During the semester I have learned various types of psychological perspectives and diverse treatment plans; and by taking this class I have been given the tools, and skills to think critically about mental disorders. The course of abnormal psychology is a branch that deals with the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior patterns.
The course of abnormal psychology is a branch that deals with the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior patterns. Don't use plagiarized sources. Get your custom essay on
Abnormal psychology may focus on atypical behavior, but its focus is not to ensure that all people fit into a narrow definition of "normal.". In most cases, it is centered on identifying and treating problems that may be causing distress or impairment in some aspect of an individual's life.
As you study psychology you will learn more about topics such as the scientific method, decision-making, and problem-solving, all of which might help you hone your ability to think deeply and critically about different issues. What Is Problem Solving?
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.
Here are five reasons why every college student should take a psychology course sometime during his or her college career.Psychology helps you understand people. ... Psychology appeals to many interests. ... Psychology gives you practical skills. ... Psychology could be the major for you. ... Psychology helps you understand yourself.
Abnormal Psychology Disorders include anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, delusional disorders, substance use disorders, dissociative disorders, and impulse control disorders.
There are many ways psychologists define "abnormal psychology." But, at its root, the term refers to the study of behaviors and mental illnesses that are unusual and atypical — out of the societal norm.
The following are some practical uses for psychology in everyday life.Motivation. Caiaimage/Sam Edwards / OJO+ / Getty Images. ... Leadership. Morsa Images / Getty Images. ... Communication. Westend61 / Getty Images. ... Emotional Intelligence. Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images. ... Decision-Making. ... Memory. ... Money Management. ... Academic Success.More items...•
Essentially, psychology helps people in large part because it can explain why people act the way they do. With this kind of professional insight, a psychologist can help people improve their decision making, stress management and behavior based on understanding past behavior to better predict future behavior.
They may experience shame, reduced self-esteem, hopelessness, low self-efficacy, and a reduction in coping mechanisms. An obvious consequence of these potential outcomes is the why try effect, or the person saying 'Why should I try and get that job?
Behavior is considered to be abnormal when it is atypical or out of the ordinary, consists of undesirable behavior, and results in impairment in the individual's functioning. Abnormality in behavior, is that in which is considered deviant from specific societal, cultural and ethical expectations.
Abnormal behavior may be defined as behavior that is disturbing (socially unacceptable), distressing, maladaptive (or self‐defeating), and often the result of distorted thoughts (cognitions).
By the time of the Greeks and Romans, mental illnesses were thought to be caused by an imbalance of the four humors, leading to draining of fluids from the brain. During the Medieval period, many Europeans believed that the power of witches, demons, and spirits caused abnormal behaviors.
The perspective used in explaining a psychological disorder is extremely important, in that it will consist of explicit assumptions regarding how best to study the disorder, its etiology, and what kinds of therapies or treatments are most beneficial.
Which statement is the MOST accurate conclusion about the current state of abnormal psychology in the United States? There is no single definition of abnormality, no single theoretical understanding of the causes of mental illness, and no single best treatment.
This course presents an overview of the major domains of abnormal psychology. The course is made up of 5 modules, the first of which provides an introduction to the field through discussions of the concept of psychological abnormality, assessment and classification, and the major models in use for understanding psychological abnormality.
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This specialization provides an introduction to the study of abnormal psychology, with a survey of various mental health concerns through both a modern and historical lens. It concludes with an opportunity to practice effecting behavioral change in your own life through an overview of scientifically-supported treatment strategies.
Criticism. Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with psychopathology and abnormal behavior, often in a clinical context. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to personality disorders. Counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists often work directly in this ...
Cognitive Approach. 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.
2 The psychoanalytic approach suggests that many abnormal behaviors stem from unconscious thoughts, desires, and memories. While these feelings are outside of awareness, they are still believed to influence conscious actions.
Medical Approach. 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.
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.
If behavior is creating problems in a person's life or is disruptive to other people , then this would be an "abnormal" behavior.
Some of the categories of psychological disorders include: Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
An abnormal psychology instructor should not be afraid to deviate from the scheduled plan if a major news story breaks that involves psychopathology.
One of the biggest fears of a new graduate instructor is that they will be perceived as unknowledgeable. However, students are almost always willing to provide the instructor the benefit of the doubt. After all, the instructor has progressed to this point for a reason.
Regardless of degrees obtained, level of experience, and number of clients assessed, no abnormal psychology instructor can be an expert in every disorder. This is especially true for the graduate student instructor, who likely has limited experience in terms of types of clients seen and diversity of clinical experiences.
Psychology classes help you learn the scientific method, how to evaluate sources of information, and how to think critically about the information you encounter on a daily basis. These classes can help you hone these skills, which prove useful in a variety of careers and different areas of life.
In an introductory class, you will learn about a range of topics including: 3. Cognitive psychology. History of psychology.
If you are majoring in a subject that will lead you to a career that involves working directly with lots of different people, such as teaching or nursing, understanding more about how people think and behave will be extremely helpful in your career. Even if you don't plan to work with people, psychology is still beneficial in helping you understand ...
Emily Swaim. on April 22, 2020. PeopleImages/Getty Images. Even though you're not a psychology major, you can definitely benefit from learning more about the human mind and behavior by taking a psychology course.
Psychology is all around you and touches on every aspect of your life! Who you are now, how you will be in the future, how you interact with family, friends, and strangers; these are all things that psychology can help you better understand.
Understanding how people change and grow throughout the lifespan can make it easier to understand the children in your life, as well as your aging parents. It can also shine a light on your own experiences as you encounter different challenges and opportunities as you age.
Sure, there are plenty of exciting careers in psychology that you might want to explore, but studying the subject can help you in many other professions as well. 2 For example, if you want to become a business manager, understanding human behavior can improve your ability to manage and interact with your employees.