Midlands State University Library

Textbook of abnormal psychology

DORCUS, Roy Melvin, 1901-

Textbook of abnormal psychology by Roy M. Dorcus and G. Wilson Shaffer. - 2d ed. - Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1939. - xvii, 475 p.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 443-461).

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"The text books in Abnormal Psychology which have appeared in the last ten years are, on the whole, either restricted to a discussion of the purely functional disorders in which the organic aspects are ignored or else they tend to explain all mental abnormalities as having an organic origin. The present writers have purposely ignored the problem of adapting the text to those students whose preparation in psychology and the related sciences is inadequate. On the contrary, this text has been written to fill the needs of advanced students in Psychology, Pre-medical students and Medical students who desire more psychological information. The latter group should find that the material dovetails with their information on Physiology, Neurology and Psychiatry. We have also purposely introduced, wherever possible, scientific terminology rather than popular terminology, since we feel that the scientific terms will be encountered by the individual from time to time in daily life and that a course in Abnormal Psychology should familiarize students with these terms. The facts and principles of abnormal psychology have been presented by other texts almost entirely apart from the principles of normal psychology. In the present text, the authors have attempted to approach the discussion of abnormal phenomena through consideration of the normal. The symptoms and behavior of the abnormal individuals are not seen as completely new or mysterious ways of reacting but are recognized as exaggerated manifestations of normal functioning. Thus, dissociations of the personality are viewed in the light of the various conceptions of normal integration; and the abnormalities in the attempts at satisfaction of desires are considered through an understanding of the normal functioning of desires. Our approach has followed along the lines of what has come to be known as reaction psychology. However, eclecticism has been utilized wherever it seemed helpful in the understanding of the phenomena under discussion. In most texts, the obvious question as to what is to be done about the abnormalities discussed, seems to be left unanswered. Consequently we have attempted to set forth the major principles of psychotherapy as they are practiced today. It is hoped that this material will not only be helpful to the Premedical and Medical students but will also indicate to the general student the principles which are applicable to the treatment of these conditions and enable them to adjust themselves better to their environment"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).


Electronic reproduction.
[S.l.] :
HathiTrust Digital Library,
2010.


Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002.
http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212


Psychology, Pathological.
Mental Disorders.