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 is “deviation from social norms”?
Abnormal behaviour is that which goes against the unwritten rules of a society or culture
What is “failure to function adequately”?
Abnormal behaviour is that which causes an inability to cope with everyday life - behaviour may disrupt ability to work or conduct satisfying personal relationships.
What is “deviation from ideal mental health”?
Behaviour is abnormal if it fails to meet the criteria for psychological normality.
What is “statistical infrequency”?
Abnormal behaviour is that which is statistically rare
What are social norms?
Standard of acceptable behaviour created by a group of people and adhered by everyone within that group
What are the limitations of the definition “deviation from social norms”
Breaking social norms might be beneficial - suffragettes
Social norms of a society might change over time - homosexuality was classed as a mental illness till 1990
Deviation from social norms doesn’t always lead to mental health issues - naturists
Who are the 2 names needed for “failure to function adequately”?
Seligman & Rosenhan
What are the 7 features that Rosenhan and Seligman suggested about personal dysfunction ?
- Personal distress
- Maladaptive behaviour
- Unpredictability
- Irrationality
- Observer discomfort
- Violation of moral standards
- Unconventionality
What is maladaptive behaviour?
Behaviour which prevents someone from reaching their goals - socially or occupationally
What is unconventionality?
Displaying behaviour which is not usually done under those certain circumstances
What are the limitations of “failure to function adequately”?
Abnormality isn’t always accompanied by a failure to function - Harold Shipman
There are times in life when it is normal to feel distressed
A person’s behaviour that distresses others may not cause that person distress - Steven Gough
Who is Steven Gough?
Man who wanted to hike naked and was very persistent about it
Who is Harold Shipman?
A doctor/SERIAL KILLER whole killed 213 patients over 23 years - during that time everyone thought he was a normal and respectable man
What did Jahoda do?
Developed “ideal mental health” - 6 characteristics which makes one normal
What are the 6 characteristics of “ideal mental health”?
- Positive attitude to yourself
- Self-actualisation
- Autonomy - being independent
- Resistance to stress - able to cope with everyday stresses of life
- Accurate perception of reality - not viewing reality in a distorted manner
- Environment mastery - being able to handle any challenges life throws at you
What is self-actualisation?
experiencing personal growth and development and reach one’s full potential
What are the cons of the definition “deviation from ideal mental health”?
A lot of criteria demanding and unreliable - being happy about yourself all the time
A lot of the criteria is difficult to measure and subject - reaching one’s full potential
The way we judge good mental health differs with cultures - Japanese and US culture
What are the cons of statistical infrequency?
Fails to recognise desirable, yet rare traits - high IQ
Some psychological disorders aren’t rare - 27% of the elderly have depression (NIMH, 2001)
Many rare behaviours/traits have no correlation to mental health - being left/right-handed
