http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/2245886

Foundations of abnormal psychology

When the objective scientist undertakes the study of any phenomenon, he first attempts to discover the physical cause producing it; he next looks for the physical machinery through which this cause acts. Knowing the cause and the underlying machinery, he can more adequately describe and explain the phenomenon. As a final step, he may attempt to devise methods of controlling or preventing the phenomenon. The above procedure has been followed insofar as possible in our study of mental disorder. We begin by giving the physical agents that produce the disorder; we next consider the underlying tissue pathology which these agents produce; third, we consider the mental abnormalities resulting from this tissue pathology; and fourth, we consider methods for preventing the disorder or for curing it when once it is acquired. In those instances in which the physical cause and pathology are unknown, we have been frank to say so. We recognize that the science of abnormal psychology is still in its infancy, and it is to be expected that the next ten years will bring many changes and additions to the material set forth in this book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).

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