Question

Compare and contrast

Abnormal psychology and Clinical Psychology

Answer 1

Abnormal Psychology is the branch of Theoretical Psychology that aims to study the causes of any behaviour that deviates from what is considered as 'normal' or 'acceptable' behaviour. It studies unusual patterns of thinking, feeling and acting for e.g., depression, phobias, mood disorders, mental retardation, schizophrenia, etc.

Clinical Psychology is concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of serious emotional, psychological and behavioural disorders such as delinquency, depression, drug addiction, etc.

Clinical psychologists do not have medical training. They collect detailed information about a client using techniques like psychological tests, interviews, case study, etc. They use psycho therapeutic methods to help the client to deal with the problem. They work in hospitals, health centers, etc.

The knowledge obtained from Abnormal Psychology viz. clinical description, (symptoms) causes, consequences of behaviours that deviate from normal is used by Clinical Psychology (applied field) in the study, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals having psychological disorders. Like phobias, depression, etc.