abnormal psychology

noun

: a branch of psychology concerned with mental and emotional disorders (such as anxiety disorders, phobias, depression, and developmental disorders) and with certain incompletely understood normal phenomena (such as dreams and hypnosis)

Examples of abnormal psychology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The film, however, is more than a social drama about homelessness or a black comic examination of abnormal psychology. Mark Schilling, Variety, 15 Feb. 2024 She was drawn to psychology after taking an abnormal psychology class with professor Kathleen Gibney. Tim Casey, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 Boston University, for instance, offers several noncredit programs that allow students to meet peers and get a feel for the college experience, including its two-week Summer Challenge seminars in topics like abnormal psychology and the chemistry of medicine. Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022 Segal was in her last year of college at Boston University when her abnormal psychology professor gave an assignment to write about people adjusting to situations. Hannah Frystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2022 At Boston College, Kyleigh studied abnormal psychology and neuroscience, volunteered at a homeless shelter and then at a group home for women with psychiatric disorders, trying to help fill the gaps in a system that failed her sister. Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, PEOPLE.com, 17 Mar. 2022 Walker taught undergraduate courses on research methods, abnormal psychology and personality. Graydon Megan, chicagotribune.com, 12 June 2018 Having a school textbook put a name to symptoms like this is an experience Kirkham shares with Wakilah Majied, 35, who came across the definition of flat affect last year in an abnormal psychology course at community college. Gina Ryder, Glamour, 4 May 2018 Out of all the fictional options to choose from, the abnormal psychology of the criminally villainous is a pretty popular choice. Paige S. Allen, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abnormal psychology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abnormal psychology was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near abnormal psychology

Cite this Entry

“Abnormal psychology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abnormal%20psychology. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

abnormal psychology

noun
: a branch of psychology concerned with mental and emotional disorders (as anxiety disorders, phobias, depression, and developmental disorders) and with certain incompletely understood normal phenomena (as dreams and hypnosis)

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