Abnormal Psychology

What Is Abnormal Psychology?

By Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide

See More About:

• abnormal psychology
• psychotherapy
• psychological disorders

Abnormal psychology is focused on the identification, treatment and understanding of abnormal behavior and psychopathology.

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Question: What Is Abnormal Psychology?

Answer: Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with psychopathology and abnormal behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsession-compulsion to sexual deviation and many more. Counselors, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists often work directly in this field.

Understanding Abnormal Psychology

In order to understand abnormal psychology, it is essential to first understand what we mean by the term "abnormal"? On the surface, the meaning seems obvious: something that is outside of the norm. But are we talking about the norms of a particular group, gender or age? Many human behaviors can follow what is known as the normal curve. Looking at this bell-shaped curve, the majority of individuals are clustered around the highest point of the curve, which is known as the average. People who fall very far at either end of the normal curve might be considered "abnormal."
It is important to note that the distinctions of normal and abnormal are not synonymous with good or bad. Consider a characteristic such as intelligence. A person who falls at the very upper end of the curve would fit under our definition of abnormal; this person would also be considered a genius. Obviously, this is an instance where falling outside of the norms is actually a good thing.
When you think about abnormal psychology, rather than focus on the distinction between what is normal and what is abnormal, focus instead on the level of distress or disruption that a troubling behavior might cause. If a behavior is causing problems in a person's life or is disruptive to other people, then this would be an "abnormal" behavior that may require some type of mental health intervention.

Perspectives in Abnormal Psychology

There are a number of different perspectives used in abnormal psychology. While some psychologists or psychiatrists may focus on a single perspectives, many mental health professionals us elements from multiple areas in order to better understand and treat psychological disorders.

• Behavioral: The behavioral approach to abnormal psychology focuses on observable behaviors. In behavioral therapy, the focus is on reinforcing positive behaviors and not reinforcing maladaptive behaviors. This approach targets only the behavior itself, not the underlying causes.
• Medical: The medical approach to abnormal psychology focuses on the biological causes on mental illness. The perspective emphasizes understanding the underlying cause of disorders, which might include genetic inheritance, related physical disorders, infections and chemical imbalances. Medical treatments are often pharmacological in nature, although medication is often used in conjunction with some other type of psychotherapy.
• Cognitive: 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 his or her thoughts or reactions, or cognitive therapy might be used in conjunction with behavioral methods in a technique known as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Types of Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders are defined as patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These mental disorders create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. How are these disorders categorized and defined? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals for a variety of purposes. The manual contains a listing of psychiatric disorders, diagnostic codes, information on the prevalence of each disorder and diagnostic criteria.
Categories of psychological disorders include:

• Adjustment Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Developmental Disorders
• Cognitive Disorders

Learn more about the different psychological disorders that are studied and treated within the field of abnormal psychology in this list of psychological disorders.

The Psychic Powers

Every person displays or experiences some psychic power every now and then, though most often these experiences are dismissed as pure coincidence. You certainly have had some premonitions about something that was going to happen, dreams that came true, or you felt and knew what someone was thinking of you. These experiences often came spontaneously, suddenly, and without any prior preparations.

Some people are more naturally psychic from others, and psychic experiences are a more common occurrence with them. Sometimes they just accept the fact that they are a bit different from others in their perceptions, having as if a sixth sense, while others pursue the subject more deeply, reading, learning and searching for guidance. They try to develop these powers and bring them under their control.
Psychic powers can be developed through special training, even by people who are not naturally psychic. These are fascinating powers, which allow a trained person to peek beyond the material plane, and know things that remain hidden to other people.
There are several risks in using and developing psychic powers, which one has to take into account when developing them:
1. The knowledge gained can be used for selfish purposes.
2. The psychic could be wrong in interpretation of the experience, and might unintentionally mislead, misguide or cause harm to other people.
3. Some of the psychic powers requires one to be mentally passive, so as to be able to tune in to other minds, thus letting in some external powers, which might have a negative influence.
4. One who is not well-balanced and lacks self control and discipline, might find it difficult to stop the psychic impressions and lead a practical normal life.
5. Pursuing psychic training might deter one from the path of self improvement and spiritual growth, leading him or her to constant seeking of these perceptions and leading away from inner calmness and peace of mind.
If one desires to develop psychic powers, it would be wiser first to develop some concentration ability, control over the mind, willpower, self discipline and mental and emotional detachment. This would ensure that one be able to open and close at will the mental doors, and so avoid being influenced by what he/she perceives. This will also reduce the danger that one might misuse the powers or get his/her ego inflated by them.

