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Examination of Clinical Psychology

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Examination of Clinical Psychology
Jessica Brockman
PSY/480
October 3, 2011
Stacie Flynn

Examination of Clinical Psychology The word clinical comes from the Greek word klinike, which means “medical practice at the sickbed” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56), the word psychology comes from the word psyche, which means “soul or mind” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56). Clinical Psychology is “the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2011, p. 5). Clinical psychology has a rich history compiled with information derived from philosophy, biology, and science. In this paper the history and the evolving nature of clinical psychology will be described as well as an explanation of the role research and statistics has on clinical psychology, and a comparison of clinical psychology to other mental health profession.
The History of Clinical Psychology Greek history presented a background of early Greek thinkers, who acknowledged an interconnection between the mind and body as well as the influence the interconnection has on illnesses. One of the first contributors to psychology came from Hippocrates, who believed disease, temperament, and personality originated from an imbalance within four humors that he called black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood within an individual’s environment (Plante, 2011). Hippocrates also suggested that abnormal behavior, physical, and emotional illnesses were influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Aristotle was another Greek, who argued a scientific basis suggesting distinct emotional periods influenced the way in which the human body functioned. Aristotle’s view of logic and reason as an influence on emotional and behavior problems is a major value of cognitive therapy seen today (Plante, 2011). Galen combined the beliefs of Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle by

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