Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Psychology
  5. / Human Behavior

by cmay07 on August 27th, 2006

cmay07

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is abnormality, and what are the biochemical causes of abnormality?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by fredhetz on November 29th, 2006

    fredhetz

    "Abnormality" does not have a conventional definition because it has to be considered in context:

    The definition of the word abnormal is simple enough: deviating from the norm. However, applying this to psychology poses a complex problem: what is normal? Whose norm? For what age? For what culture? Some would simply classify what is "good" as normal and what is "bad" as abnormal, but this is a vague and narrow definition and brings up many of the same questions for the definition of "good" as does the definition for "normal". There are many more ways of determining a more objective reference point.

    The most common criterion for defining abnormality, however, is maladaptiveness. There are two aspects of maladaptive bahvior:

    1. Maladaptive to one's self - inability to reach goals, to adapt to the demands of life and

    2. Maladaptive to society - interferes, disrupts social group functioning.

    The simplest way I can address the issue of biochemical causes of abnormality is to say that some "abnormality" (in the psychiatric sense) is caused by either an excess or lack of neurotransmitters.

    Comments
    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What is abnormality, and what are the biochemical causes of abnormality?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company