Because they are so common and so personal, these problems capture the
interest of us all. Countless novels, plays, films, and television programs have explored what many people see as the dark side of human nature, and self-help books flood the market. Mental health experts are popular guests on both television and radio, and many have their own shows, websites, YouTube channels, and blogs.
Why do actors who portray characters with psychological disorders tend to receive more awards for their performances?
The field devoted to the scientific study of the problems we find so fascinating is usually called abnormal psychology. As in any science, workers in this field, called clinical scientists, gather information systematically so that they can describe, predict, and explain the phenomena they study. The knowledge that they acquire is then used by clinical practitioners, whose role is to detect, assess, and treat abnormal patterns of functioning.