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Psychopathology Paper 1 > Defining abnormality > Flashcards

Defining abnormality Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of Psychopathology?

A
  • In-depth study of mental health & views mental health issues as an illness
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2
Q

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

A
  1. Statistical infrequency
  2. Deviation from Social norms
  3. Deviation from Ideal mental health
  4. Failure to Function adequately
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3
Q

Define statistical infrequency?

Give an example?

A
  • Person’s trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare/statistically unusual
  • e.g. Schiz is rare & effects 1% of the global population
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4
Q

Why is stat infrequency as an abnormality not always negative?

A
  • Having a high IQ is desirable but it’s still abnormal
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5
Q

Explain IQ in relation to stat infrequency?

A
  • IQ of 135 is abnormal as its statistically rare
  • If someone is 2 standard deviations away from the mean they are classified as abnormal
  • 85 - 115 (15 pts from 100) is average on an IQ score
  • 2 standard deviations from 85 is 70
  • 2 standard deviations from 115 is 130
  • If above or below these thresholds this is abnormal
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6
Q

AO3 Stat infrequency
Objective?

A

P - Objectivity of Stat infrequency allows for an impartial & fair assessment of abnormality
E - Having a defined ‘cut-off’ point in abnormality allows practitioners to see if behaviour is stat rare
E - If working with a spec child you can objectively state whether their IQ is normal
L - Improves reliability of diagnosis, as medical opinion will not be relevant

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7
Q

AO3 Stat infrequency
Ambiguous?

A

P - Abnormality is not black & white & abnormality is dependent on different gradations
E - e.g. is a person with IQ of 71 normal but someone with an IQ of 69 abnormal
- So who can determine where you draw the line
E - Therefore, ambiguity arises that are difficult to determine
L - Implies categorising abnormality as ‘abnormal’ or ‘normal’ ignores the ambiguity abnormality displays
- A refinement could be made like autism e.g. are all put on a spectrum, not in opposing categories

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8
Q

AO3 Stat infrequency
Practical applications?

A

P - Has useful practical applications
E - Enables support & intervention & helps individuals to understand their needs
E - So, it will allow for equal opportunity & ca provide access arrangements for the individuals
L - Suggests there are potential benefits to society of using the abnormality definition to classify abnormalities

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9
Q

AO3 Stat infrequency
Some abnormalities aren’t rare?

A

P - Not all abnormalities are infrequent/rare, creating problems for the definition
E - For example, depression can be considered common (20% suffer a depressive episode in their life), but a medicated approach is often effective in treating these episodes
E - Failure to categorise depression as ‘abnormal’ may prevent effective treatments, prolonging the sufferers experience
L - This implies that abnormality is limited as a definition because if it is allegedly rare & will only be used to categorise ‘rare’ mental health issues, which depression is not, then people will be neglected by the mental health infrastructure as their issue will be disregarded as not rare ‘enough’

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10
Q

Define deviation from social norms?

Give an example?

A
  • Abnormality is socially deviant behaviour
  • Behaviours are abnormal if they are anti-social/undesirable
  • e.g. Catatonic behaviour (unmoving/unresponsive) would be considered to be socially abnormal
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11
Q

Define situational norm?

Define developmental norm?

A
  • Normality depends on environment person is in
  • Takes into account stage of life someone is at
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12
Q

AO3 Deviation social norms
Takes into account diff types of norms?

A

P - Definition takes into account different types of norms: situational & developmental
E - Shows deviation from social norms as a holistic approach in defining abnormality
E - e.g. Wearing a bikini to the beach in August compared to wearing a bikini in winter in a shopping centre is an example of a situational norm the definition is flexible about
L - Implies definition is flexible & can be adapted to the individual & their circumstances

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13
Q

AO3 Deviation social norms
Definition is subjective?

A

P - Subjectivity of definition limits its usefulness
E - Social norms are in the eye of the beholder, with differences between what an individual considers to be a norm
E - e.g. Not all British citizens will care about queuing, yet it is viewed as a component of British society
L - Subjectivity does not allow for fair & equal assessment of abnormality, unlike stat infreq definition

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14
Q

AO3 Deviation social norms
Practical applications?

A

P - Has practical applications, because Society sets the standards for what is abnormal, it allows society/therapists to intervene when necessary
E - Society can provide therapies & support for those who breach social norms
E - CBT helps to retain thought processes
L - Therefore, definition has practical applications for society helping the vulnerable & abnormal by intervening on their behalf

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15
Q

AO3 Deviation social norms
Issues around concept of social norms?
Lacks Temporal validity

A

P - Issues around concept of social norms in the lack of temporal validity
E - Aside from question of who decides these levels of societal normality, these norms change subject to time
E - e.g. Homosexuality was considered to be a mental illness in 1950s yet over time society has evolved largely to accept it as a genuine sexuality
L - So, it could be argued this definition of abnormality is era dependent & lacks temporal validity

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16
Q

Define deviation from ideal mental health?

Who’s characteristics for ideal mental health are used?

