Which of the following describes the causes of abnormal behavior?

• A. Boredom
• B. Malnutrition
• C. Overcrowding
• D. Biological factors & Cognitive-emotional-behavioral & environmental factors

Answer: (D)

Abnormal behavior is best understood as the result of multiple interacting influences across biological, psychological, and environmental domains. This biopsychosocial perspective recognizes that biological factors like genetics or brain chemistry can create vulnerability; cognitive-emotional-behavioral processes—how a person thinks, feels, and learns to cope—shape how distress is experienced and expressed; and environmental factors such as family dynamics, culture, stress, and life events can trigger or worsen symptoms. Seeing all three domains together shows why behavior problems can arise in diverse ways and why they vary across individuals.

The other factors listed—boredom, malnutrition, or overcrowding—can influence mental health, but they represent only one piece of the puzzle. They may contribute in specific situations, yet they don’t by themselves account for how biological, psychological, and environmental factors interact to produce abnormal behavior.