The Psychic Powers

There are different kinds of psychic powers or gifts, as they are often called. Another term used is ESP - extra-sensory perception.
Here is a list of some of the psychic powers:
Clairvoyance (clear vision) - Seeing far away scenes and places or hidden things, without using the physical eyes. Clairvoyance enables one to perceive scenes and mental images with the mind's eye.
Clairaudience (clear hearing) - Perceiving sounds or words from a distant or from other realms. Clairaudience enables one to hear words and sounds not perceived by the physical ears. Clairempathy (clear emotion) - Sensing the attitude or emotions of another person.
Psychometry - Perceiving information about a person, place or an object, by holding in one's hands an object belonging to the person or place. In Psychometry one usually holds some small personal object such as a watch, ring, key or other personal object.
Psychokinesis - The ability to move objects through the powers of the mind.
Intuition - Perceiving an idea, knowledge or information directly. This is what is commonly called "a gut feeling". Intuition is some kind of inner knowledge and certainty about something.
Telepathy - Reading other people thoughts and sending them your thoughts.
Mental influence - An advanced kind of telepathy that allows one to influence the minds of other people.
Psychic healing - The ability to cure pains or illnesses by transferring some kind of healing energy.
Auric sight - The ability to see or sense the colors of the aura, and thereby understand certain things about the moods, emotions, thoughts or health of other people.

The Power of Imagination

Imagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived through the senses. It is the ability of the mind to build mental scenes, objects or events that do not exist, are not present or have happened in the past. Memory is actually a manifestation of imagination. Everyone possesses some imagination ability. In some it may be highly developed and in others it may manifest in a weaker form. It manifests in various degrees in various people.

Imagination makes it possible to experience a whole world inside the mind. It gives the ability to look at any situation from a different point of view, and enables one to mentally explore the past and the future.
It manifests in various forms, one of which is daydreaming. Though too much idle daydreaming may make one impractical, some daydreaming, when not being engaged in something that requires attention provides some temporary happiness, calmness and relief from stress.
In your imagination you can travel anywhere in the speed of light without any obstacles. It can make you feel free, though temporarily, and only in the mind, from tasks, difficulties and unpleasant circumstances.
Imagination is not limited only to seeing pictures in the mind. It includes all the five senses and the feelings. One can imagine a sound, taste, smell, a physical sensation or a feeling or emotion. For some people it is easier to see mental pictures, others find it easier to imagine a feeling, and some are more comfortable imagining the sensation of one of the five senses. Training of the imagination gives the ability to combine all the senses.
A developed and strong imagination does not make you a daydreamer and impractical. On the contrary, it strengthens your creative abilities, and is a great tool for recreating and remodeling your world and life.
This is a great power that can change your whole life. It is used extensively in magick, creative visualization and affirmations. It is the creator of circumstances and events. When you know how to work with it, you can make your hearts' desires come true.
Imagination has a great role and value in each one's life. It is much more than just idle daydreaming. We all use it, whether consciously or unconsciously, in most of our daily affairs. We use our imagination whenever we plan a party, a trip, our work or a meeting. We use it when we describe an event, explain how to arrive to a certain street, write, tell a story or cook a cake.
Imagination is a creative power that is necessary for inventing an instrument, designing a dress or a building, painting a picture or writing a book. The creative power of imagination has an important role in the achievement of success in any field. What we imagine with faith and feelings comes into being. It is the power beyond creative visualization, positive thinking and affirmations.
Visualizing an object or a situation, and repeating often this mental image, attracts the object or situation into our lives. This opens for us new, vast and fascinating opportunities.
This means that we should think only in a positive manner about our desires, otherwise we may create and attract into our lives events, situations and people that we don't really want. This is actually what most of us do, because we don't use the power of imagination correctly.
If you do not recognize the importance of the power of the imagination, and let it run riot, your life may not be as happy and successful as you would have wanted it to be.
Lack of understanding of the power of the imagination is responsible for the suffering, incompetence, difficulties, failures and unhappiness people experience. For some reason, most people are inclined to think in a negative way. They do not expect success. They expect the worst, and when they fail, they believe that fate is against them. This attitude can be changed, and then life will improve accordingly.
Understanding how to use your imagination correctly, and putting this knowledge into practice, for your own and others' benefit, will put you on the golden path to success, satisfaction and happiness.

