This approach to abnormal psychology focuses on observable behaviors. In behavioral therapy, the focus is on reinforcing positive behaviors and not reinforcing maladaptive behaviors. The behavioral approach targets only the behavior itself, not the underlying causes. When dealing with abnormal behavior, a behavioral therapist might utilize strategies such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning to help eliminate unwanted behaviors and teach new behaviors.
This approach to abnormal psychology focuses on the biological causes of mental illness, emphasizing understanding the underlying cause of disorders, which might include genetic inheritance, related physical illnesses, infections, and chemical imbalances. Medical treatments are often pharmacological in nature, although medication is often used in conjunction with some type of psychotherapy. The cognitive approach to abnormal psychology focuses on how internal thoughts, perceptions, and reasoning contribute to psychological disorders.
Cognitive treatments typically focus on helping the individual change their thoughts or reactions. Cognitive therapy might also be used in conjunction with behavioral methods in a technique known as cognitive behavioral therapy CBT. The main topics in abnormal psychology are the study, understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders. Psychological disorders are defined as patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life.
These conditions create distress for the person experiencing symptoms. The manual contains a listing of psychiatric disorders, diagnostic codes, information on the prevalence of each disorder, and diagnostic criteria. Some of the categories of psychological disorders include:. The field of abnormal psychology is not without criticism. In addition to debates over the use of the term "abnormal" itself, some believe that this area has a number of shortcomings. One study found that teaching students about abnormal psychology did not reduce mental health stigma, improve attitudes toward mental illness, or increase help-seeking behaviors among students.
Abnormal psychology may focus on atypical behavior, but its focus is not to ensure that all people fit into a narrow definition of "normal. By better understanding what is "abnormal," researchers and therapists can come up with new ways to help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Ever wonder what your personality type means?
Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. National Institute of Mental Health. Mental illness. Updated January Bargh JA, Morsella E. The Unconscious Mind. Perspect Psychol Sci. DOI: Walinga J. Behaviourist psychology. This presents many difficulties, because it would be impossible to agree on a single set of morals for the purposes of diagnosis.
One criterion commonly referenced is maladaptivity. If a person is behaving in ways counter-productive to their own well-being, it is considered maladaptive. Although more tenable than the above criteria, it does have some shortcomings.
For example, moral behavior including dissent and abstinence may be considered maladaptive to some. Another criterion that has been suggested is that abnormal behavior violates the standards of society. When people do not follow the conventional social and moral rules of their society, the behavior is considered abnormal.
However, the magnitude of the violation and how commonly it is violated by others must be taken into consideration. Another element of abnormality is that abnormal behavior will cause social discomfort to those who witness such behavior.
The standard criteria in psychology and psychiatry is that of mental illness or mental disorder. Determination of abnormality is based upon medical diagnosis. Culture — the totality of socially transmitted behaviors, customs, values, technology, attitudes, beliefs, art, and other products that are particular to a group Dangerousness — when behavior represents a threat to the safety of the person or others Deviance — a move away from what is normal, or the mean or behavior that occurs infrequently sort of an outlier in our data.
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Describe the stigma of psychological disorders and their impact on those who suffer from them. Psychology in Everyday Life: Combating the Stigma of Abnormal Behaviour Every culture and society has its own views on what constitutes abnormal behaviour and what causes it Brothwell, Trepanation drilling holes in the skull has been used since prehistoric times in attempts to cure epilepsy, schizophrenia, and other psychological disorders.
Key Takeaways More psychologists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorder than in any other endeavour, and those tasks are probably the most important psychologists face.
The impact on people with a psychological disorder comes both from the disease itself and from the stigma associated with disorder.
According to the bio-psycho-social model, psychological disorders have biological, psychological, and social causes.
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