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Read this article to learn about the practical importance of studying psychopathology:
Freud’s view that nobody is cent per cent normal though held by some as an exaggeration, it should be accepted beyond doubt that abnormality is perhaps the major problem of a modern civilized society.
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It is, however, unfortunate that this problem has been very much neglected in India. Psychologists should consider it to be their first and foremost duty to help the mentally ill person to lead as far as practicable a normal life in the society.
Those who help in solving serious personality problems and deal with people having problems of adjustment definitely contribute to the welfare of the humanity. Perhaps this would be the greatest and finest contribution of a psychologist to the mankind.
Therefore, Coleman (1981) views that the study of abnormal behaviour may be of great value in bettering individual adjustment and in reducing the great amount of misery arising out of mental illness and maladjustment in modern society.
In primitive times, abnormality was considered as a kind of mystical or spiritual occurrence. They thought that some people are enchanted by some evil spirits and thus the patients were treated in a very crude and unscientific process.
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Today it is neither considered terrible nor uncommon. Many persons suffering from mental diseases are amenable to treatment.
A scientific study of abnormal behaviour is essential for the following facts:
1. To know the nature and the cause of abnormality it leads us to understand the mechanism of abnormal mind, diagnose the disease and predict the progress of the disease. Hence abnormality no longer stands as a mystery or a curse.
2. A correct understanding of abnormality can check, prevents and cure the disease.
Modern psychopathology is also of great importance for common man as already discussed. In America every year about 1, 50,000 or more new patients are admitted to mental hospitals. These figures do not include the patients going to private clinics for counselling and treatment. Moreover, the innumerable mild cases which are never referred to a psychiatrist remain unrepresented.
In America as statistics shows, about 10 per cent of population suffers from severe types of mental diseases or insanity as it is popularly called. It has also been estimated that about 15 per cent of the undergraduate students of American Colleges need the services of the psychological counsellor.
Probably, at sometime or other it is expected that most of the students may need some sort of psychological counselling and advice because of the competitive situation of the college campus and academic life.
In India though the percentage may not be that high in comparison to their western counterparts usually 4 to 5 per cent seek regular guidance and counselling from an expert in the area. This is also the author’s personal experience that has been in the teaching profession for 27 years.
In view of the above facts, abnormal psychology has been of tremendous importance for modern people. The implications and significance of abnormal psychology lies in studying the maladjusted and abnormal personality.
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It is also of value to the so called normal people of the society. This supports Freud’s view that nobody is cent per cent normal and everybody needs some sort of guidance, counselling and advice to overcome anxiety, depression, worries and other major/minor mental illness arising out of the stresses, strains and competitiveness of modern society.
Modern psychopathology is also of great need and importance to medicine. In fact, it is predicted that 50 per cent of the medicines in future will be psychological medicines. It is of tremendous importance to common man as over 10 per cent of the total population is expected to suffer from severe mental illness and tentatively every one of the population is likely to suffer from at least mild mental illness or depression during his life time.