Definition of Abnormality

Question 1

Deviation of social norms

Answer 1

is when an individual does not adhere to the explicit and implicit rules that a society has about what are acceptable values and beliefs they are considered abnormal

Question 2

Explicit and Implicit

Answer 2

Explicit- If violated means breaking the law e.g. theft
Implicit- Unspoken, but are agreed as a matter of convention within a particular society e.g. dressing smart at a funeral

Question 3

Evaluation of Social Norms

Answer 3

+ allows us to identify those that may need help or support
+ protects society from effects of deviating norms
+ takes developmental norms into account
- Role of context must be taken into account every time
- Subjective, based on opinions of the elite can lead to discrimination
- Individual may be just eccentric not abnormal

Question 4

Failure to Function Adequately

Answer 4

When an individual is unable to cope with normal demands of every day life then they are considered as abnormal

Question 5

Features of Failure to Function Adequately

Answer 5

• Personal distress
• Maladaptive behaviour
• Unpredictability
• Irrationality
• Observer discomfort
• Violation of moral standards
• Unconventionality

Question 6

Evaluation of Failure to Function Adequately

Answer 6

+ Provides criteria of mental health professionals to work from when making a diagnosis
+ Assesses degree of abnormality
- Cultural relativism
- Distress to others doesn’t mean distress to individual in question
- exception to the rule. abnormality does not always accompanied by dysfunction vice versa

Question 7

Statistical Infrequency

Answer 7

People who fall outside the normal distribution for the behaviour( more than 2sd away from mean) are considered abnormal

Question 8

Evaluation of Statistical Infrequency

Answer 8

+ Provides evidence for treatment
+ Based on real data
+ More objective
- Where to draw the line is difficult
- Some rare qualities are desirable
- Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent

Question 9

Deviation form Ideal Mental Health

Answer 9

According to Jahoda if an individual lacks these qualities they are considered abnormal
- Positive attitude towards the self
- self actualisation
- resistances to stress through coping strategies
- personal autonomy
- accurate perception of reality
- adapting to and mastering the environment

Question 10

Evaluation of Ideal Mental Health

Answer 10

+ Positive way of assessing mental health
+ Allows clinicians to focus on specific areas of function
+ Allows goal setting to be return to normality
- Doesn’t take context into account
- Subjective criteria
- Over demanding criteria