Abnormal psychology Psychology Essay Research Paper (Essay Sample)

Abnormal Psychology
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Psychology is the study of human thoughts, feelings, and human behavior. Abnormal psychology, therefore, becomes the study of abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behavior and may or may not be part of a larger mental illness. Although there is no standard measure of what can be deemed normal, this branch of psychology generally deals with behavior in a clinical context (Comer, 2010). 
According to Durand and Barlow (2012), there are five perspectives in abnormal psychology which include; behavioral, psychodynamic, biological, humanistic and cognitive. The biological perspective is concerned with how our genetic make-up, hormones, and nervous system affects our way of processing feelings, thoughts, and subsequent behaviors. This, therefore, means that we act the way we do because of the way we are built physically. The psychodynamic approach which was developed by Sigmund Freud identifies our subconscious needs and states that we act the way we do as a response to our subconscious mind. The behavioral approach, on the other hand, believes that we respond to our environment hence our thoughts and ways of life are just stimuli to the environment. Behaviorists believe that there is no free will per say just differences in stimuli. The humanistic approach focuses on realizing the full potential one has and positive deeds. It focuses on the individual needs of a person and how they can lead to self-fulfillment. Lastly, the cognitive approach looks at managing expectations and emotions. From the perspective, therefore, one behaves in accordance with their expectations (Comer, 2010).  For example, if one is given a high pressure job and is expected to succeed there will be more stress upon the person forcing him to act in a different way.