What is the scope of abnormal psychology?

Answer 1

The study of abnormal psychology helps us to understand of the strange and seemingly incomprehensible actions and thoughts of ourselves and others. Such understanding is one of the ways by which people are able to protect themselves from many minor emotional upsets and personality disturbances. More important when these minor upsets are avoided, the chances of developing more serious personality problems are decreased. A knowledge of abnormal psychology is of value to us in ways other than self understanding. Human behaviour and and experiences which are strange, unusual or merely different are often considered abnormal.

The study of abnormal psychology touches upon most of the problems of community life. Whenever human relationships are involved, there is the possibility that one or more of the group members may be psychologically disturbed, for this reason the principles of abnormal psychology are relevant in education, business and industry, law politics and religion. knowledge of abnormal psychology helps us to understand a peculiar behaviour, which is odd, strange, unusual, different and inappropriate. The study of abnormal behaviour may be great help in fostering personal adjustment and growth. The primary concern of abnormal psychology is that the person who copes poorly with life and whose personal responses have somehow become disordered or deranged. The term "Psychosis refers the most serious form of mental illness".