Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Kristy Matthews

Psy 410

Instructor Dr. Kristi Lane

Abnormal Psychology

Psychopathology and what society considers abnormal behavior are categorized under a branch of psychology that was created called Abnormal Psychology. This branch includes a wide variety of subjects such as, disorders which includes everything from depression to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and disorders of sexual deviations. There are also a number of jobs created within this field of psychology. Patients are often treated directly by therapists, specially trained and certified counselors, and even clinical psychologists.

Abnormal Psychology Explained

In order to comprehend abnormal psychology, you must first be able to define what is implied by the term “abnormal” (Cherry, 2013). It is obvious that the given definition of abnormal is anything considered odd or unique outside of what is considered usual or normal behavior in the eyes of society. However, the real question is are we taking what is considered normal for each individual group, gender, or age into consideration (Cherry, 2013). If you take each different group, gender, and age range into consideration, then the door for what is considered normal becomes open much wider. If you look at what becomes a bell-shaped curve, then the majority of people fall in the category on the highest point of the curve, making them what is considered average (Cherry, 2013). Those who fall into the extreme ends of the curve are those considered to be odd, unique, or simply “abnormal” (Cherry, 2013).

As a side note, it is important to realize that falling into the category of normal or abnormal does not necessarily distinguish between a person’s good or bad traits. Normal and abnormal are not another way to decide whether something is bad or good, wrong or right (Cherry, 2013). For example, if you consider a person with above average intelligence for instance, they are above what is considered the average, which...