Perspectives on abnormal psychology
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In your examination be sure to address the following items:
a. Briefly examine the origins of abnormal psychology. Include challenges to defining and classifying normal and abnormal behavior.
b. Provide a brief overview of how abnormal psychology has evolved into a scientific discipline.
c. Briefly analyze the psychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology.
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Solution Summary
The following solution discusses abnormal psychology. It includes information about how it has evolved to be a science. Also it provides an analysis of various theoretical models related to the development of abnormal psychology.
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a. People have tried to explain abnormal behavior for thousands of years. In the past there have been main approaches to abnormal behavior: the supernatural, biological, and psychological traditions.
In the supernatural tradition, abnormal behaviors are attributed to agents outside the human body. According to this model abnormal behaviors are caused by demons, spirits or influences of the moon, planets and stars. The Ancient Chinese, Ancient Egyptians and Hebrews believed that these were evil demons and advocated exorcism. During the Dark Ages, many Europeans believed that the power of witches, demons and spirits caused abnormal behaviors. People with psychological disorders were thought ot be possessed by evil spirits that had to be exorcised. If this failed some authorites advaocted exorcism to make the body uninhitable by witches, demons and spirits. This beleif continued into the 15th century. Paracelus , a Swiss physician believed that people's minds and behaviors were influenced by the movements of the moon and stars. In certain parts of the world these beliefs continue. In the Western World most people believe in the biological and psychological traditions.
In the biological tradition, psychological disorders are attributed to biological causes and in the psychological tradition, ...
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