Abnormal psychology were thought to be possessed by evil spirits that had to be exercised through religious rituals. If exorcism failed, some authorities advocated steps such as confinement, beating, and other types of torture to make the body uninhabitable by witches, demons, and spirits. The belief that witches, demons, and spirits are responsible for the abnormal behavior continued into the 15th century. Swiss alchemist, astrologer, and physician Paracelsus (1493–1541), on the other hand, rejected the idea that abnormal behaviors were caused by witches, demons, and spirits and suggested that people's mind and behaviors were influenced by the movements of the moon and
Journal of Abnormal Psychology and 11th out of 121 journals in the category "Psychology, Clinical". Journal of Abnormal Psychology The Journal of Abnormal Psychology is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Psychological Association (APA). The journal has been in publication for 110 years, and it is considered to be a "preeminent outlet for research in psychopathology". The "Journal of Abnormal Psychology" addresses the following major areas of focus: The journal began publication in April 1906 under the ownership of Richard G. Badger of Boston and the editorship of Morton Prince. In 1921, the name was changed to the "Journal of Abnormal Psychology