Normality and Psychopathology

Nrmality is quite hard to define. The line between what is considered normal and abnormal is not always clear. There are different ways to look at normality. Normal Behaviour refers to a lack of significant deviation from the average.

Normality is thus the deviation from average. There are quite some models for looking at normality.

One model is to place behaviour on a straight line between two point. One extreme point is supernormality, and the other is abnormality. Normality is found around the middle of the line.

Another model is that normality is found between an ideal and a despised self. Normality is the balance between the two.

Throughout history, different theorists have put forwards different theories to try and define normality. I am going to focus on 3 approaches only. The psychoanalytic, learning and cognitive approaches.

The psychoanalytic perspective

When we think of psychoanalytic the one name that comes to mind is Freud. For freud, The mind is divided into the conscious

and the unconscious

level. The conscious

level is about things that we are aware of, like for example, I hate ice cream because it`s cold. The unconscious

level are what influence our behaviors, yet we are not aware it, like for example, I hate ice cream because it`s cold, and i hate cold, because the doctor used cold forceps to get me out from my mother`s womb . The reason i hate cold, may not be something i am aware of on a conscious

level because this memory dates to the day i was born. On an unconscious

level, it makes me hate everything cold. The personality is further divided into 3 parts: the Id, Ego and superego. The Id is that part that is based on pleasure seeking principle At three years old, if i wanted a chocolate, all that will matter is to satisfy this crave, even throwing up tantrums if i have to, so long as i get it. This is a good illustration of the Id. The superego, is the opposite, it is the awareness of shame, the set of moral values one has.. At the age of six years old, i may want a chocolate. My Id tells me to take it., even if I have to steal it. My superego, tell me it`s wrong to steal.The ego regulates the pattern between the Id and the superego. I want a chocolate, my id tells me to get one, even if i have to steal one, my superego is going to tell me it`s shameful to steal. My ego, will juggle between the two, so that i may ask and wait for my parents to give me the chocolate, and if ever they refused, i`ll differ having the chocolate later on, not throwing a tantrum in front of everyone.

Someone with too much Id or too much superego is considered to be abnormal, to be psychopathologic. For example, someone who always seek pleasure,not caring about any moral or immorality, like a cleptomaniac person. Or on the other hand someone who is obsess with morals like someone who maniacally wash his her hand every 5 minutes.

The learning theories

For them abnormal behaviour is caused by learning. Someone is conditioned to have a particular behaviour. For example, a child who is constantly slapped whenever he watch television. He will develop a fear when watching television. The constant reinforcement of the punishment is going to lead the child to develop a phobia of television.This phobia could become a pathology, whenever the person see a television, his/her phobia could become such that he.she will become violent and crash the television.

The cognitive theories

This is mainly focusing on the thinking process. For them , the abnormal behaviour is a result of a twisted thinking process. For example , say someone keeps hurting himself/herself by scarification . He/she thinks that scarification is the way for hmseilf/herself to atone for his/her sins. From the cognitive perspective, change the thinking and you change the behaviour. So ,what should be done is to lead the person to think differently, that scarification doesn`t atone for his/her sins, so that this person stop his/her abnormal behaviour.

Psychopathology, is the term which indicate the presence of mental illnesses.It`s any action or behaviour which may cause disability ,distress, depression.

There is a list of criteria that has been published by the American Psychiatric Association that helps diagnosing normality and psychopathology. Mental disorders is considered to be rooted in childhood or adolescence , in most case

Mental retardation

The individual does not attain maturity at the same pace as average persons. He/she is slower.Like you tell a retarded six years old, what`s your age, he may not be able to answer.

Learning disorders

A ten years old is for example, not able to learn Abc`s.

Motor skills disorder

At 3 years old, the child is not yet able to stand.

Communications disorder

The child is not able to make friends with others of his age group.

Pervasive development disorders

An autist child for example

Attention Deficit Disruptive disorder

The child cannot stay sitted for five minutes to listen to the teacher. He/she is hyperactive for example.

Feeding and eating disorder

A six years old child who suffer from anorexia for example.

Tic disorders.

For example a child who has constant trembling hands.

Elimination disorder

A child who has constipation

Other disorders

For example, a child who suffer from anxiety, or one who remain mute deliberately or talks only to one person.

2 Delirium, Dementia, and Amnestic and Other Cognitive Disorders

2.1 Delirium

someone who thinks he is superman for example

2.2 Dementia