Abnormal Psychology and Therapy

Question: #6378

Solution: #6473

Learning Team B: Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper

Learning Team B: Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper Learning Team B: Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper Normal psychology is the study of human behavior focusing on traits and behaviors that are deemed socially acceptable or average. Normal is also decided by behaviors favored within society, conforming to the expectations of those around us. Abnormal is quite the opposite, which the person doesn’t function in the “normal” expected manner. Abnormal behavior is the study of “unusual” human behaviors, to include, the study of mental disorders. Abnormal psychology is also known as psychopathology, which “focuses on responses that cause a significant amount of damage or distress in a person's life” (WiseGeek, 2014). Cultural differences can define and change perspectives on what is normal or abnormal psychology. There has been much debate on if society has created mental illnesses to brand and punish those that fail to conform to “society’s standards of normality.” The labeling theory can be very dangerous, turning people into something they may not be; this could then cause discrimination towards them from others (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). As we look into mental disorders and illnesses, we will be able to identify therapies which help the person become a functioning member of society (Capen, 2010). Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness. It can be severe and disabling for those affected by it. Individuals who suffer from it have symptoms such as hearing voices, believing that others are able to read their minds, or that others are plotting to harm them. There is much debate of whether schizophrenia is even psychological as some evidence point more too biological. Many psychologists disagree with that due to the fact that it is possible for a pair of identical twins to only have one twin affected although their genes are exactly the same. Psychologists believe that the more abuse an individual endures during their childhood, the more likely they are to develop schizophrenia (Feist & Rosenburg 2012), (Jacofsky, Santos, Khemlani-Patel, & Neziroglu, 2014). Bi-Polar disorder is also referred to as manic depression. It is a chronically recurring condition involving moods that swing between the highs of mania and the lows of depression (Psychology Today, 2014). Psychologists view bi polar as a disorder that can cause a lot of damage to a person’s life by ruining their goals and relationships. Depression is often the worse phase for patients. Psychologists also believe that bi polar can be very well managed with a combination of mood stabilizer’s and teaching the individual coping skills (Feist & Rosenburg 2012), (Jacofsky, Santos, Khemlani-Patel, & Neziroglu, 2014). Anxiety is a fairly common mental disorder. Psychologists believe that the cause of anxiety is a mixture of biological and psychological vulnerability. The lack of control over a stressful situation is believed to be a major the cause of anxiety. Traumatic experiences in early childhood are also a leading cause. There are different forms of anxiety and well over one hundred symptoms that follow (...