C3: MH: Topic 1

Question 1

Outline the three definitions to define abnormality

Answer 1

Statistical infrequency: certain behaviours are statistically rare

Deviation from social norms: behaviours that’s socially deviant is regarded abnormal

Maladaptiveness: psychological distress or discomfort

Question 2

Describe statistical infrequency

Answer 2

A person’s trait / thinking / behaviour is classified abnormal if rare / statistically unusual
So should be clear about how rare a trait needs to be before classing it abnormal

Question 3

Describe the problems / weaknesses of statistical infrequency

Answer 3

• just because some traits are rare doesn’t means they’re undesirable (v high intelligence)
• some regarded as abnormal even if they’re quite frequent (depression affects almost 30% of elderly)

Question 4

Describe deviation from social norms

Answer 4

Thinking / behaviour classified abnormal if violates (unwritten) rules of ‘acceptable’ behaviour in a particular social group / society
(E.g. Behaviour that’s incomprehensible to others but normal to them)

Question 5

Describe the problems / weaknesses with having social norms

Answer 5

• social norms change between cultures + so do conceptions of abnormality over time
  (Homosexuality regarded a mental illness til 1973)
• classification of abnormality can only be based on context in which behaviours occur

Question 6

Describe Maladaptiveness

Answer 6

Says people are abnormal when behaviour suggests they can’t cope w/ everyday life e.g. If ability to work is disrupted

Question 7

Describe the problems / weaknesses with Maladaptiveness

Answer 7

• adequate functioning defined largely by social norms

- most people fail to function adequately at some point, but aren’t considered ‘abnormal’ e.g. After a bereavement

Question 8

Describe the historical views on mental health in the ancient period.

Answer 8

Supernatural

Treated with trephining

Question 9

Describe historical views on mental health in the Middle Ages.

Answer 9

Regarded a curse from God as punishment for sins
Cared for by family, maybe church,
With holy water, prayers etc

Question 10

Describe historical views on mental health in 16th - 17th centuries.

Answer 10

Start of ‘medical regime’

Popular treatments = bleeding, purging, cold bathing

Question 11

Describe historical views on mental health in the 18th century.

Answer 11

Madhouses e.g. Bedlam
Later people began implementing for more humane procedures
Classification of disorders began

Question 12

Describe historical views on mental health in the 19th century.

Answer 12

Asylums
Laws introduced to ensure authorities deal with the ‘insane’
Poor conditions + treatment in madhouses condemned by parliament, so then major reforms

Question 13

Describe historical views on mental health in the first half of the 19th century.

Answer 13

Asylums shut down
Electric shocks
Insulin induced comas
Drugs + anti-psychotic medications

Question 14

Describe historical views on mental health in the second half of the 19th century.

Answer 14

Belief individuals may just be born w/ genetic predisposition for disorders
Use of general hospital psychiatric units
Tranquillisers, sedatives, sleeping pills

Question 15

Describe a strength of statistical infrequency to define abnormality

Answer 15

It’s an objective judgement so is reliable

Question 16

Describe a strength for deviation from social norms to define abnormality

Answer 16

Is quick and easy if within one culture

Question 17

Describe a strength of Maladaptiveness to define abnormality

Answer 17

Allows for individual differences

Question 18

Describe the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual to categorise and treat mental disorders

Answer 18

Attempts to highlights social + cultural differences in diagnosis
Entries organised by developmental lifespan
Used mainly in USA

Question 19

Describe the International Classification of Diseases to categorise and treat mental disorders

Answer 19

Widely used across world
Categorises physical + psychological illness
11 categories of dysfunctional behaviour linked to mental health
Each disorder given a code

Question 20

Describe the issues with categorising and diagnosing mental health

Answer 20

• labelling things as ‘illnesses’ when they aren’t, as it usually means treatments follow, so sometimes completely unnecessary drugs
• diagnosis = personal + subjective + influenced by culture + upbringing of practitioner
• inter-rater reliability between practitioners is questionable
• uses a v general one size fits all approach
• so questionable reliability + validity, shown by rosenhan

Question 21

Describe the anti-psychiatry movement

Answer 21

They object to classification system of disorders as see it as too rigid
+ believe it increases suffering of those w/ a mental health diagnosis through labelling + removing their autonomy

Question 22

Describe the characteristics of anxiety disorders, such as phobias

Answer 22

• Excessive, persistent, unreasonable fear
• person recognises it’s unreasonable
• disrupts a person’s normal life
• physical symptoms upon exposure , e.g. Shortness of breath, loss of control, terror
• has lasted 6months+ in an under 18 yr old

Question 23

Describe the characteristics of affective disorders, such as depression

Answer 23

• insomnia, fidgeting / lethargy, tiredness
• guilt / worthlessness, inability to concentrate
• recurrent thoughts of death
• general withdrawal from others

Question 24

Describe the characteristics of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia

Answer 24

• delusions, hallucinations
• disorganised speech + behaviour
• at least 6 months
• social / occupational dysfunction