Abnormal Psychology Essay

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To define abnormal psychology is to define three parts: there must be an observable manifestation of abnormality. You must be able to observe the “disturbance in an individual cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour.”(20) A clinical definition provided by the DSM-5. A disorder which is completely internalized with no observable component would not be considered abnormal. Secondly, this disturbance must be statistical different from what is regarded as societal norms. Smoking could be viewed as a disturbance that reflects a dysfunction. However, smoking is not regarded as abnormal because there are too many smokers, it is not a statistical infrequency. The last criteria to be met is that this disturbance must have a result or outcome and that result or outcome must be seen as harmful or negative to the individual or those observing. Before we can understand this theory however, we need to look into what is defined in clinical psychology as abnormal psychology, Davidson and Neal know how important abnormal psychology is to psychologists, so they …show more content…

Abnormal behaviour in itself is infrequent, that’s what makes it abnormal. Mental retardation is an example of statistical infrequency, they fall below on intelligence on a bell-curve line; differing from the norm. Violation of societal norms is similar, an action that threatens or makes those anxious to those observing. These two parts are the building blocks on abnormal psychology. You can have both of these, and still be considered to have normal behaviour; a cross dresser walking down the street in Regina is rare (statistical infrequency) and a violation of societal norms (small town Saskatchewan) but causes no harm to themselves or those around them. There is no reason to interject in this person’s life, they are not unhappy (unless internalizing a homosexual need), lead a conventional life and are often

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