Mental health

If you are experiencing difficulties with mental health issues abroad, your nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate may be able to offer assistance.

We can:

• listen to you and help you look at your options
• help you contact friends and family members if you want to
• visit you in hospital or prison in line with our usual procedures
• raise any concerns about your treatment or welfare with the responsible authority (such as a prison or hospital)
• help overseas medical staff contact medical staff in the UK who may be able to provide advice on your medical history
• give information about local medication suppliers
• be available, as appropriate, to offer you assistance if you choose to remain overseas
• liaise with your travel rep or travel insurance company, if you want us to

Health for Travellers.

Travelling to different climates and environments abroad can expose you to disease and health risks. You should be aware of the dangers and how to stay healthy. Diseases which aren’t present in the UK such as yellow fever, malaria, rabies and dengue fever are common in some areas of the world.

Vaccinations and immunisations

Visit your GP as soon as possible to check if you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures (such as malaria tablets).
Remember, these treatments aren’t usually available as NHS prescriptions.

General travel health tips

You should also make extra preparations if you have an existing medical condition.

• take out adequate travel insurance or you could face a huge medical bill if you fall ill and need treatment
• get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to entitle you to free or discounted healthcare in European countries
• check the health section of our country travel advice before you travel
• drink plenty of water in hot climates to avoid dehydration
• be safe in the sun - use a high-factor sunscreen and avoid excessive sunbathing between 11am - 3pm
• find out the local emergency services numbers and the number of the local hospital
• practice safe sex - take condoms with you as quality varies in different countries. HIV and Aids, and other sexually transmitted diseases can be caught worldwide.

Long-distance journeys

• don’t wear tight clothing on long-distance journeys
• do regular stretching exercises such as flexing and extending your ankles to avoid circulation problems
• walk round at regular intervals on long flights
• drink plenty of water on flights and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Consult your doctor before long-distance travel if you:

• are pregnant or have given birth in the last 6 months
• have a history of blood disorders, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
• are taking hormonal medication (including the contraceptive pill)
• have cancer, heart problems or have recently had surgery.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition

• tell your travel insurer about your condition
• ask your doctor how the trip might affect you
• check local conditions such as climate and pollution levels and consider how you might be affected
• carry a doctor’s letter and a copy of any prescriptions
• ensure your medication is legal in the country you are visiting – the British Embassy can advise you
• learn key words and phrases in the local language for your condition, medication and emergency help
• take the same precautions you normally would in the UK if you weren’t going to be at home for a while
• if you suffer from a mental illness you should be aware that facilities and local attitudes to mental health problems may differ from those in the UK. Do some research before you go.

HIV and AIDs

Advice on how to protect yourself against HIV and AIDs when travelling abroad, and links to further information.

Malaria

Advice on what precautions to take against malaria when visiting tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.

Avian & Pandemic Influenza

Advice and information on avian / bird flu including what to do in the event of a pandemic.

Swine flu

Advice on Swine flu (H1N1) including advice for before, during and after your travel, as well as signposting to more information on the virus

Mental health

This page has information about how we can assist you if you are experiencing difficulties abroad with mental health issues.

