PROJECT AVP-IM
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Imagine that you are in a coffee shop
You wait patiently in line, you order your drink, you pick up your drink and then you sit and sip it quietly
Others around you do the same thing and you're able to sip peacefully and read a book or listen to music
In other words, it's a pretty normal afternoon in a cafe
But what if someone did not stick to the script?
What if a man cut in front of everyone else in line?
Or what if a woman suddenly starts yelling out nonsense words?
Would you still consider it a normal afternoon?
Psychology is the study of human thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Abnormal Psychology is the study of abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors, may or may not be part of a larger mental illness, or Psychopathology
But Psychologists who study Abnormal Psychology usually work to treat people who have some type of mental illness
Even if it's just a temporary cases at loose.
Think about the lady in the coffee shop yelling out nonsense words
Why would anyone do that? What's wrong with her?
There are two theories about what causes abnormality
The Somatogenic Theory and Psychogenic Thoery
Somatogenic Theory states that abnormality is caused by a biological disorder or illness
In the example above, Somatogenic Theory would say that there's something wrong with her brain
Perhaps she has damage to the left side of her brain which causes language disorders
Or maybe she has damage to the bottom part of the front of the brain, which makes people do things that are socially inappropriate
Either way, Somatogenic Theory explains abnormality in terms of physical causes
As such, a Somatogenic approach to abnormality often focuses on using drugs, surgery or other physical therapies to treat psychological disorders
Compare that to Psychogenic Theory, which says that Abnormality stems from psychological problems
For example, Sigmund Freud might say that the woman in the cafe has an underdeveloped Super Ego
Which means that she can't stop her urges, like wanting to call out in a public place
Treatment for Abnormality based on Psychogenic Theory includes talk therapy and hynosis
Of course, most Psychologists don't believe in one theory or the other
Most Psychologists believes in one theory more than the other, but will admit that both play a role in abnormality
As we said before, Abnormal Psychology deals with all sorts of abnormality
Three common disorders that Abnormal Psychology covers, are schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder, and depression
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that makes it difficult for the sufferer to tell the difference from reality and hallucinations
Schizophrenic patients often have vivid hallucinations
Especially auditory hallucinations like hearing voices
The symptoms of Schizophrenia maybe result of too much of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain
Schizophrenics can be treated with medication but it is sometimes difficult to get them keep taking their medication
Sub Therapy along with medication is an important part of treatment
Anti-Social Personality Disorder evolves having a very small conscience
People with Anti-Social Personality Disorder often manipulate or harm others and may have a history of breaking the law
Anti-Social Personality disorder is very difficult to treat because patients often charm and manipulate their therapists
Depression is a general term that covers several different abnormal conditions
Most people who use the term depression refer to someone with major depressive disorder
Which is characterized by long periods of low mood and a general loss of interest they normally enjoy
Treatments for depression range from drugs to therapy
Though, a combination of the two is most effective
Abnormal Psychology studies abnormalities in thoughts, behavior, and feelings
Psychologists usually view abnormality in terms of Somatogenic Theory
Which says that the cause of abnormality is biological
And Psychogenic Theory which says that the cause of abnormality is psychological
Three types of abnormality that are of particular interest to psychologists
Are Schizophrenia, Anti-Social personality Disorder and Depression