abnormal psychology

Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought, which could possibly be understood as a mental disorder. Although many behaviors could be considered abnormal, this branch of psychology typically addresses behavior in a clinical context. There is a long history of attempts to understand and control behavior deemed to be aberrant or deviant (statistically, functionally, morally, or in some other sense), and there is often cultural variation in the approach taken. The field of abnormal psychology identifies multiple causes for different conditions, drawing on diverse theories from the broader field of psychology and beyond, and much still hinges on what exactly is meant by "abnormal". There has traditionally been a divide between psychological and biological explanations, reflecting a philosophical dualism regarding the mind–body problem. There have also been different approaches in trying to classify mental disorders. Abnormal includes three different categories; they are subnormal, supernormal and paranormal.

The science of abnormal psychology studies two types of behaviors: adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors suggest that some problem(s) exist and can also imply that the individual is vulnerable and unable to cope with environmental stress, leading to difficulties functioning in daily life across emotions, thinking, physical actions, and speech. Adaptive behaviors are well-suited to the nature of people, their lifestyles and surroundings, and the people they communicate with, allowing them to understand each other.