Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology - IN FOCUS Psychopathology > Definitions of abnormality > Flashcards

Definitions of abnormality Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Give an example of when being classed as abnormal would be beneficial

A

Any from people diagnosed with intellectual disability can access support services, someone with depression is likely to benefit from therapy, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why would not all statistically unusual people benefit from labels?

A

There is a social stigma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

True/False: There are no questions regarding the ethicality of labelling someone as abnormal

A

False, there are many ethical questions around this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is perhaps the most obvious way to define anything as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’?

A

According to how often we come across it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

According to the statistical definition, what can be thought of as ‘normal’?

A

Any relatively usual behaviour or characteristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

According to the statistical definition, what can be thought of as ‘abnormal’?

A

Any behaviour that is unusual/statistically infrequent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why would an irrational fear of buttons be classed as ‘abnormal’ according to the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?

A

At any one time only a small number of people will have an irrational fear of buttons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

In order to be classified as ‘abnormal’ as a result of the statistical infrequency definition, a person would have to fall further than _ standard deviations away from the mean

A

2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The majority of people’s scores cluster around the average and the further we go above or below that average, the fewer people will attain that score. What type of distribution would this produce?

A

Normal distribution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the average IQ?

A

100

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

In a normal distribution what percentage of people have an IQ of 85-115?

A

68%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In a normal distribution, what percentage of people have an IQ below 70?

A

2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In a normal distribution, what percentage of people have an IQ above 130?

A

2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Having an IQ below 70 would make you liable to receive a diagnosis of what?

A

Intellectual disability disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where in society does statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality have a practical use?

A

Clinical practice as part of formal diagnosis/a way to assess the severity of an individual’s symptoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What’s the main strength of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

A

High usefulness - used in clinical practice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What’s the main disadvantage of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

A

Infrequent characteristics can be positive as well as negative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

For every person with an IQ below __ there’s another with an IQ above 130

A

70

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

True/False: According to the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality someone with an IQ over 130 is abnormal

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

True/False: According to the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality someone with an incredibly low depression score what not be classed as abnormal

A

False, they would be

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does the main criticism of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality mean about its usefulness?

A

Although it can form part of assessment and diagnosis procedures, it is never sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Most of us notice people whose behaviour represents a deviation from social norms. What does this mean?

A

When a person behaves in a way that is different from how we expect people to behave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

On what basis do groups of people choose to define behaviour as abnormal?

A

It offends their sense of what is ‘acceptable’ to the norm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Under the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality, what are we making as a society?

A

A collective judgement about what is right

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are norms specific to?

A

The culture we live in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Give 2 examples of where/when social norms may be different

A

Between generations and cultures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

There are relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal under which definition of abnormality?

A

Deviation from social norms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Why do we make a social judgement that psychopaths are abnormal?

A

Because they don’t conform to our moral standards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

True/False: Psychopathic behaviour would be considered abnormal in a very wide range of cultures according to the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

True/False: Deviation from social norms is used in clinical practice

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

A key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to…

A

culturally acceptable ethical behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

A key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour. Give 2 examples of how this can be characterised?

A

Any 2 from recklessness, aggression, violating the rights of others and deceitfulness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the signs of antisocial personality disorder all examples of?

A

Deviations from social norms

34
Q

True/False: Deviations from social norms play a part in the diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder

A

True

35
Q

What is the term ‘strange’ used to do in regards to schizotypal personality disorder

A

Characterise the thinking, behaviour and appearance of people with the disorder

36
Q

When is there variability between social norms?

A

In different cultures and different situations

37
Q

Why may a person from pone cultural group label someone from another as abnormal?

A

They are using their standards rather than the person’s standards

38
Q

How is the experience of hearing voices the norm in some cultures?

A

As messages from ancestors

39
Q

True/False: Within one cultural context social norms remain the same

A

False, they differ from one situation to another

40
Q

Aggressive and deceitful behaviour in the context of family life is more socially ____________ than in the context of corporate deal-making

A

unacceptable

41
Q

What does the fact that aggressive and deceitful behaviour in the context of family life is more socially unacceptable than in the context of corporate deal-making mean about the validity of deviation from social norms?

A

It is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different cultures and situations

42
Q

How does using deviation from social norms to define someone as abnormal carry a risk of unfair labelling?

A

It leaves people open to human right abuses - historically this has been the case where diagnoses like nymphomania have been used to control women

43
Q

Nymphomania

A

Women’s uncontrollable or excessive sexual desire

44
Q

It can be argued that we need to be able to use deviation from social norms to diagnose conditions such as what?

A

Antisocial personality disorder

45
Q

A person may cross the line between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ at the point when they can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life. Which definition of abnormality is this?