A
  • Definition assesses mental health the same way physical health is assessed
  • Once its established what an individual with ideal mental health looks like then those who deviate will be identified
  • Jahoda
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17
Q

What are Jahoda’s 6 characteristics of ideal mental health?
P
A
A
R
S
E

A
  1. Positive attitude to oneself
  2. Accurate perception of reality
  3. Autonomy
  4. Resisting stress (integration)
  5. Self-actualisation
  6. Environmental mastery
18
Q
  1. Define having positive attitude towards oneself?
A
  • High levels of self-esteem
  • Strong sense of identity
19
Q
  1. Define accurate perception of reality?
A
  • Have a realistic view of the world
  • Understand how the world works
20
Q
  1. Define autonomy?
A
  • Ability to act independently from others
  • Having capability to solve problems by yourself
21
Q
  1. Define resisting stress (integration)?
A
  • Synthesising self-attitudes & personal growth
  • Leads to being able to cope in stressful situations
22
Q
  1. Define self-actualisation?
A
  • Extent to which a person develops their full capabilities
23
Q
  1. Define environmental mastery?
A
  • Ability to love, have inter-personal relationships, adjust to new situations & solve problems
  • Solve & commit to things in one’s immediate environment
24
Q

AO3 deviation IMH
Practical applications?
Positive definition?

A

P - Definition can be argued to be positive & so had practical applications
E - Other definitions have more focus on deficits & negative effects of the human condition, whereas this definition is optimistic & looks at what is needed to achieve IMH
E - e.g. Personal growth & self-actualisation is something people can aspire to, to ensure mental soundness
L - So, this definition has positive practical applications to any sufferers of poor mental heath

25
Q

AO3 deviation IMH
Subjective?

A

P - However, criteria to achieve IMH is very subjective & suggests majority of people are considered abnormal
E - e.g. humanism suggests few people in society will achieve self-actualisation, key part of achieving IMG according to Jahoda
E - May be definition needs to be more realistic to society for it to be an effective analysis of abnormality
L - Implies definition is limited

26
Q

AO3 deviation IMH
Provides achievable positive goals?
(basically practical application)

A

P - Definition provides positive infrastructure to aim for achievable goals & positive behaviours
E - It can provide support to dealing with one’s mental health through a daily regimen
E - Can result in the improvements of people’s mental health significantly in specific time frames with goals in mind
L - Jahoda’s 6 characteristics of IMH can be used in CBT to help people with their psychological issues reducing psychological stress

27
Q

AO3 deviation IMH
Cultural bias?

A

P - Definition could be argued to be culturally biased
E - High self-esteem is particularly important in individualistic cultures but not as important in collectivistic cultures
E - In addition, criteria such as ‘personal growth’ & ‘autonomy’ may be more applicable to individualistic rather than collectivist cultures because in collectivistic cultures the importance of community goes above the individual
L - Not all cultures fell these are the ultimate aims of IMH making Jahoda’s characteristics Culturally biased & non-universal

28
Q

Define failure to function adequately?

Give an example?

Who’s features do we use to show this?

A
  • Behaviour is abnormal if it prevents a person from leading their everyday life
  • e.g. Person with poor personal hygiene could be considered abnormal because they fail to function adequately
  • Rosenhan & Seligman features of personal dysfunction
29
Q

What are the 7 features of Rosenhan & Seligman’s features of personal dysfunction?

A
  1. Personal distress (suffering)
  2. Maladaptive behaviour
  3. Unpredictability
  4. Irrationality
  5. Observer discomfort
  6. Violation of moral qualities
  7. Unconventionality (vividness)
30
Q

Define personal distress (suffering)?

A
  • Individual may go through hardship as a result of their condition/may inflict suffering on others
31
Q

Define Maladaptive behaviour?

A
  • Behaviour prevents the person reaching desired goals
32
Q

Define Unpredictability?

A
  • Behaviour is unexpected or unpredictable characterised by loss of control
33
Q

Define Irrationality?

A
  • Behaviour that has no rationality or explanation for it
34
Q

Define observer discomfort?

A
  • Behaviour causes discomfort to observers e.g. bad hygiene
35
Q

Define violation of moral qualities?

A
  • Behaviour violating social norms
    e.g. talking over someone when they are talking/not queuing
36
Q

Define unconventionality?

A
  • Displaying unconventional behaviours
    e.g. deciding to get a full body tattoo
37
Q

AO3 F to F
Objective?

A

P - Easy to assess consequences of F to F adequately
E - Maladaptive can be easy to assess through registering that person’s whereabouts
E - e.g. In school if the student stops coming in after 100% attendance this may be a sign of abnormality
L - This quantitative data helps make this definition of abnormality more objective

38
Q

AO3 F to F
Subjective?

A

P - Definition could be argued to be subjective
- Deciding whether someone has these features of abnormality is influenced by subjective judgements
E - e.g. abnormality is predicated on perspective, meaning the definition is open to interpretation
E - One may think irrationality is normal & is not a red flag
L - Implies definition is harder to diagnose people with which shows it lacks credibility

39
Q

AO3 F to F
Realistic?

A

P - Definition of abnormality is far more realistic as it suggests abnormality is not black & white, but there are varying factors that influence it
E - e.g. There are 7 features of abnormality that cover all aspects of someone’s life
E - Because it covers work & relationships, key elements in life
L - Suggests definition is more realistic & hence more credible than the statistical & social norm definitions of abnormality

40
Q

AO3 F to F
Culturally biased?

A

P - Like most definitions of abnormality the explanation is culturally relative
E - Moral standards & unconventionality (vividness) application of Rosenhan & Seligman’s measures appear to be culturally relative
E - Considering individualistic & collectivistic societies these attributes of moral standards & unconventionality (vividness) still apply
L - However this may not be useful to other societies & cultures

Psychopathology Paper 1 (5 decks)

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