PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Psychological disorders (also called mental disorders or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect a
person's thoughts, emotions, behavior, or ability to function in daily life. They can range from mild
to severe and may be temporary or long-lasting.

CONCEPTS OF ABNORMALITY

Abnormality refers to patterns of behaviour, thoughts, or emotions that deviate from what is
considered typical or acceptable and may cause distress or impair functioning. Different concepts are
used to define abnormality:

Deviance
Deviance refers to behaviour, thoughts, or emotions that differ markedly from societal norms and
expectations.
Example: A person believes that strangers on the street can read their thoughts and communicate
with them secretly.

2. Distress
Distress occurs when an individual experiences significant emotional suffering, discomfort, or
psychological pain.
Example: A student feels extreme anxiety before examinations, leading to constant worry, crying, and
sleeplessness.

3. Dysfunction
Dysfunction refers to behaviour that interferes with a person's ability to perform everyday activities
effectively.
Example: A person with severe depression is unable to attend classes, complete work, or maintain
personal hygiene.

4. Danger
Danger involves behaviour that poses a risk of harm to oneself or others.
Example: A person experiencing severe depression develops suicidal thoughts or engages in self-
harm.

1. The word abnormal means away from or different from what is normal.

2. To identify something as abnormal, there must be a clear standard of what is considered

normal.

3. In psychology, there is no single ideal or normal model of human behaviour that can be
used for comparison.

4. People differ in their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, cultures, values, and experiences,
making it difficult to define normality.

5. Therefore, psychologists use different approaches to distinguish between normal and

abnormal behaviour.
TWO APPROACHES TO DEFINING ABNORMALITY

1. Abnormality as Deviation from Social Norms

1. This approach defines abnormal behaviour as behaviour that deviates from the norms and
expectations of society.

2. Every society has certain rules and standards for acceptable behaviour.

3. Behaviours, thoughts, or emotions that violate these norms are considered abnormal.

4. Social norms are influenced by a society's culture, values, traditions, and beliefs.

5. What is considered abnormal in one culture may be acceptable in another.

6. Social norms can change over time, so definitions of abnormality may also change.

Example: In many parts of India, touching the feet of elders is considered a sign of
respect and good manners.
1. In some Western cultures, suddenly bending down to touch someone's feet might
seem unusual or confusing.
Limitation: This approach assumes that conformity is normal and non-conformity is abnormal, which
is not always true.

Conformity means following society's rules, customs, and expectations.

Non-conformity means behaving differently from these expectations

Ex.A student who chooses an uncommon career path instead of the one expected by family or
society is non-conforming but not abnormal.

Conclusion:
Simply being different from society's expectations does not mean a person has a psychological
disorder. Therefore, non-conformity should not automatically be considered abnormality.

[Link] as Maladaptive Behaviour

1. This approach defines abnormal behaviour as behaviour that interferes with an individual's
well-being, growth, and effective functioning.

2. The focus is on whether the behaviour helps or hinders a person's ability to cope with life.

3. Behaviour is considered maladaptive when it prevents personal growth, adjustment, or

fulfilment of potential.

4. Even socially acceptable behaviour can be abnormal if it harms the individual's functioning.

Example:

A student never asks questions in class, always stays quiet, and agrees with everyone.

 This behaviour is socially acceptable because the student is polite and not disrupting the
class.

 However, if the student remains silent due to extreme fear of criticism and consequently fails
to understand lessons, the behaviour becomes maladaptive.
5. Maladaptive behaviour may result from personal vulnerabilities, poor coping skills, or
excessive environmental stress.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Ancient View

First, to understand psychological disorders, it is important to examine how people explained

them in the past.

Second, one of the earliest explanations was the supernatural approach.

Third, according to this view, abnormal behaviour was believed to be caused by supernatural
or magical forces such as evil spirits, ghosts (bhoot-pret), demons, or the devil (shaitan).

Fourth, people thought that individuals showing unusual behaviour were possessed or
controlled by these forces.

Fifth, a common method of treatment was exorcism, which involved prayers, rituals, chants,
and countermagic to drive out the evil spirit.

