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Definition: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY from Dictionary of Psychopathology

The study of mental and emotional disorders as well as aberrant behavior. In clinical discourse, abnormal psychology is also referred to as psychopathology.


Abnormal Psychology

From The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology
Abnormal psychology is the area of psychological investigation concerned with understanding the nature of individual pathologies of the mind, mood, and behavior. It addresses dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected. Such dysfunction should be considered on a continuum, rather than solely whether it is present or absent. Clinical assessment and diagnosis are important processes in the understanding and treatment of abnormal behavior, or psychopathology. Clinical assessment involves the evaluation of psychological, biological, and social factors in an individual presenting with abnormal behavior or symptoms of a possible psychological disorder. Diagnosis refers to the determination of whether reported problems or symptoms meet the criteria of a psychological disorder. As there are no specific lab tests to identify the presence of a disorder, diagnosis depends on the client report of symptoms, clinician…
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Full text Article Abnormal Psychology

From Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology
Abnormal psychology is the specific field of psychology concerned with the study of abnormal behavior. Abnormal behavior refers to observable actions considered to be maladaptive or deviant by the social culture in which they occur. Although there is not consensus regarding which specific behaviors…
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
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Full text Article Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

From Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Disabilities and Other Exceptional Individuals
The Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology was established in 1973 by Herbert Quay, PhD. In 1995 the journal became the official publication of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. The journal is published bimonthly by Springer Netherlands. The…
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From The Macquarie Dictionary
| 31 words
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary
| 32 words
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary
| 30 words
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From Collins Dictionary of Medicine
| 33 words
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From Collins English Dictionary
| 22 words
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Full text Article abnormal psychology

From The American Heritage Dictionary of Medicine
| 15 words
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