abnormal psychology/depression

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ABNORMAL PSYCHOLGY        PSY 04 MAXINE JACKSON

ABNORMAL

PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 03

WORD COUNT

1,730

MAXINE JACKSON

APRIL 2008

      What is abnormal or normal? Abnormal literally means ‘away from the normal’. Although it does not state what normal is.

What is meant by normal differs over time and across cultures; it depends, to a certain extent on circumstances.

Is something normal because the majority are doing it? During the Second World War thousands of innocent people were murdered in the name of Adolf Hitler. The Nazi’s became the majority; however this does not make their behaviour normal.

One way to decide what behaviour is normal is to consider how usual it is. In that case then, behaviour that is less common is abnormal.

Society has standards to which they expect people to conform, this reflects on how people behave. These standards are classed as normal. Anyone who violates society standards is then abnormal. All societies are different and they expect different behaviour, because of this it is impossible to give a universal meaning of the word abnormal.

It is difficult to class a person as abnormal or indeed normal, because of the differences in people to begin with.

“A statistical norm is to do with a way of being, a quality or representation that is expressed or understood by many individuals. In other words, it is called average. High intelligence is as abnormal as low intelligence.”

J Cullberg (2006:09)

Not all abnormal behaviours are undesirable, for example if a person is abnormally intelligent this is seen as desirable.

Failure to function adequately could be classed as abnormal behaviour. Normal behaviour such as brushing teeth and getting dressed are judged as what a ‘healthy’ person is capable of doing. Abnormal behaviour in this case is when a person is unable to function properly. If abnormal behaviour interferes with adequate functioning then that person is considered abnormal. This however, does have limitations such as, what is classed as adequate. Everyone’s views are different. What one person might see as acceptable another may class as unacceptable. But which could be classed as normal or abnormal?

Abnormality may be seen as a deviation from an ideal mental health. Ideal mental health would there for be seen as having a positive mental attitude towards the self. An accurate perception of reality and resistance to stress.

The psychodynamic approach to abnormality is explained by Freud in the systems of the mind, the id, ego and superego. According to Freud abnormal behaviour is a product of the unconscious. The mind causes conflicts between the id, ego and superego yet these conflicts are outside our awareness. Unresolved conflicts and or early experiences cause mental abnormality. In the approach of the psychodynamic model of abnormality healthy psychological functioning would mean serious psychological conflict would be absent. No trauma in terms of psychosexual development and ego structure would be in balance.

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The biological approach to abnormality argues that abnormality is a product of malfunction or genetics. It suggests that abnormal behaviour is inherited and certain genes lead to abnormal biochemistry and or abnormal neuroanatomy.

Behavioural approach to abnormality suggests that abnormal behaviours are learned through conditioning. Behaviour whether it be normal or abnormal is learned and it can also be unlearned.

What causes abnormality? Genetics, learned behaviour or unresolved conflicts? Do all of them contribute to a person becoming abnormal?

There are several types of depression, unipolar also known as major depression, biopolar also known as manic depression, seasonal affected syndrome ...

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