Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology - 1320 Words

Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Susan Hardin University of Phoenix Abnormal Psychology PSY/410 Krisit Lane, Ph.D. October 25, 2011 Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Historical perspectives of abnormal psychology sounds complicated, mainly due to the differing definitions, or interpretations, of what is considered abnormal. Identifying someone at work or in a social situation who appears to be behaving abnormally is easier to spot than it is to define the term abnormal behavior. No matter what the definition of abnormal the different perspectives each present a theory concerning its cause. This paper will provide a brief overview of the different perspectives and the theories presented by each.†¦show more content†¦Basically Erikson theorized that individuals pass through eight stages of development. Each stage of development involves two opposing powers, or contrary dispositions; Erikson named these opposing powers syntonic and dystonic. An individual, Erikson theorized, must successfully pass from one stage of development to the next in order to maintain a healthy balance. As an example, t he first stage of development lists the syntonic as trust vs. the dystonic of mistrust. An individual who does not successfully pass through stage on may develop a mistrust that lasts a lifetime. The unsuccessful mastery of any of the eight stages of development could cause an individual to develop abnormally, thereby demonstrating what society terms abnormal behavior. Biological/Medical The biological/medical perspective refers to a malfunction in the brain that is the primary cause for abnormal behavior. This malfunctioning of the brain could be due to the physical structure of the brain itself or abnormal biochemical functioning (Hansell Damour, 2008). The brain abnormalities could be either genetic or environmental. â€Å"†¦the biological perspective focuses on physical structures and biochemical functions in the body that contribute to abnormal behavior† (Hansell Damour, 2008, p. 36). As technology continues to advance the ability of researchers to understand the biologicalShow MoreRelatedHistorical Perspective of Abnormal Psychology1014 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Running head: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Historical Perspective of Abnormal Psychology [Students Name] [Name and Section no of Course] [Instructors Name] [Date] Introduction Abnormal psychology can be defined as the study of mental disorders. It includes the topics and problems that are very common in our daily lives. TV, newspapers, magazines and websites, frequently expose the cases of celebrities and famous personalities that suffer from drinking, eating or some other kind of mental disorderRead MoreHistorical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology1163 Words   |  5 PagesHistorical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal Psychology PSY 410 January 30, 2012 Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology For many years, various forms of madness have been noted in every culture. Multitudes of theories, as well as some myths, have been developed to explain such conditions. Society’s opinion on what was considered abnormal was based on such phenomenon as paranormal forces, the anger of the gods, the influence of the moon, unstable personality, hereditaryRead MoreAbnormal Psychology967 Words   |  4 PagesAbnormal Psychology Roshaun Hatchett PSY/410 April 25, 2012 Dr. Christopher Daub Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology has been in existence for more than a century. 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Notably, the identification of a better model or perspective that explains psychopathology better than other models continue to elicit varied debates. The prevalence of psychopathology and abnormal behavior is explained by the psychodynamicRead MoreAccording To Erchul Martens (2012), The Earliest Consultation1202 Words   |  5 Pagesand his team traveled to the clinics and met with the individuals and their caretaker, which later became known as â€Å"consultees.† During these meetings, supportive, collegial discussion with the caretaker helped these caretakers to have different perspective that lead to how they effectively dealt with their consultees’ problem behaviors. 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