Distinguishing Between the Various Definitional and Theoretical Models of Abnormal Behavior
In the world of psychology behavior is defined as anything an organism does that can be measured. The definition for behavior is easy to understand and has little discrepancy. Abnormal behavior is a complete opposite. It is a hard thing to understand and define. There are many different definitions and theoretical models that exist today. One reason it is so difficult to define is a behavior in one culture may be viewed as completely normal, but in another is may be viewed as "odd" or "out of the ordinary".
In psychology there is a separate branch of the science just to deal with these abnormal behaviors. It is called abnormal psychology. The whole goal of abnormal psychology is to describe the illness, explain the causes, and get patients the antiquate treatment they need.
For the mass amounts of definitions of abnormal behavior there is just as many models of abnormal behavior. The most popular of those models is the medical model. The medical model is a biological perspective in which abnormal behavior is viewed as syptomatic of underlying illness.
As I mentioned earlier abnormal behaviors vary from culture to culture but there is one criteria for determining whether a behavior is abnormal or not.
1. Unusualness
2. Social deviance
3. Faulty perceptions or interpretations of reality
4. Significant person distress
5. Maladaptive or self-defeating behavior
6. Dangerousness
In abnormal behavior there are also a few different perspectives on why they occur and what the best course of action is for treating them. One of these perspectives is the biological perspective.
The biological perspective attempts to explain and define psycholoical disorders. The main idea of the biological perspective is that psychological and biological factors cause the abnormal behavior. Professionals who believe in this perspective often hospitolize and drug their patients as opposed to using psychological investigation.
Another type of perspective is known as the behavioral perspective. Psychologists who believe in the behavioral perspective argue that abnormal behavior results from faulty or ineffective learning and conditioning. They combat abnormal behavior with treatments are designed to reshape disorderly behavior using traditional learning procedures, to teach new, more appropriate behaviors.
The third and final perspective is the cognitive perspective. Cognitive perspective states that people engage in abnormal behavior,because of particular thoughts and behaviors that are often based upon their false assumptions. Psychologists who believe in this method aim to help the afflicted patient develop a new thought processes and new values.
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to a youtube video discussing how to define abnormal behavior. They give good examples of each of the criteria. I especially enjoy the example of the Pilgrims and the Indians. The second link is also to a youtube video. This video talks about a man in prison who is serving 18 years for second degree murder. The man in this video suffers from antisocial disorder. I think this brings up an interesting question of weather it was his fault, or not. I also think it brings up the question of whether he should be spending his life in prison of a mental facility receiving treatment.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prUFZIcgZiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ROYhODl42E
In psychology there is a separate branch of the science just to deal with these abnormal behaviors. It is called abnormal psychology. The whole goal of abnormal psychology is to describe the illness, explain the causes, and get patients the antiquate treatment they need.
For the mass amounts of definitions of abnormal behavior there is just as many models of abnormal behavior. The most popular of those models is the medical model. The medical model is a biological perspective in which abnormal behavior is viewed as syptomatic of underlying illness.
As I mentioned earlier abnormal behaviors vary from culture to culture but there is one criteria for determining whether a behavior is abnormal or not.
1. Unusualness
2. Social deviance
3. Faulty perceptions or interpretations of reality
4. Significant person distress
5. Maladaptive or self-defeating behavior
6. Dangerousness
In abnormal behavior there are also a few different perspectives on why they occur and what the best course of action is for treating them. One of these perspectives is the biological perspective.
The biological perspective attempts to explain and define psycholoical disorders. The main idea of the biological perspective is that psychological and biological factors cause the abnormal behavior. Professionals who believe in this perspective often hospitolize and drug their patients as opposed to using psychological investigation.
Another type of perspective is known as the behavioral perspective. Psychologists who believe in the behavioral perspective argue that abnormal behavior results from faulty or ineffective learning and conditioning. They combat abnormal behavior with treatments are designed to reshape disorderly behavior using traditional learning procedures, to teach new, more appropriate behaviors.
The third and final perspective is the cognitive perspective. Cognitive perspective states that people engage in abnormal behavior,because of particular thoughts and behaviors that are often based upon their false assumptions. Psychologists who believe in this method aim to help the afflicted patient develop a new thought processes and new values.
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to a youtube video discussing how to define abnormal behavior. They give good examples of each of the criteria. I especially enjoy the example of the Pilgrims and the Indians. The second link is also to a youtube video. This video talks about a man in prison who is serving 18 years for second degree murder. The man in this video suffers from antisocial disorder. I think this brings up an interesting question of weather it was his fault, or not. I also think it brings up the question of whether he should be spending his life in prison of a mental facility receiving treatment.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prUFZIcgZiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ROYhODl42E