Psychology of Abnormality and Mental Disorders

The motive of this essay is to debate abnormality and the effect of hereditary and environment factors on psychological disorder, which is schizophrenia and depression. In debating this, methods of diagnosis and cultural effects will be scrutinizing. Abnormality can be interpreted in many ways. The first interpretation of abnormality is the deviation from the ideal mental health. This implies that psychologist consider the distinct element of mental illness. In respect to this analysis, people must be able to qualify for complete status before been regard as normal. In 1958, Johoda reviewed six distinct a person must possess before classified him/her normal, here are the six barometers for personal positive view. Precise, perception of reality and ability for growth and development. In other words, if some does not have these quality, then that means such person would be regarded as abnormal. With Johada point of view it is impossible to meet all these criteria outlined for the interpretation. Psychology of Abnormality and Mental Disorders

The other interpretation for abnormality is the violation of the social norm. In every culture, there are unique ways that they are been practised. Cultural differences are paramount, some culture will accept a specific practised while other culture will go against it for example, in the society of Zulus, delusional and piercing cry is normal but however in another culture it’s abnormal behaviour especially in western cultures. Nevertheless, the clampdown of this definition is that, what that has been accepted before could suddenly change over the period as well as personal behaviour could also have changed since people migrate from one location to the other and whatever culture that is been practise in that area the must respect the culture. Meanwhile, there is a saying that when you’re in room, you do as romans. Horford (1990 cited in Hayes, 1994) stipulated that when psychiatric doctor diagnose black patient in the UK as abnormal simply because of their culture, in this argument it was because they are ignorant of black people’s culture and this has mount to another problem of this definition.