Abnormality Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality
•Deviation from social norms
•Failure to function Adequately
•Deviation from ideal mental health
•Statistical Infrequency
What does every society have
A set of norms
Explicit (laws) and implicit (manners and customs)
What happens if someone doesn’t abide by social norms
They would be defined as abnormal
Why do we have a set of standards
Politeness
What is abnormal behavior defined as
Going against unwritten rules and expectations in society OR that which offends other members of the social/cultural group
What does FFA stand for
Failure to Function Adequately
What does FFA refer to
Abnormality that prevent a person from carrying out a range of behaviors that society would expect from them
FFA: What did Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) suggest about how abnormality is defined
•when an observer feels uncomfortable around there behavior
•behavior is unpredictable
•behavior is irrational and hard to understand
•maladaptive and their daily routine are interfered with
FFA: Example of when observer feels uncomfortable around their behavior
Someone screaming in the street
Examples of when someone’s behavior is unpredictable
Trying to be aggressive
Example of when someone’s behavior is irrational/hard to understand
Shouting random words
Failing to create coherent sentences
Example of when someone’s maladaptive and their daily routines are interrupted with
Not eating, not going to school, sleeping too much - causing personal stress
What does deviation from ideal mental health refer to
There are a set of mental characteristics that we should have to normal for ‘optimal living’
The more of criteria that are absent…
The more serious the abnormality
What do the characteristics enable an individual to feel
Happy and behave competently
