University of London, Royal Holloway

This course provides an introduction to the concept of abnormal psychology. The course starts with developing an understanding and knowledge about how we define abnormality in psychology and how this has developed and changed throughout history. Different approaches to understanding abnormal psychology are covered, starting with the biomedical model of abnormality. Following this, social, and cultural approaches to abnormality are covered, followed by the philosophy of abnormality. Psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive approaches to abnormality are also covered in detail. There is a focus on psychological disorders as they are currently classify them in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The hierarchy of evidence in clinical psychology research is also covered.