psychopathology

Also known as: abnormal psychology

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Article History

Also called:: abnormal psychology

Key People:: Karl Jaspers; Alfred Adler; Hermann Rorschach; Théodule-Armand Ribot; Richard, baron von Krafft-Ebing

Related Topics:: mental disorder; psychology; psychophysics; antisocial personality disorder

psychopathology, the study of mental disorders and unusual or maladaptive behaviours. An understanding of the genesis of mental disorders is critical to mental health professionals in psychiatry, psychology, and social work. One controversial issue in psychopathology is the distinction between dysfunctional, or aberrant, and merely idiosyncratic behaviours.