Beyond Psychopathology in Clinical Psychology: Developmental Pathways to the future

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2013 in the subject Psychology - Clinic and Health Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, , language: English, abstract: Evidence in the past two decades on psychopathology has come up with a suggestion that research should to toy the line of dynamism and innovativeness, both in theory and practice. Drawing together outcomes from various psychopathology's studies, this article presents an overview on the need to move beyond psychopathology and clinical intervention and embraces developmental perspectives to elucidate adaptive and maladaptive in human behaviour and functioning The paper highlights the need for professionals in the field of clinical psychology to shoulder the policy of equivalence that gives developmental perspectives the same treatment and status enjoy by psychopathology. In realizing this objective, this paper highlights and addresses three underlying themes: 1) to understand the fact that amelioration of psychosocial problems, needs a multidisciplinary and multidimensional quality and experiential consideration from other disciplines, 2) analyse how the field of clinical psychology and mental health in general gain from assessing psychopathology from developmental perspectives, 3) examine behavioral, emotional and learning problems using the principles, advancement and prospect of developmental paradigm to address the concept, challenges and variances associated with human psychopathology. Finaly, the study concludes that a continued and expanded interface between normal and atypical development,coupled with interdisciplinary perspective, if fostered, will create an inspiring innovative epoch of hypothetical and experiential work in developmental sciences.

Olusegun Afolabi had his first degree, B.Sc (Hon) Psychology from University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1998, Master degree in Children Health Development Learning Intervention (M. CHILD) from Malardalen University, Sweden in 2006, Master of Social Work (Clinical) from University of Botswana, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from Atlantic International University, USA and PhD in Special Education from University of Botswana . Dr. Afolabi, is a member of British Psychological Society (MBPsS) and International Society in Early Intervention (ISEI).