapist uses empathy and unconditioned positive regard to help patients experience themselves as they really are. Family and martial attempts to change problems within the family unit and inside a couple’s marriage. Problems ranging from communication, boundaries and alliances. Group therapies is usually where more than 5 people meet in a room with a therapist to work towards therapeutic goals. The last therapy listed is Biological where the therapist attempts to change problematic brain physiology and responsible for physiological symptoms. Theses 15 different therapies models are all used in many different forms of therapy.
References
Crossman, Ashley. (2015). Psychological explanations of deviant behavior. Retrieved from sociology.about.com/od/deviance/a/psychological-explanations-of-deviant-behavior.htm
Comer, R.J. (2005). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (4th ed.) New York.
McMahon, M. (2015). What is deviant behavior? Retrieved from www.wisegeek.org/what-is-deviant-behavior.htm.
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