Mind Power and Success

The mind plays an important role in achieving every kind of success and goal, minor, everyday goals or major goals. With minor or day-to-day goals, one usually knows what he or she wants to do or get, but when it comes to major goals, most people don't know what they really desire. They desire to do something big, but they don't know what. They might have a vague idea, but this is not enough.
To accomplish anything, and to use your mind power, you have to know exactly what it is you want to do. To focus your mind power on a goal, you need to have a clear and well defined goal. How do you go about that?
You have first to think or meditate, to find out what is it that you want to accomplish or gain. This might not be a simple step, and requires deep thinking, investigation and time.
After discovering what you really want to accomplish, you need to come up with a plan for action. You need to know what you have to do first and how to proceed. All of this requires planning, which means using the power of the mind.
After deciding on a goal and coming up with a plan, you need to hold in your mind a clear mental image of your goal. You need to see it accomplished. This step requires that you use your imagination, which is another power of the mind. Not everyone can visualize clear mental images, but regular training of the imagination can do wonders. You may, for example, look at photos of what you want to achieve, and then close your eyes, and try to see it in your imagination. This will enhance your ability to visualize.
At this point you have to display patience, self-discipline and the power to persist in your efforts. This requires a one pointed mind.
Affirmations are another useful mental tool for achieving success. What you affirm sinks into the subconscious mind, becomes part of the subconscious mind, and consequently affects your behavior and actions. If your affirmations are positive, they lead you to success.
Another important power of the mind is thought transference. You need to be able to transmit your thoughts to other people, who would aid you with your plans. Often, you have to persuade others to invest in your plans or to help you in other ways. It is not enough just to talk with them, you need to believe in what you are saying; you need to be enthusiastic and persuasive, otherwise they won't listen and won't care. You need to be able to reject your and their doubts. To be able to do so, you need concentration, control over your thoughts, willpower, self-discipline and patience. All these are mental tools and skills.
Motivation is another mental and emotional power that you require for achieving success. How can you achieve anything if you are not motivated enough? To increase your motivation and enthusiasm, think often of your goal, about its advantages and benefits, and how it will change your life. Doing so, will strengthen your motivation.
Your thoughts, which are part of your mind, possess power. The thoughts that you most often think tend to come true. If you pour your mental energy into the same thoughts or mental images day after day, they will become stronger and stronger, and would consequently affect your attitude, expectations, behavior and actions. These thoughts and mental images can even be subconsciously perceived by other people, who would then offer you help or opportunities. Your thoughts can also create what is usually termed as coincidence. They can attract into your life corresponding events, situations and opportunities.
Not every thought turns into reality. A thought has to be repeated often, and be tinged with desire, in order to come true. Doubts fears and worries tend to destroy what you build with the power of your mind. This means that you need to clear your mind of negative thoughts and doubts. You might say that this is not possible, but it is, through proper training, which you can find at this website, in the articles, ebooks and books.

Power of Positive Thinking

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it. Among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity.
It is quite common to hear people say: "Think positive!", to someone who feels down and worried. Most people do not take these words seriously, as they do not know what they really mean, or do not consider them as useful and effective. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

The following story illustrates how this power works:
Allan applied for a new job, but as his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. Allan manifested this attitude, due to his negative past experiences with job interviews.
His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a shirt full of wrinkles.
During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.
Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.
In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.
He got the job because he made a good impression. He had also of course, the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Allan.
What do we learn from these two stories? Is there any magic employed here? No, it is all natural. When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way you feel inside.
Positive and negative thinking are both contagious.
All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts, and vice versa. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people and avoid negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.
Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Practical Instructions

In order to turn the mind toward the positive, inner work and training are required. Attitude and thoughts do not change overnight.
Read about this subject, think about its benefits and persuade yourself to try it. The power of thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping our life. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Even if the idea seems strange give it a try, as you have nothing to lose, but only to gain. Ignore what others might say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think.
Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.
Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. The negative thought will try again to enter your mind, and then you have to replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you choose to look at one of them and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts.
In case you feel any inner resistance when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind.
It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do.
Another method to employ is the repetition of affirmations. It is a method which resembles creative visualization, and which can be used in conjunction with it. It is the subject of another article on this website.
The other articles at this website, about the power of concentration, will power, self-discipline and peace of mind also contribute to the development of a positive mind, and are recommended for reading and practicing.