Abnormal psychology is a specialization that explores patterns of behavior and thought that is considered abnormal. It’s often thought that abnormal psychology deals in extremes of mental illnesses. However, it actually focuses on any thoughts or behaviors that deviate from what is widely accepted to be the norm.
In theory, everyone has thoughts and behaviors that fall somewhere along a spectrum. The further one moves from the normal range, the more likely it is that the thoughts and behaviors in this area are considered abnormal. However, it’s important to realize that everyone has their own definition of what normal means. As a result, in practice, abnormal psychologists give greater weight to the degree to which one’s abnormal thoughts and behaviors are distressing or disruptive to one’s daily life.