ch 16 what is normal

Question 1

normal/typical behaviour

Answer 1

behaviour that is accepted by a society and is typical for the specific context

Question 2

abnormal /atypical behaviour

Answer 2

out of the ordinary

Question 3

Approaches to normality

Answer 3

Situational approach
sociocultural approach
Historical approach
Statistical approach
Functional approach
Medical approach

Question 4

Situational approach:

Answer 4

Emphasises the need to examine the situational context of behaviour before defining it
Scenario 1: standing up and calling out during assembly
Scenario 2: calling out to someone during lunch on the oval

Question 5

Situational approach:

Answer 5

Emphasises the need to examine the situational context of behaviour before defining it
Scenario 1: standing up and calling out during assembly
Scenario 2: calling out to someone during lunch on the oval

Question 6

Sociocultural approach

Answer 6

normal behaviour is that which is socially acceptable
Within society, there are norms and rules that govern our social behaviour
This is the sociocultural approach and suggests what s normal behaviour based on cultural and societal cues
Social non-conformity refers to behaviours that disobey social norms

Question 7

Historical approach

Answer 7

behaviour that historically, was considered normal or changed over time

Question 8

Statistical approach:

Answer 8

normal behaviour is defined by looking at how often a behaviour/ characteristic occurs in a particular population

Question 9

Functional approach

Answer 9

normal behaviour allows an individual to lead an independently functional life at a level expected for their age

Question 10

Psychological dysfunction

Answer 10

when there is a breakdown in the way a person thinks, feels and behaves

Question 11

Medical approach

Answer 11

abnormal behaviour is caused by diagnosable mental disorder
Views mental disorders as physical illnesses with a biological explanation
Symptoms should only occur in those individuals considered to be exhibiting abnormal behaviour or occur rarely in normal individuals
Assumes that mental illness can be cured

Question 12

Coping mechanism

Answer 12

How you react to events and situations you encounter in life is how you cope
Coping can be negative or positive
throughout your life, you have developed survival skills that help you get through difficult situations
These survival skills are not always healthy
Coping mechanisms need to be positive for you to lead a mentally healthy lifestyle

Question 13

Adaptive behaviour/skills

Answer 13

Age-appropriate everyday living skills
Using knowledge, learned strategies and internal strength to adjust (adapt) to different situations and avoid overreacting or other wrong reactions
When you react to a stressful situation in a mature and healthy manner, you are adaptively coping

Question 14

Maladaptive behaviours

Answer 14

Learned behaviours or strategies that help to reduce anxiety or stress but are dysfunctional or interfere with a person’s ability to function normally

Question 15

mental health

Answer 15

a state of emotional and social wellbeing in which individuals can realise their own abilities, cope with the normal stress of life, work productively and contribute to their community

Question 16

Mental health continuum

Answer 16

There are times when people can be more mentally healthy than others
Mental health is impacted by many different variables
Determining where a person lies on the mental health continuum is often based on a range of symptoms

Question 17

What is a mental health problem?

Answer 17

a person who is mentally healthy may still exhibit behaviour that could be seen as showing signs of distress but does this mean they are suffering from a mental illness?
No
A mental health problem is not necessarily a mental illness
Reactions, where a person shows common signs of distress but these actions are reversible or easily managed, are not indicators a person is mentally ill but they may have a mental health problem

Question 18

Mental health problem:

Answer 18

emotional, cognitive and behavioural difficulties that may affect relationships and everyday functioning

Question 19

mental disorder

Answer 19

exaggerated forms of thoughts, feelings and behaviours, implying the existence of a clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours that usually need treatment to be alleviated

Question 20

Psychosis

Answer 20

Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia)
Refers to situations when there is some loss of contact with reality
The person may experience episodes, or hallucinations or be unable to distinguish between imaginary and reality

Question 21

Neurosis:

Answer 21

Non-physical illness (anxiety, depression, personality disorders)
Disorders in which people have difficulties with thoughts, feelings and behaviours but the sense of reality remains
A person may realise they are being irrational but have little control over it

Question 22

How are diagnoses made?

Answer 22

Diagnosis of a mental disorder can be a lengthy process
A number of different steps and tests
If treatment doesn’t work or symptoms change then the whole process starts again

Question 23

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM):

Answer 23

used to identify and classify symptoms of mental disorders
Diagnoses are based on a number of different factors (medical conditions, psychosocial stressors, day-to-day functionality

Question 24

International classification of diseases

Answer 24

Includes mental and physical: as such wonder range of illnesses covered
Diagnosis is based on a number of different factors same as the DSM
Extensive overlap between ICD and DSM