| Summary: | "This is a book about abnormal people. Written at a level suitable for undergraduates with a limited background in psychology, it represents an attempt to summarize our present knowledge concerning the causes, symptoms, treatment, and outcome of the psychoneuroses, psychoses, mental deficiencies, and antisocial personalities. In general, the presentation of the material conforms to that found in the usual introductory textbook of abnormal psychology, but a few innovations, based on the author's clinical and teaching experience, have been introduced. Wherever possible, the reactions of mental patients and normal individuals have been compared so that the student may better evaluate the place of abnormal behavior in the whole continuum of human behavior. Since most students will have more contacts with psychoneurotic than with other types of psychological deviants, several chapters have been devoted to the psychoneuroses. A chapter on antisocial personalities, including delinquents, criminals, and psychopaths, has been added to complete the roster of personality misfits in society. Of special significance is the inclusion of recent statistical findings with respect to incidence and outcome. The traditional chapters on sleep and dreams have been omitted because these are normal phenomena. However, material on sleep and dreams pertinent to abnormal psychology has been included"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
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