to learn the history and place of abnormal psychology

-- marie pelzer (marpelzer8@aol.com), June 07, 2004

Answers

Hi Marie, I recommend you start with an abnormal psychology chapter of a current introductory psychology text or the history chapter in a recent abnormal psychology text. Your question on the history of "abnormal psychology" is difficult to answer, in part, because in the broad sense abnormal psychology has a long history (possibly even involving prehistoric head surgery) and involves several disciplines (e.g., medicine, psychology, education, and pastoral counseling). As for abnormal psychology's place specifically in psychology as a formal discipline, I would say it has been one of the most important of psychology's areas. For our health, happiness, and to get alone with others, it is important to study mental illness and apply the knowledge in prevention and treatment. It has been estimated that maybe 20% of Americans will need some professional psychological assistance in their lifetime. Some of the following items indicate abnormal psychology's importance: there are many practicing clinical psychologists, they have strong representation in the American Psychological Association, abnormal psychology is one of the most popular courses in American universities, and almost all introductory psychology texts have a chapter on abnormal psychology. I would add that today there is extensive interdisciplinary cooperation within the mental health field and that controversy continues on what is normal or abnormal human activities. I hope this helps. Paul

-- Paul Kleinginna (pkleinginna@georgiasouthern.edu), June 08, 2004.

Hippocrates (ca. 460-377 B.C.), whom many consider the founder of modern medicine, dismissed demonic possession as the cause of conditions like epilepsy and held that hereditary and biological factors cause a variety of physical and mental problems. Despite flaws in specific ideas like his famous theory that an imbalance bodily fluids produces depression, anxiety, apathy, or mood shifts, he is credited for advocating the medical model and empirical method.

-- (a@b.com), March 03, 2005.