comments, criticism and suggestions are strongly encouraged.

q.3 Discuss different viewpoints regarding abnormality.

Abnormality is defined as psychopathalogical and abnormal behaviour

Introduction
Abnormality is defined as deviation from the standard norms. abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology which deals with the abnormal behaviour. basically abnormality is a characteristic assigned to those with rare and dysfunctional conditions.

It is characterized by
a) Disability: it refers to general inability to perform some important functions of life. Not all disorders lead to disability but in certain cases, it impairs the ability of people to perform normal functions.

b) Distress: a behaviour is defined as a abnormal if it causes distress to the individual. For e.g individuals in depression and anxiety disorder experience extreme distress. However, this is not a defining factor. There are many disorder which do not lead to distress. For e.g if someone suffers from anti-social behaviour disorder, he does not experiences mental agony and distress.


c) Dysfunctional: a well known psychologist defined abnormality as a “harmful dysfunction”. this function has both subjective and objective connotation. Subjective is being harmful which is a relative terminology, whereas in objective sense it refers to the inability of an individual to perform acts he is normally used to performing.

d) Violation of norms : another way abnormality may be defined is, as a violation of norms. For e.g individuals suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder perform any task repeatedly. Similarly, schizophrenics talk to imaginary people, this too is a violation of norms.

Viewpoints related to abnormality
i) Biological: abnormality may e caused by biological causes, namely
• Genetic
• Neurotransmitter imbalance
• Injury/trauma

ii) Cognitive: sometimes abnormality is a result of improper cognitions i.e thinking , reasoning etc. such a situation is averted by the cognitive psychologists be helping the patient to think in a rational manner. In number of cases, it is paired up with behavioural therapy.

iii) Behavioural: according to behaviourists, abnormality is a result of faulty learning. According to the behaviourist therapist certain methods such as aversive techniques and conditioning may be used to improve behaviour.