ATYPICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Question 1

situational approach

Answer 1

different situations require specific behaviour, eg It’s not normal to tell jokes, loudly, at a funeral

Question 2

Societal/Cultural Approach

Answer 2

society has ‘norms’ and rules which govern behaviour, eg It’s normal for a child to look an adult in the eyes when talking to them but in Japan that is
considered rude.

Question 3

Historical Approach

Answer 3

time changes the concept of what is ‘normal’, eg A few decades ago a minority of teenagers had body piercings and tattoos. Today the number has
increased.

Question 4

Statistical Approach

Answer 4

normality can be defined in terms of what is most frequently occurring in a population. Characteristics/behaviour outside the normal range = abnormal eg It is statistically abnormal to be 7 feet tall or have an IQ of 145.

Question 5

Functional Approach

Answer 5

normality is dependent on the person being able to carry out their
normal activities, eg It’s not normal for panic attacks to prevent a person from going to work in the morning.

Question 6

Medical Approach

Answer 6

abnormality is defined by the diagnosis of mental illness from specific
symptoms, eg It’s not normal to hear voices and experience hallucinations.

Question 7

Adaptive behaviour

Answer 7

any behaviour that
enables the individual to adjust to the
environment appropriately and effectively

Question 8

adaptive behaviour example

Answer 8

someone is usually quiet has to do
a public presentation this person may have to change their behaviour to match the more social requirements.

Question 9

maladaptive behaviour

Answer 9

any behaviour that interferes with the individual’s ability to adjust to the environment appropriately and
effectively. It involves actions that impair a person’s ability to satisfactorily carry out their usual everyday tasks

Question 10

maladaptive behaviour example

Answer 10

if someone is usually quiet and withdrawn but has to do a public presentation and fails to communicate with others upon having to do a group assignment

Question 11

typical behaviour

Answer 11

relation to individual behaviour means that, at most times, the person
acts as they usually do, eg an individual was to celebrate positive news, such as their favourite soccer team winning a match, by dancing and shouting,

Question 12

atypical behaviour

Answer 12

a person acts in ways that are unusual for them. Essentially, they are
behaving ‘out of character, eg An enthusiastic person suddenly becomes
withdrawn or sullen.

Question 13

mental health

Answer 13

the current state of a person’s psychological wellbeing and functioning.
This therefore includes all different kinds of psychological states that you may experience.

Question 14

mental health problem

Answer 14

Often occurs as a result of a life stressor, Usually less severe, Shorter duration than disorder and Will often resolve with time or when life stressor changes or passes

Question 15

mental disorder

Answer 15

Combination of thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours which impair the ability to function effectively in everyday life