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HUBERT KAIRUKI MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY.
FACULTY OF MEDICINE.
DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES AND ETHICS.
SUBJECT; BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES.
TOPIC; ABNORMALITY AND ITS HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES.
FACILITATOR; MR. ISAAC LEMA.
OUTLINE;
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Introduction.
Definition of Terms.
Topic objectives.
General discussion/
The main presentation.
Summary.
Conclusion.
Recommendation.
References.
PRESENTERS;
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Lightness T Chuwa.
Mussa Machibya.
Nargis Mohammed Noor.
Peter Patrice Makonda.
Theresia Bennet Kipasika.
Wende Nicholaus Mtega.
Raymond Stephen.
Fauza Abdallah Mkwede.
Manfred Passfolo Mgaya.
INTRODUCTION.
• ABNORMALITY- Is the quality or state of being abnormal (unusualness, irregularity).
It can also be termed as Psychopathology or Abnormal psychology.
• In other words Abnormal psychology can be defined as the model of psychological study
of abnormal mental processes and behaviors.
• Its clinical applications highly focuses on defining, classifying, explaining and providing
clinically sound treatments for many illnesses that fall under the abnormal behavior
classification (Hansell & Damour 2008).
• Vivid cases of abnormal psychology includes; Anxiety, Somatoform disorders, Attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorder and Bio-polar mood disorder.
DEFINITION OF TERMS.
• Psychology- Is the scientific investigation of mental processes and behaviors. (Kowalski&Westen2011)
• Anxiety disorders- Are disorders that occur when a person experiences unpleasant emotions
characterized by the general sense of danger or physiological arousal. (Hansell&Damour2008)
• Somatoform disorders- Are disorders that have physical symptoms caused by psychological
factors. For instance; Pain
• Normal psychology- Refers to the study of normal behaviors or behaviors within a range that
do not affect mental processing,
• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder- Is a medical condition that affects how someone can
sit still, focus, and pay attention.
• Bipolar mood disorder- Is a mental illness characterized by periods of depression and periods
of elevated mood. It is also known as Maniac depression.
TOPIC OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this presentation everyone should be able:
• To have a comprehensive understanding of abnormal psychology (psychopathology).
• To understand clearly the differences and classifications of normal and abnormal behavior.
• To describe the relative neglect that mental health has historically suffered as a field.
• To expound the evaluation of abnormal psychology in scientific discipline and how to help
patients affected by it.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON ABNORMALITY.
• In order to understand the modern-day historical perspective of abnormality
we are obliged to understand the current theories of abnormal psychology
which requires the consideration of:
• The ORIGIN
• The THEORITICAL MODELS
• And The EVOLUTION related directly to abnormal behaviors.
THE ORIGINS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY.
• Abnormal psychology in humans has been recorded as far back as biblical times.
These early behavioral abnormalities included descriptions of behaviors similar to
modern day cases of schizophrenia and depression.
One of the earliest recorded explanations for abnormal behavior in early cultures was
a condition known as Animism. Because early humans regarded many issues as acts of the
spirit world. A person with mental illness would be considered to be possessed by devil or
malevolent spirit.
 The treatment was by Trephination (a procedure where holes were drilled into the
patient’s skull to release the possessing spirit) and Exorcism (a ritualistic practice of religious
authorities used to cast out the evil spirits responsible for individual’s abnormal behavior).
Another major influence is connected to “Early Greek biological theories”.
 Hippocrates theorized that diseases, including mental abnormalities were the result of
an imbalance of the four fluids believed to circulate through the human body. Its treatments
were designed to return the proper balance of these fluids, and included dietary and behavioral
modifications.
Hysteria was another biological theory associated with abnormal psychology developed
by Greek physicians. Common symptoms associated with hysteria included Confusion, Loss
of sensation, Paralysis and Physical pain or ailments.
Defining Normal and Abnormal Behavior
• Defining and classifying abnormal behavior requires an understanding of what is expected and acceptable
behavior based on cultural, societal and individual norms.
• Using the Theory of relativism one could conclude that normalcy and abnormality is defined as the relative
parameter of cultural and societal behavior during a specific period of human evolution.
• To aid researchers in the development of these definitions, six core concepts were developed. They included:
Contextual importance
Continuum between abnormal and normal behavior
Cultural and Historical relativism
The understanding of causality
The importance of mind/body connections
Understanding benefits and drawbacks of diagnosis
The Evolution of abnormal behavior
• As referenced earlier were the theoretical models. These theories influenced other physicians to
move away from spiritual believes and rely on medical observations to diagnose mental illness.
• In the 16th & 17th Centuries treatments were still based on driving out demons. By 18th century an
abnormal behavior started to be viewed as an illness in which psychopathologists used different
perspectives to explain abnormalities. These perspectives included:
• Behavioral perspective- In here they based on observable behaviors in which they reinforced
the positive ones and ignored the maladaptive ones.
• Medical perspective- In here the focus is on the biological cause of mental illness for instance
infections. Genetic inheritance or chemical imbalance.
• Cognitive perspective- In this category the focus is on the perception, reasoning and internal
thoughts for instance Anxiety. The major treatment is through therapy.
SUMMARY.
• In summary, the science of psychopathology is young and filled with a rich
history of theoretical approaches ranging from early animistic approaches to
the modern technology for medical sciences. All approaches focused on
reliving individuals of the discomfort and dysfunction associated with
abnormalities.
CONCLUSION.
• Abnormalities exist and thousands of people suffer from them while
hundred get diagnosed with a new disorder daily, researches are developing
new strategies to shatter these disorders so as to allow all people the right to
a happy and healthy life. With further education on the symptoms and
implications of psychopathology, Psychologists and physicians will improve
their accuracy in diagnosis thus giving the right diagnosis and discovering the
most helpful treatments and therapies.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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• While there is more awareness of psychopathological disorders and more
research to prevent and effectively treat these disorders to maintain
emotional health amongst the victims. There is also a negative factor in
which parents, schools, and psychologists may be more sensitive and
therefore over diagnose people with these disorders.
• Thus we as future medical personnel’s have to tailor these influxes and back
truck on wrongly diagnosed victims with these similar disorders.
REFERENCES.
• Feist, J & Feist, G. (2009) Theories of personality (7th edition).
• Hansell, J & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd edition)
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!
“BEST OF LUCKS IN YOUR COMING CONTINOUS ASSESMENT TEST”