Abnormal Psychology and Therapy

Abnormal Psychology and Therapy

In its most general sense, psychology involves the scientific study of the manifestations and correlates of mental processes and behaviors. However, the seeming simplicity of this definition begins to break down when the subject matter is divided into the categories of �normal’ verses �abnormal’ psychology. The main issue, of course, lies in the very use of the term �abnormal’ itself and thus begs the question: what exactly constitutes normal? The answer, it seems, is remarkably complex and remains open to significant disagreement across cultures and even among mental health professionals. In other words, �normal’ is context specific. Typically, a criterion of communal consensus combined with a certain degree of functional efficacy constitutes the primary means of measurement employed in defining �normal.’ Conversely, �abnormal’ tends to pertain to mental processes and behaviors that seem predisposed towards persistent patterns of distress, dysfunction, deviance or danger within a specific community or other defining circumstantial context. Therefore, �abnormal psychology’ might be defined as the “scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning.” (Wikipedia 2007) Still, the subject seems important—and vague--enough to bear a closer scrutiny.

As discussed above, the concept of what is considered normal varies across geological locations and historical contexts. Cannibalism in some remote tribal village might constitute a normal and socially acceptable—or indeed, perhaps even a highly valued-- practice in that culture: “Neanderthals are believed to have practiced cannibalism on their own species. Among humans it has been practiced by various groups in the past in Europe, South America, New Zealand, North America, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Fiji, usually in rituals connected to tribal warfare.” (Wikipedia, 2008) Whereas cannibalism in modern industrialized communities is considered perverted and barbaric—in other words: abnormal. So if cultural or historical context is relative in defining �abnormal,’ perhaps a better way to understand such an issue is to examine a few examples of types of behaviors or conditions typically considered �pathological’ or �abnormal.’

Imagine having to have everything in your house orderly or in a symmetrical pattern; the magazines on the table, the quilt on the couch, the food in the fridge. There are people who wash their hands one hundred times a day until they bleed to rid themselves of germs. Approximately 2.2 million American adults suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). (National Institute on Mental Health, n.d.) The National Institute on Mental Health describes obsessive compulsive disorder as an “anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away.”(National Institute on Mental Health, n.d.)

People who suffer from OCD live in daily world of anxiety and torment. The world is full of dangers, and those who suffer with OCD perform rituals and mental thoughts to ward off these evil things. In the case of a person suffering with OCD, their obsessions are usually disturbing thoughts or images that intrude into their mind. A person suffering from OCD performs compulsions once an obsession enters their mind. The compulsive behaviors are intended to reduce the disturbing thoughts that have entered the mind of the person suffering from OCD.

Several factors can increase your chance of having obsessive-compulsive disorder: a history of OCD in the family, stressful life events, and pregnancy. (Mayo Clinic, n.d.) Having a person in the family with obsessive-compulsive disorder increases a person’s chance of having this psychiatric disorder. Other research studies show that certain stressful events such as giving birth increase a person’s risk of suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. “In these cases, OCD symptoms center mainly on thoughts of harming the baby.” (Mayo Clinic, n.d.)

Several approaches to therapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder have been researched. In several instances of OCD, hospitalization is required in a psychiatric institution. Cognitive behavior therapy addresses the thoughts that reinforce the harmful viewpoints and the actions that occur from these obsessions. Since obsessions and compulsions work in an inextricable cycle, both sides must be addressed in order to change the way the patient functions. Although, medications