Abnormal Psychology Studies

The study of abnormal psychology remains an important component of the psychology major's course load. Any student thinking of becoming a psychotherapist or counselor will take this required course as part of his curriculum. It teaches about the different issues that individuals suffer from, such as child abuse, social rejection or sibling rivalry. All of these can cause a child or adult's thinking to become slanted. This course helps students understand theories and causes of deep-seated issues.

Abnormal Behavior

• It may help to see a doctor to determine the cause of behavior.

  Abnormal behavior includes three areas, cognitive, behavioral and medical. Cognitive abnormalities are due to a disturbance in the mind causing the person to think, speak or act against social norms. Behavioral oddities can be seen in individuals who might cause harm to themselves or others, such as cutting or drinking to excess. The behavior may signal an underlying problem, such as depression or anxiety. Medical problems cause some abnormal behavior. The individual may not notice the behavior at the onset. Relatives and friends often become aware first and start an inquiry about the person and her health. Medical causes of abnormal behavior might be a brain tumor or other disease that affects the person's mental and/or emotional state.

Assessing Abnormal Psychology

• Study after class.

  Students in abnormal psychology studies learn to correctly assess abnormal behavior. After students begin interacting with real patients, either through an internship or regular employment, they learn to diagnose problems. For instance, if a counselor attends to a severely depressed patient suffering from medically induced mental illness, behavioral therapy is mismatched. The counselor learns to identify when a therapy isn't working and seeks other solutions, such as medical tests.

Learn To Work with the Behavior

• Compare patient's notes with her actions.

  Learning to treat patients who present as abnormal is a large part of the psychology student's studies. There are many types of abnormal behavior, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, drug/alcohol addiction and bulimia nervosa, which receive different treatments or therapies. If there is no medical reason for the problem, the therapist must decide on an appropriate treatment that will help her client. Familiarity with a number of treatment options aids the counselor in understanding her client's problems, which leads to more effective treatment planning.