Sixth, many societies relied on a shaman or medicine man (ojha), who was believed to
communicate with supernatural powers.

Seventh, the shaman would identify the spirit responsible for the person's problems and
perform rituals to remove or appease it.

For example, if a person heard voices or behaved strangely, people might have believed that
an evil spirit had possessed them and sought help from an ojha rather than a doctor or
psychologist.

Finally, modern psychology does not support this explanation and instead views
psychological disorders as arising from biological, psychological, and social factors.

biological (organic) approach

First, the biological (organic) approach states that abnormal behaviour occurs because the
body or brain is not functioning properly.

Second, this approach suggests that physical or biological problems can lead to maladaptive
behaviour.

Third, modern research has shown that certain psychological disorders are linked to
abnormalities in brain functioning, genetics, hormones, or neurotransmitters.

Fourth, treatment aimed at correcting these biological problems can often improve a
person's functioning.

For example, depression may be associated with imbalances in brain chemicals, and
medication can help reduce symptoms.
 psychological approach

According to this view, psychological disorders arise from faulty thinking, inappropriate
emotions, unhealthy perceptions, or unresolved conflicts.

For example, a person who constantly interprets ordinary situations as threatening may
develop severe anxiety.

ANCIENT GREEK

philosopher-physicians such as Hippocrates, Socrates, and especially Plato developed the

organismic approach. They believed that disturbed behaviour resulted from conflicts
between emotion and reason, rather than from supernatural forces.

Later, Galen expanded this view through his theory of the four humours. According to him,
the world was composed of four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—which gave rise to
four body fluids: blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. Each humour was associated
with a particular temperament, and an imbalance among them was believed to cause
physical and psychological disorders.

This idea is similar to the Indian concept of the three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—
described in the Atharva Veda and Ayurvedic texts.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, belief in demonology and superstition became prominent again.
People believed that individuals with mental disorders were possessed by evil spirits or were
themselves evil. This belief led to many witch-hunts, during which people were persecuted
for supposedly being influenced by supernatural forces.

However, in the early Middle Ages, the Christian spirit of charity encouraged a more
compassionate view. Augustine of Hippo wrote extensively about emotions, mental
suffering, and inner conflict. His ideas later influenced the development of psychodynamic
theories, which explain abnormal behaviour in terms of unconscious conflicts and emotional
struggles.

Renaissance Period and Psychological Disorders

During the Renaissance, there was a growing interest in human beings, their thoughts,
feelings, and behaviour. This period was marked by humanism, which emphasised the value
and dignity of individuals.

Johann Weyer was an important figure during this period. He argued that psychological
disorders were caused by psychological conflicts and disturbed interpersonal relationships,
rather than by supernatural forces.
 Weyer strongly opposed the belief that people accused of being witches were possessed by
evil spirits. Instead, he believed that many of these individuals were actually mentally
disturbed and needed medical treatment rather than punishment or religious intervention.

His ideas helped shift the understanding of abnormal behaviour from supernatural
explanations toward more scientific and humane approaches.

Age of Reason and Enlightenment

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Age of Reason and Enlightenment,
people increasingly relied on science and logical thinking rather than faith, superstition, and
dogma to understand abnormal behaviour.

The development of the scientific method encouraged a more objective study of

psychological disorders. As a result, people became more compassionate toward individuals
with mental illnesses.

This change led to the Reform Movement, which aimed to improve the treatment and living
conditions of people with psychological disorders.

During this period, many asylums in Europe and America were reformed to provide more
humane care for patients.

An important outcome of the reform movement was deinstitutionalisation, which involved

reducing the long-term confinement of mentally ill individuals in institutions and promoting
their care within the community after recovery.

Modern View: Biopsychosocial Approach

In recent years, psychologists have combined different explanations of abnormal behaviour

into the biopsychosocial approach.

According to this approach, psychological disorders result from the interaction of three
factors:

 Biological factors – genetics, brain functioning, hormones, and neurotransmitters.

 Psychological factors – thoughts, emotions, personality, and coping skills.

 Social factors – family relationships, culture, social support, and life stress.

Thus, modern psychology views psychological disorders as the result of a combination of

biological, psychological, and social influences, rather than a single cause.