A

Failure to function adequately

46
Q

Give an example of when we might decide that someone is not functioning adequately

A

When they are unable to maintain basic standards of nutrition and hygiene or can’t hold down a job or maintain relationships with people around them

47
Q

Who proposed additional signs that can be used to determine when someone is not functioning adequately

A

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)

48
Q

Give an example of one of the additional signs proposed by Rosenhan and Seligman that can be used to determine when someone is not coping

A

Any from when a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules, when a person experiences severe personal distress and when a person’s behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

49
Q

Give an example of a person no longer conforming to standard interpersonal rules

A

For example maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space

50
Q

True/False: A diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder would be made on the basis of statistical infrequency only

A

False, an individual must be failing to function adequately before a diagnosis would be given

51
Q

What must an individual be before a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder would be given?

A

Failing to function adequately

52
Q

According to Mind, around what percentage of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any given year?

A

25%

53
Q

Which definition of abnormality represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help?

A

Failure to function adequately

54
Q

How does failure to function adequately represent a sensible threshold for when people need professional help?

A

Most of us have symptoms of mental disorder to some degree at some time. Many people press on in the face of fairly severe symptoms, but it tends to be at the point where we cease to function adequately that people seek professional help, or are noticed and referred for help by others

55
Q

What does the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality mean about treatment and services?

A

They can be targeted to those who need them most

56
Q

One limitation of failure to function adequately is that it is easy to label which kind of lifestyle choices as abnormal?

A

Non-standard

57
Q

In practice it can be very hard to say when someone is really failing to function when they have simply chosen to…

A

deviate from social norms

58
Q

True/False: Not having a job or permanent address is always failure to function adequately

A

False, some people with alternative life choices choose to live ‘off-grid’

59
Q

Give an example of how not having a job or permanent address may not be failing to function adequately

A

People with alternative lifestyles choose to live ‘off-grid’

60
Q

How may high-risk leisure activities or unusual spiritual practices be classed as failure to function adequarely?

A

They could be classed, unreasonably, as irrational and perhaps a danger to self

61
Q

Give an example of circumstances in which most of us fail to cope for a time

A

Bereavement

62
Q

What’s the problem with using failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality in cases like bereavement?

A

It may be unfair to give someone a label that may cause them future problems just because they react to difficult circumstances

63
Q

Why may using failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality be useful in cases like bereavement?

A

The failure to function is no less real just because the cause is clear - some people need professional help to adjust to circumstances like bereavement

64
Q

How is deviation from ideal mental health a different way to look at abnormality and normality compared to the other definitions?

A

It ignores the issue of what makes someone abnormal and instead thinks about what makes anyone ‘normal’

65
Q

Who suggested that we are in good mental health if we meet a set of criteria?

A

Jahoda

66
Q

Give 4 examples of criteria we need to meet in order to be in good mental health

A

Any 4 from we have no symptoms or distress, we are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately, we self-actualise (strive to reach our potential), we can cope with stress, we have a realistic view of the world, we have good self-esteem and lack guilt, we are independent of other people and we can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure

67
Q

Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health is highly ____________

A

comprehensive

68
Q

Jahoda’s concept of ‘ideal mental health’ includes a range of criteria for distinguishing mental health from

A

mental disorder

69
Q

Jahoda’s mental health criterion covers most of the reasons why we might…

A

seek (or be referred to) help with mental health

70
Q

The fact that Jahoda’s mental health criterion cover most of the reasons why we might seek (or be referred to) help with mental health means that an individual’s mental health can be…

A

discussed meaningfully with a range of professionals

71
Q

In what way may mental health professionals take different theoretical views?

A

Medically-trained psychiatrists might focus on symptoms whereas a humanist counsellor might be more interested in self-actualisation

72
Q

Jahoda’s mental health criterion provide us with a _________ against which we can assess ourselves and others and discuss psychological issues with a range of professionals

A

checklist

73
Q

Jahoda’s mental health criterion provide us with a checklist against which we can…

A

assess ourselves and others and discuss psychological issues with a range of professionals

74
Q

True/False: Jahoda’s mental health criterion elements are equally applicable across a range of cultures

A

False, some of Jahoda’s criteria are firmly located int he context of the US and Europe generally

75
Q

True/False: The concept of self-actualisation would probably be dismissed as self-indulgent in much of the world

A

True

76
Q

True/False: The value placed on personal independence varies quite a bit within Europe

A

True, it is high in Germany and low in Italy

77
Q

What defines success in our working, social and love-lives if very different in different cultures. What does this mean about the concept of ideal mental health?

A

It’s difficult to apply the concept from one culture to another

78
Q

True/False: Most of us attain all of Jahoda’s criteria for mental health

A

False, few of us do and probably none at the same time

79
Q

Why may Jahoda’s criteria be disheartening?

A

It can be disheartening to see an impossible set of standards to live up to - probably none of us achieve all of them at the same time or keep them up for very long

80
Q

Having such a comprehensive set of criteria for mental health to work towards from Jahoda might be practical to…

A

someone wanting to understand and improve their mental health

81
Q

True/False: There is some overlap between what we might call deviation from ideal mental health and what we might call failure to function adequately

A

True

82
Q

Why does deviation from ideal mental health take the approach of thinking about what makes anyone ‘normal’ instead of ‘abnormal’?

A

Once we have a picture of how we should be psychologically healthy then we can begin to identify who deviates from this ideal

Psychology - IN FOCUS Psychopathology (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions