To differentiate psychology from other sciences and to explain how the human mind processes information, various schools of thought have surfaced. Before the 1950s, psychologists used their own theories for classification of mental disorders. Now in its fifth edition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) offers general criteria to diagnose psychiatric disorders. “DSM-5 takes a non-axial documentation approach, combining the first three DSM-IV-TR Axes into one list, while separate notation for Axes IV and V also have been made, covering psychosocial and environmental factors, as well as disability” (Madra, 2013, p.5) To treat mental disorders, theories developed and evolved. Among these theories is functionalism, …show more content…
“Normal psychology studies human behavior with a focus on “normal” or average, socially-acceptable traits and behaviors.” (Rodger, 2013) For example, child psychology studies the mental and behavioral characteristics of children as they develop and age. Normal psychology creates a reference about typical behavior and thought patterns. In contrast, abnormal psychology is the scientific study of unusual behavior that society considers abnormal
3 patterns of functioning. Although, according to Butcher, in the book Abnormal Psychology, the definition of abnormality still has not received complete acceptance.
Butcher explained that there are signs that a person exhibits when there is a possible psychological problem. The associated signs are suffering, maladaptiveness, statistical, deviancy, social discomfort, irrationality, dangerousness, and violation of the standards of society. If a person violates and disobeys against the standards of society, they reflect abnormal behavior. Exposing oneself or others to danger, attempting to commit suicide, or screaming vulgarity are examples of what is considered abnormal behavior. However, a person demonstrating abnormal behavior does not necessarily reflect a mental …show more content…
There are several types of social anxiety disorders, including phobia and panic disorders. There are two types of recognized social phobias: public speaking phobias and all other kinds of social phobias, such as intense anxiety when interacting with other people. People experiencing a panic disorder will experience intense fear and dysfunctional changers in their thinking or behavior. In psychology, the terms mental illness and disorder are used interchangeably. One of the most tragic mental illnesses that a human can be diagnosed with is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a term for psychotic illnesses characterized by disturbances in thought, hallucinations, perception, delusions, behavior language, communication, and emotion. In addition to mental illnesses, mood disorders are also found in the DSM-5. Mood disorders are characterized by disruptions in emotion and mood. There are several forms of mood disorders, as well as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorders. One form of mood disorder is major depressive disorder. This disorder is the most severe form of depression, characterized by a loss of interest in enjoyable activities, fatigue, preoccupied with suicidal thoughts, and disruption in energy, sleep, and concentration. Another form of mood disorder is bipolar. Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder exhibit manic episodes that include less sleep,