abnormal psychology
Study of dysfunction
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought—conditions that cause distress or impair functioning.
The field examines mental disorders, their causes, and their treatments: She's taking abnormal psychology this semester.
What counts as "abnormal" shifts with cultural norms and diagnostic standards.
Psychotic disorder with delusions
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
- depressionProlonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
OCD · phobia · autism · ADHD · dissociative · personality disorders · eating disorders · neurosis
Treatment through guided conversation
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- DBTTherapy for emotional regulation
- EMDRTrauma therapy using eye movements
- psychoanalysisTreatment via unconscious exploration
psychopharmacology · antidepressants · antipsychotics · hospitalization · group therapy · exposure therapy · electroconvulsive therapy · Gestalt therapy
Study of mental disorders
- etiologyScience of disease origins
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- DSMPsychiatric classification manual
- ICDDisease classification system
epidemiology · comorbidity · differential diagnosis · clinical assessment · case study · mental health · stigma · phenomenology
Founder of psychoanalysis
- JungAnalytical psychology founder
- asylumsProtected shelters from danger
- deinstitutionalizationReleasing long-term patients systemwide
- lobotomySevering prefrontal neural pathways
Perceptions without external cause
- delusionsFirmly held false beliefs
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- compulsionsUncontrollable urges to act
- obsessionsPersistent dominating thoughts
flashbacks · hypervigilance · anhedonia · mania · catatonia · flat affect · intrusive thoughts · depersonalization
Harmful to one's wellbeing
- atypicalNot conforming to type
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- impairmentDiminished function or capacity
maladjustment · dangerousness · cultural relativism · eccentricity · nonconformity · pathologization · medicalization
schizophrenia
Psychotic disorder with delusions
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
- depressionProlonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
PTSD · OCD · phobia · autism · ADHD · dissociative · personality disorders · eating disorders · neurosis · paranoia
psychotherapy
Treatment through guided conversation
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- DBTTherapy for emotional regulation
- EMDRTrauma therapy using eye movements
psychoanalysis · psychopharmacology · antidepressants · antipsychotics · hospitalization · group therapy · exposure therapy · electroconvulsive therapy · Gestalt therapy · rehabilitation
psychopathology
Study of mental disorders
- etiologyScience of disease origins
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- DSMPsychiatric classification manual
ICD · epidemiology · comorbidity · differential diagnosis · clinical assessment · case study · mental health · stigma · phenomenology · prognosis
Freud
Founder of psychoanalysis
- JungAnalytical psychology founder
- asylumsProtected shelters from danger
- deinstitutionalizationReleasing long-term patients systemwide
hallucinations
Perceptions without external cause
- delusionsFirmly held false beliefs
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- compulsionsUncontrollable urges to act
obsessions · flashbacks · hypervigilance · anhedonia · mania · catatonia · flat affect · intrusive thoughts · depersonalization · derealization
maladaptive
Harmful to one's wellbeing
- atypicalNot conforming to type
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
impairment · maladjustment · dangerousness · cultural relativism · eccentricity · nonconformity · pathologization · medicalization
- mental healthpsychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist, therapists
- psychologytherapist, psychiatrist, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis
- behavioral sciencesbehaviorism, behavioral economics, behavioral genetics, consumer behavior, ethology
- psychology booksresearch journals, cognitive therapy, psychoanalysis, behavioral analysis, attachment theory
- clinical trainingpracticum, internship, internships, clinical hours, supervision
abnormal psychologydevelopmental psychology
Science of lifelong human change
abnormal, psychology, normal, abnormally, abnormality, normally, normality, norms, normalize