Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

Why do we need to be able to identify abnormal behaviours

Answer 1

In order to recognize and diagnose psychological disorders we must be able to identify behaviours that are abnormal

Question 2

What are four ways of defining abnormality

Answer 2

Statistical frequency, Deviation from social norms, faliure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health

Question 3

What is deviation from statistical norms

Answer 3

When we measure how frequently a behaviour occurs within a population, and behaviours which occur the most rarely (appear on the far left or right of a normal distribution curve) are defined as abnormal

Question 4

What is a strength of devaition from statistical norms

Answer 4

It provides an objective clear cut off point for abnormal behaviours, which is useful when diagnosing conditions. For example, any individual whose IQ is two standard deviations below the mean is judged to have a mental disorder. However, these decisions are often made in conjunction with faliure to function adequately, suggesting this is a tool to be used alongside others

Question 5

How is cultural bias an issue in abnormality as deviation from statistical norms

Answer 5

Behaviours which occur infrequently in one culture may be statistically frequent in another. For example, hearing voices is common experience in some cultures whilst in the west it’s a symptom of Sz. This means there is no universal measure for abnormal behaviour

Question 6

What is an issue for measuring all infrequent behaviours as abnormal in abnormality being statistical deviation

Answer 6

Not all abnormal behaviour is undesirable, for example having an insane IQ is considered desirable, and in contrast, not all normal behaviours are desirable, such as depression, which is relatively common and would be considered normal behaviour under this anlysis. This means this method is unable to distinguish between desirable and indesirable behaviours

Question 7

What are social norms

Answer 7

Social norms are norms created by a group of people and they exist within a society. These are acceptable behaviours defined by the group, and are adhered to by those socialised into that group

Question 8

What is deviation from social norms as an explination for abnormality

Answer 8

It defines anyone who deviates from social norms and behaviours as abnormal.

Question 9

What are implicit versus explicit rules

Answer 9

Explicit rules are often governed by the law whereas implicit rules are usually determined by social rejection

Question 10

Why are many social norms created

Answer 10

They are funcitonal, such as politeness, which helps improve interpersonal relationships

Question 11

Why is time an issue for defining abnormality as deviation from social norms

Answer 11

What is acceptable socially changes constantly, with behaviours currently acceptable being seen as abnormal in the past. Homosexuality was included under sexual and identity disordders in past DSM’s, whereas now it’s acceptable in most countries.

Question 12

With social changes so frequent, what did Thomas Szasz claim the concept of mental illness was

Answer 12

He claimed mental illness was simply a way to exclude nonconformists from society

Question 13

Who claimed that mental illness was simply a way to exclude nonconformists from society

Answer 13

Thomas Szasz

Question 14

What is a strength of defining abnormality as deviation from social norms

Answer 14

It can differentiate between desirable and undesirable behaviours. This method takes into account the behaviours effect on other people, as ideally social rules are established in order to help people live together. Therefore in this definition abnormal behaviour will be behaviour which is harmful to others. This makes the definiton useful as undesirable behaviours will be more likely to alert others that the person may need help

Question 15

Why is culture bias an issue for defining abnormality as deviation from social norms

Answer 15

The norms of a society are defined by their culture. Classification systems like the DSM are based almost entirely off of norms of the dominant western culture. When these criteria are applied to both different western subcultures as well as different cultures overall, it creates invalid classifications.

Question 16

What is one posible way to deal with cultural bias when defining abnormality as deviation from social norms

Answer 16

One possible way to deal with culture bias is through cultural relativism, which is acknowldeged in the most recent 2013 DSM as it makes reference to cultural contexts in many areas of diagnosis

Question 17

What is faliure to function adequately as a definition of abnormal behaviour

Answer 17

This is when abnormality is judged in terms of not being able to cope with everyday living, such as eating regularly, getting up or having a job.

Question 18

What does failing to function adequately cause

Answer 18

Not functioning adequately causes distress and suffering for the individual, as well as for others around them.

Question 19

Why is it important to include others when defining faliure to function adequately

Answer 19

It is important to mention others around the patient, as the patient themselves can sometimes not be distressed at all themselves, as they can lack awareness that anything is wrong, whilst those around them can be distressed by the behaviour

Question 20

When is a judgement of faliure to function adequately inappropriate

Answer 20

There may be situations where a person is not coping with life in a ‘normal’ way, for example the person may be content in unwashed clothes and not having a job. If this doesn’t cause distress to them or others a judgement of abnormality is inappropriate

Question 21

What assessment of faliure to function adequately is in the DSM

Answer 21

An assessment called WHODAS, which tests six areas: understanding and communication, getting around, self-care, getting along with others, life activities and participantion in society. Individuals rate each item on a scale of 1 to 5 and get an overall score out of 180, and thus is a quatitative measure of functioning

Question 22

How is the judger and the judgee an issue for defining abnormality as faliure to function adequately

Answer 22

If a person is distressed by their own behaviour, they may wish to seek help. However, an individual may be content and/or be unaware they aren’t coping. It is others who are made uncomfortable by the behaviour and judge them as abnormal, therefore the judgement depends on who is making the decision and is therfore subjective

Question 23

How might ‘abnormal’ behaviour in faliure to function adequately be adaptive

Answer 23

Some behaviours which could be labelled as ‘abnormal’ are adaptive as mental disorders like eating disorders or depression may lead to extra attention for the individual. This is rewarding and thus functional rather than dysfunctional while others still percieve it as such. This faliure to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional behaviours mean that this definintion is incomplete

Question 24

What are the elements of defining abnormality as deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 24

-Self-attitudes
-Personal growth and self-actualisation
-Integration
-Autonomy
-Having an accurate perception of reality
-Mastery of environment

Question 25

What are self-attitudes in deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 25

Having high self esteem and a strong sense of identity

Question 26

What is personal growth and self-actualisation in deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 26

The extent to which an individual develops to their full abilities

Question 27

What is integration in deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 27

Being able to cope with stressful situations

Question 28

What is autonomy in deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 28

being independent and self-regulating

Question 29

What is mastery of environment in deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 29

includes things like the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems.

Question 30

Who created the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 30

Marie Jahoda

Question 31

What did Marie Jahoda point out about the way we define physical health versus mental health

Answer 31

To define physical illness we look at absence of signs of physical health, so we should do the same for mental health

Question 32

What did Marie Jahoda do to define ideal mental health

Answer 32

She did a review of what others had writen about good mental health, identified six characteristics which enable an individual to feel happy and behave competently

Question 33

What is the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 33

It proposes that absence of any of the six criteria identified by Marie Jahoda indicates abnormality and a potential mental disorder. There is overlap between this and faliure to function adequately

Question 34

What is a criticism of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 34

It is unrealisitc to expect people to fulfil all of Jahoda’s checkpoints, so according to these criteria most people would be considered abnormal. They are certainly ideal, but we also have to know how many people need to be lacking before a person can be judged as abnormal. Some criteria is also quite difficult to measure, such as personal growth or environmental mastery. This means the approach is not really usable

Question 35

What is a strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definiton of abnormality

Answer 35

The defintion is extremely positive, focusing on the positive traits rather than negative ones. It focuses on what’s desirable rather than undesirable. Jahoda’s ideas were never really taken up by mental health professionals, but has had an impact in the ‘positive psychology’ movement. It has had an influence of humanistic approaches