Abnormal Psychology: History, Models, and Scientific Roots

Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal psychology is often misunderstood as a field because it deals with behavior that "creates a problem for an individual or society" — and hence the question immediately arises: what exactly is "abnormal," and what is "normal"? The introductory psychology textbook used in this course suggests that abnormal behavior is "maladaptive or pathological behavior," and that before determining whether a behavior is abnormal, the "total environment and impact of a person's behavior" must be taken into consideration (Sharpsteen et al., 2005). Moreover, as Kendra Cherry explains, abnormal psychology does not attempt to link "normal and abnormal" with the concepts of "good and bad." Abnormal psychology deals with "psychopathology and abnormal behavior," covering a wide range of disorders — including sexual deviation, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, to name a few (Cherry, 2008).

The History and Evolution of Abnormal Psychology

In 800 B.C., Homer believed that mental illness results when God "takes a mind away," according to Dr. Keith Millis. Millis explains that during that same period, Asclepius — an "eminent physician" — developed several approaches to treatment and became "revered as a God of healing"; numerous temples were built in his name and honor. Later, a fifth-century B.C. doctor named Hippocrates was among the early proponents of the "somatogenic hypothesis," which Sharpsteen describes as the theory that when something is amiss with the "soma" (the physical body), thought and behavior will be disturbed (p. 177). Thus, the idea that deviant behavior may be caused by problems with physical health was established.

In the Middle Ages in Europe, Hippocrates' model was attacked and rejected. Under the influence of the Christian Church, society came to believe that deviant behavior was caused by the devil's ability to possess the bodies of "witches," Sharpsteen explains. This superstitious view dominated for centuries before more reasoned perspectives began to emerge.

Author Robert Burton challenged Christianity's theories in 1621 with The Anatomy of Melancholy, which offered a more realistic, medically grounded reference to deviant behaviors and contributed to the development of asylums, Sharpsteen continues (p. 177). In time, the Frenchman Philippe Pinel advocated removing the chains from mentally ill patients in asylums and treating them "as sick humans rather than beasts" — and in the process achieved "some remarkable results," according to Sharpsteen (p. 177).

Theoretical Models of Abnormal Behavior

During the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, a theory emerged that Sharpsteen refers to as the "psychogenic theory" — the idea that mental disorders result from "mental malfunctions." This theory was later refined by Sigmund Freud, who is credited with the development of psychoanalysis as a treatment for mental illness and is widely recognized for bringing psychology into a scientific discipline.

Sharpsteen describes the "medical or organic model" — also referred to as the biological/medical model — whose "critical assumption" is that "abnormal behavior is like a disease" (p. 178). This model accounts for "both the somatogenic (originating in the body) and psychogenic (originating in the mind) causes," Sharpsteen continues. These causes may occur internally as a result of a systemic or infectious disease, or externally as a result of traumatic injury. According to AS Psychology, the biological/medical model "has dominated the psychiatric profession since the last century," resting on the assumption that because mental illnesses resemble physical illnesses, they should be able to be "diagnosed and treated in a similar way." However, this model has notable limitations: it fails to explain why "purely psychological treatments" succeed with many mental illnesses, and for many such conditions "there is no definite proof of a physical cause" (AS Psychology, p. 2).

In his book Abnormal and Clinical Psychology, Paul Bennett explains that a sociocultural perspective emphasizes how "other people, social institutions, and social forces" influence an individual's mental health (Bennett, 2006). While there are many "major perspectives of abnormal behavior," Bennett acknowledges that "none" offers a comprehensive account of all psychological problems. Nevertheless, many mental health professionals have embraced "the notion of a biopsychosocial model to mental disorder," an approach stipulating that "mental disorder can be attributed to many biological (e.g., genetic, brain changes), psychological (thought, emotional changes), and social (family, societal) variables" (Bennett). Working in tandem, these variables produce either unhealthy or healthy behavior, Bennett concludes.

Regarding the biopsychosocial model, David Marks and Brian Evans explain that it asserts health and illness are "the product of a combination of factors including biological characteristics (e.g. genetic predisposition), behavioural factors (lifestyle, stress, health beliefs), and social conditions" — including family interactions and social involvement (Marks et al., 2005, p. 17). The limitation of this model, the authors contend, is that it is not really a model in the "formal sense" but is more accurately described as a "way of thinking about health and illness" (p. 17).

Conclusion

Psychology has emerged from the darkest, inhumane approaches of the Middle Ages to become an important field of science in the 21st century. Today, abnormal psychology — along with its several theoretical models — has proven helpful in both identifying mental problems and addressing mental imbalances. The more students know about abnormal psychology, the more enlightened they become regarding mental health issues and related problems in society. Knowledge, after all, is power, and gaining a deeper understanding of abnormal psychology is beneficial for comprehending how and why people function as they do.