⭐️ definitions of abnormality ✅ Flashcards
what are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
1️⃣ statistical infrequency
2️⃣ deviation from social norms
3️⃣ failure to function adequately
4️⃣ deviation from ideal mental health
1️⃣statistical infrequency:
what is it?
what is classed as ‘normal’?
what is classed as ‘abnormal’?
what is the average IQ? what happens if ppl score below this?
measuring abnormal behaviour through numbers and graphs
any ‘usual’ or often seen behaviour
any rare or unusual behaviour
average IQ = 85 - 115
anything below 70 is seen as abnormal and are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
2️⃣deviation from social norms:
what is it?
what are definitions based off?
how would this definition explain why ppl are psycopaths?
when some one behaves differently to the expected social norms they are seen as abnormal. these are created by different societies.
related to cultural context - includes historical differences within society eg. homosexuality
they devote from social norms or standards. they generally lack empathy
3️⃣ failure to function adequately:
what is it?
what were the 3 signs of not coping proposed by rosenhan and seligman?
what is intellectual disability disorder
the inability to cope with everyday living
1- no longer conform to interpersonal rules eg maintaining personal space
2- experience personal distress
3- behave irrationally or dangerous
if someone has low IQ it could also be a sign that they’re failing too cope with the demands of everyday life
4️⃣ deviation from ideal mental health:
what is it?
what are 3 things Jahoda identified as ideal mental health?
think about what is ‘normal’ and psychologically healthy then identify who deviates from this ideal
- good self esteem
- can cope with stress
- independence
AO3 - stat infreq:
✅2 strengths
✅good real-life application, statistical infrequency can be used in clinical assessments
✅good quantitative and visual representation of how mental health differs and when some one seeks help. easy to analyse and draw conclusions, shows patterns and trends
AO3 - stat infreq:
❌ 2 weakness
❌unusual characteristics can also be positive, just bc something is statistically abnormal doesn’t mean it requires treatment. someones IQ over 130 is abnormal but if someone is below 70 it requires treatment. this means it cant be used alone to predict a diagnosis.
❌ quantitative data
AO3- dev from social norms:
✅ strength
✅ practical application, its visible if someone is acting how they shoudn’t and they can get help
AO3- dev from social norms:
❌ 3 weaknesses
❌ not a sole explanation for abnormality… social norms are culturally relative … - there are other factors to consider such as distress to others. The fact that there is so much variation cross culturally can be a weakness of the definition as it is not always clear what is abnormal and what is not in cultures. It is only by being immersed in the culture for a period of time that the decision can be made.
❌ ETHNOCENTRIC… social norms are culturally relative, someone from one culture may label something as abnormal but someone for another may not
❌ not a sole definition, environmentally detmrinsitic , other factors should be conferred such as biological and emotional charctertiscs
AO3- fail to function:
✅ 2 strengths
✅ the definition acknowledges that the experience of the patient is important and gives time help where necessary
✅ Behaviour is observable: Failure to function adequately can be seen by others around the individual because they may not get out of bed on a morning, or be able to hold a job down. can provide help in needed
AO3- fail to function:
❌ 2 weaknesses
❌ Too much focus on the individual: It is argued that abnormal behaviours may not be a problem for the individual, but may be for others around them.
❌ Abnormality does not always stop the person functioning. People may appear fine to others as they fit into society and have jobs and homes, but they may have distorted thinking which is causing them inner distress that they hide.
AO3 - dev from ideal MH:
✅ 2 strengths
✅ Positive: This definition focuses on what is helpful and desirable for the individual, rather than the other way round. Achievement of goals: This idea allows for clear goals to be set and focused upon to achieve ideal mental health, and, in Jahoda’s opinion, to achieve normality.
✅ allows individual who is struggling to have targeted intervention if their behaviour is not ‘normal’. For example, their distorted thinking could be addressed to help their behaviour become normal, as if their thinking is biased then their behaviour will be too.
AO3 - dev from ideal MH:
❌ 2 weaknesses
❌ unrealistically high standard for mental health - Feasibility: The criteria outlined by Jahoda makes ideal mental health (normality) practically impossible to achieve. This means that the majority of the population, using this definition, would be abnormal.
❌ may be culturally relative - some of the ideas in jahodas criteria are septic to Western cutkrurs like self - actualisation (achievement) would be considered indulgent in much of the world. such traits are specific to individualist cultures. (ethnocentric)
