Abnormality

Question 1

What are social norms?

Answer 1

The behaviour or characteristics that are expected, accepted and desirable within a community.

Question 2

According do deviation from social norma what is abnormal behaviour?

Answer 2

Behaviour that violates or doesn’t conform to these expected, acceptable or desirable behaviour.

Question 3

Strength of deviation of social norms -

Answer 3

Generally ensures that people get help as it is very clear to others in society that someone’s behaviour is abnormal.

Situational and developmental norms are taken into account.

Question 4

Limitation of deviation of social norms -

Answer 4

Subjective and biased
Often relate to moral standards to changes over time
Cultural bias.

Question 5

Define ethnocentrism -

Answer 5

Judging another culture based on the values and standards one’s own culture. There is a tendency to view the values and standards of one’s own culture as right and therefore superior to those of other cultures.

Question 6

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 6

The inability to cope with day-to-day living. When an individual’s behaviour is such that they are unable to work, form or maintain relationships, attend to their own physical needs etc.

Question 7

What were the 7 abnormal features that Rosenhan and Seligman suggest might indicate a failure to function adequately?

Answer 7

Personal distress 
Maladaptive behaviour
Unpredictability 
Irrationality 
Observer discomfort 
Violation of moral standards 
Unconventionality 

THE MORE OF THESE FEATURES AN INDIVIDUAL SHOWS, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE FUNCTIONING ADEQUATELY.

Question 8

Personal distress -

Answer 8

as might be experienced with depression or anxiety disorders.

Question 9

Maladaptive behaviour -

Answer 9

stops individuals from attaining life goals

Question 10

Unpredictability -

Answer 10

displaying unexpected behaviour characterised by loss of control.

Question 11

Irrationality -

Answer 11

displaying behaviour that cannot be explained rationally

Question 12

Observer discomfort -

Answer 12

Behaviour that makes others uncomfortable

Question 13

Violation of moral standards -

Answer 13

displaying behaviour that goes against society’s norms

Question 14

Unconventionality -

Answer 14

displaying unusual or eccentric behaviour

Question 15

Strength of failure function adequately -

Answer 15

• Supported by the fact that people seek psychological help because their mental health is affecting their day-to-day life.
• It largely recognises the personal experience of the individual so the mental disorder is regarded from the sufferers perspective.

Question 16

Limitation of failure to function adequately -

Answer 16

Abnormality is not always accompanied by disfunction (rlly clever) - Harold Shipman appeared normal but was a psychopath.

Cultural Bias

Question 17

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 17

Jahonda turns the traditional notion of abnormality on its head by looking at positives rather than negatives.
removing the mental health stereotype

Question 18

What were the 6 major criteria identified by Jahonda for ideal mental health?

Answer 18

• Positive attitude towards oneself.
• Self actualisation
• Autonomy
• Resisting stress
• Accurate perception of reality
• Environmental mastery

ANYONE WHO DOES NOT MEET ALL 6 OF THESE CRITERIA WOULD BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL BY THIS DEFINITION.

Question 19

Strength of deviation from ideal mental health -

Answer 19

emphasises positive achievements

allows creation of personal goals to work towards and achieve.

Question 20

Limitation of deviation from ideal mental health -

Answer 20

Over demanding criteria - according to this definition most people are abnormal

Cultural bias

Question 21

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 21

This definition considers behaviours that are numerically rare in the population to be abnormal. It relies on psychological characteristics or behaviours being able to be measured and assigned some kind of score.

Question 22

According to the statistical infrequency definition ……

Answer 22

any score that is so rare that falls more than two standard deviations away from the mean would be considered abnormal. This would occur in only 5% of the population.

Question 23

Strength of the statistical infrequency definition -

Answer 23

Based on real, unbiased data.

NO value judgements are made - abnormal behaviour isn’t seen as wrong

Question 24

Limitation of the statistical infrequency definition -

Answer 24

Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal.