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
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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

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 13 Feb. 2025.

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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