1 - Intro to Abnormal Psych Flashcards
What are the 7 indicators of ‘abnormality’?
Subjective distress Maladaptiveness Deviance from norm Violation of the standards of society Social discomfort Irrationality and unpredictability Dangerousness
What affects whether observed symptoms are clinically diagnosable?
Distress vs wellbeing
Risk vs safety
Deviation vs norm
Dysfunction vs adaptation
How does culture influence abnormality?
Cultural views of behaviour, normality and abnormality differ
- what is seen as a ‘disorder’ in one culture might be highly valued, encouraged, and rewarded in another
Cultural factors influence the presentation of distress and determine coping
- depressed clients - “burden their family”
- clients with psychosis - “ghosts”, “judged for their sins”
- anxious child fearful of disappointing strict parents
What are the different cultural views of ‘abnormality’?
Perceived normality Moral - personal culpability Medical - biological origin, disease (particularly problematic) Psychological Spiritual Historical and political
What do interpretations of a client’s ‘abnormality’ vary within the context of? (4 things)
Current circumstances
Social norms
Cultural norms
Language
No one dimension has exclusive power to define normality
What is considered ‘abnormal’ behaviour today depends on perspective taken
Why does cultural context matter?
It affects how we treat people in psychological distress
- Western cultures tend to be psychologically informed, more normalising and compassionate
- Chinese lay understandings more on moralising
In Eastern cultures, causation often attributed to social, familial or spiritual problems
What is the cultural context of ‘abnormality’ in Singapore?
38.3% “people with mental health problems are dangerous”
49.6% “public should be protected from them”
21.5% “people with mental health problems are largely to blame for their own condition”
Negative attitudes correlated with higher age and lower education
What is epidemiology?
The study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviours in a given population
What is prevalence?
The number of active cases in a population during any given period of time
E.g., lifetime/12-month/30-day prevalence %, 12 month/lifetime prevalence ratio, 30-day/12-month prevalence ratio
What is incidence?
The number of new cases in a population over a given period of time
What are the advantages of diagnosis?
Provides nomenclature and shared language
Allows access to services among diagnosed patients
Defines inclusion criteria in research studies
Summarises a range of problems to address
What are the disadvantages of diagnosis?
Stigmatising and stereotyping
Not sufficient to inform treatment
Based on disease paradigm
What is a helpful alternative to diagnosis?
Continuum-based understanding
e.g.,
Ability to cope
Duration of distress
Intensity of distress
Why is it problematic to treat mental illness as a disease?
Medical concept of psychological health (disease of the brain) e.g., diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia lacks reliability, validity, clear aetiology and certain outcomes of treatment
Establishment of institutions (asylums)
Contributes to hopelessness and helplessness
Why is it problematic that diagnosis is a social construct?
Language is important in the development of personally meaningful narrative of own experiences
We construct, interpret and understand our experiences through the language we use to describe them. We believe we are who we think we are
e.g., I am not normal, I have a disease vs I have had terrible experiences, I need help to feel better and find joy again
