ch 16 what is normal Flashcards
normal/typical behaviour
behaviour that is accepted by a society and is typical for the specific context
abnormal /atypical behaviour
out of the ordinary
Approaches to normality
Situational approach sociocultural approach Historical approach Statistical approach Functional approach Medical approach
Situational approach:
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
Situational approach:
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
Sociocultural approach
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
Historical approach
behaviour that historically, was considered normal or changed over time
Statistical approach:
normal behaviour is defined by looking at how often a behaviour/ characteristic occurs in a particular population
Functional approach
normal behaviour allows an individual to lead an independently functional life at a level expected for their age
Psychological dysfunction
when there is a breakdown in the way a person thinks, feels and behaves
Medical approach
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
Coping mechanism
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
Adaptive behaviour/skills
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
Maladaptive behaviours
Learned behaviours or strategies that help to reduce anxiety or stress but are dysfunctional or interfere with a person’s ability to function normally
mental health
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
Mental health continuum
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
What is a mental health problem?
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
Mental health problem:
emotional, cognitive and behavioural difficulties that may affect relationships and everyday functioning
mental disorder
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
Psychosis
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
Neurosis:
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
How are diagnoses made?
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
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM):
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
International classification of diseases
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
