Abnormality - Definitions

Question 1

What are the 3 points defining abnormality?

Answer 1

1. Deviation from social norms
2. Failure to function adequately
3. Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

In terms of deviating from social norms, give an explicit and implicit social rule

Answer 2

Explicit: Laws
Implicit: Personal space

Question 3

Give an example of not being able to function adequately

Answer 3

Not being able to hold down a job / taking part in social activities

Question 4

Who proposed the ideal mental health criteria?

Answer 4

Jahoda

Question 5

List 3 of the criteria for ideal mental health

Answer 5

1. Positive attitudes towards one’s self
2. Resistance to stress
3. Accurate perception of reality

Question 6

What does a positive attitude towards the self involve?

Answer 6

Accepting one’s limitations and possibilities. Viewing realistically and objectively

Question 7

What does resistance to stress mean?

Answer 7

The ability to tolerate anxiety without disintegration, and having good coping strategies for stressful situations. People more vulnerable to stress are more likely to develop psychological problems.

Question 8

What does an accurate perception of reality involve?

Answer 8

Seeing life in realistic terms; not overly optimistic/pessimistic.

Question 9

What could being overly positive lead to?

Answer 9

Being vulnerable to others taking advantage of them

Question 10

What could being overly negative lead to?

Answer 10

Being more likely to develop a depressive disorder

Question 11

List 3 limitations of ‘deviation from social norms’

Answer 11

1. Change with time
2. Risk of abuse
3. Cultural issue

Question 12

Explain ‘change with time’ as a limitation of ‘deviation from social norms’

Answer 12

Abnormality beliefs and social norms of morally acceptable behaviour change over time

Question 13

Explain ‘risk of abuse’ as a limitation of ‘deviation from social norms’

Answer 13

Risk that those who deviate are labelled ‘mad’ and are treated accordingly

Question 14

Explain ‘cultural issues’ as a limitation of ‘deviation from social norms’

Answer 14

Western cultures tend to believe that white population behaviour is the social norm and a deviation by other ethnic groups indicates psychological abnormality

Question 15

List 2 limitations of ‘failure to function adequately’

Answer 15

1. Exceptions to the rule

2. Dysfunction is not necessarily an indicator of all disorders

Question 16

Explain ‘exceptions to the rule’ as a limitation of ‘failure to function adequately’

Answer 16

In certain situation, the failure to function adequately is understandable due to the context, but these people are not necessarily abnormal as the behaviour is just temporary

Question 17

Explain ‘dysfunction not being an indicator of all disorders’ as a limitation of ‘failure to function adequately’

Answer 17

Psychological disorders may not prevent a person from functioning normally; someone could maintain adequate functioning despite clinical levels of a disorder

Question 18

List 3 limitations of ‘deviations from ideal mental health’

Answer 18

1. Difficulty of self-actualizing
2. Positive benefits of stress
3. Cultural issues

Question 19

Explain ‘difficulty of self-actualizing’ as a limitation of ‘deviations from ideal mental health’

Answer 19

In reality, very few people achieve their full potential in life, therefore most would score low on this criteria

Question 20

Explain ‘positive benefits of stress’ as a limitation of ‘deviations from ideal mental health’

Answer 20

Some people work more effectively under stress

Question 21

Explain ‘cultural issues’ as a limitation of ‘deviations from ideal mental health’

Answer 21

Jahoda’s ideas are based on Western ideals

Question 22

What format would you use if asked to outline a limitation of a definition of abnormality?

Answer 22

• STATE
• EXPLAIN
• EXAMPLE