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 field.

The term abnormal itself is the subject of considerable debate. What exactly
is "normal" and who gets to decide? The social norms that are often used to
determine what is normal versus abnormal can also shift over time, so
settling on a standard definition isn't simple or straightforward.

This article discusses what abnormal psychology is and the different topics
studied by this area of psychology. It also covers how abnormality is defined
and some of the criticisms of abnormal psychology.

What Is Abnormal Psychology?

Abnormal psychology focuses on the patterns of emotion, thought, and
behavior that can be signs of a mental health condition. Rather than the
distinction between normal and abnormal, psychologists in this field focus on
the level of distress that behaviors, thoughts, or emotions might cause.

If a behavior is creating problems in a person's life or is disruptive to other

people, then this would be an "abnormal" behavior. In such cases, the
behavior may require some type of mental health intervention.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly one in

five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.1

How Abnormality Is Defined

There are different ways of defining abnormality, but the following
characteristics are usually present:

 Abnormal behavior occurs infrequently. However, statistical

infrequency alone is not a sufficient definition. Some healthy,
desirable, and beneficial behaviors also occur infrequently. And other
uncommon behaviors or characteristics have no bearing on how a
person behaves or functions. So just because something is unusual or
uncommon does not mean it would be defined as abnormal.
 Abnormal behavior creates distress. These behaviors may disturb
the individual, or they may be upsetting and disruptive to others.
  Abnormal behavior affects a person's ability to function. People
who are displaying these behaviors may struggle to function normally
in their daily life, which can affect their relationships, work, school,
and home life.
 Abnormal behavior is socially disruptive. It may violate social
norms and make it difficult for people to function in social settings and
maintain social relationships. 

Recap

Abnormal psychology doesn't just address behaviors that are considered

statistically infrequent. Instead, it focuses on behaviors that create distress,
make it difficult to function, and that may be socially disruptive. 

Perspectives on Abnormal Psychology

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

Psychoanalytic Approach
This perspective has its roots in the theories of Sigmund Freud. 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.

Therapists who take this approach believe that by analyzing memories,

behaviors, thoughts, and even dreams, people can uncover and deal with
some of the feelings that have been leading to maladaptive behaviors and
distress.

Behavioral Approach
This approach to abnormal psychology focuses on observable behaviors. 3 In
behavioral therapy, the focus is on reinforcing positive behaviors and not
reinforcing maladaptive behaviors.

The behavioral approach targets only the behavior itself, not the underlying
causes. 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.

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. Medical treatments are often
pharmacological in nature, although medication is often used in conjunction
with some type of psychotherapy.

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.

Cognitive therapy might also be used in conjunction with behavioral methods

in a technique known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Recap

Psychologists often look at abnormal behaviors through a number of

different perspectives including the psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive,
and medical approaches. Such perspectives can influence how a condition is
treated, but therapists also often draw on techniques from multiple
approaches.

Topics in Abnormal Psychology

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. These conditions
create distress for the person experiencing symptoms.

The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" is published by

the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 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. Some of the categories of
psychological disorders include:

 Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and

generalized anxiety disorder
 Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder
 Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability or autism
spectrum disorder
 Neurocognitive disorders including delirium
 Personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, avoidant
personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
 Substance use disorders

Criticisms of Abnormal Psychology

The field of abnormal psychology is not without criticism. In addition to
debates over the use of the term "abnormal" itself, some believe that this
area has a number of shortcomings.

In particular, some feel that this area stigmatizes vulnerable and oppressed

people. Critics also suggest that the field of abnormal psychology tends to
pathologize normal variations in human behavior. 4

Some also propose that the medical approach to mental illness often focuses
only on biological and genetic determinants of distress rather than taking
a more holistic view.5 It also does not account for the fact that there are
major cultural differences in what is deemed normal and abnormal.