Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency?
Behaviour that is numerically rare
- Any relatively usual behaviour or characteristic can be thought of as ‘normal’ and anything different to this abnormal
- Far away from mean / 3 or 2 standard deviation away from the mean
- Statistical approach comes into its own when we are dealing with characteristics that can be measured
Example of statistical infrequency
Example - low iQ is regarded as abnormal as only 2% of below 70 → would be regarded as intellectual disability disorder
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
Behaviour does not meet established ‘healthy’ criteria
Jahoda - good mental health if we reach certain criteria
* Self actualise ( reach our potential)
* Independent work of others
* No symptoms or distress
* Successfully able to work and enjoy leisure
Who came up with the criteria of good mental health?
Jahoda
What is meant by deviation from social norms?
Behaviour does not fit the accepted standard of a society / group
* Groups of people choose to define what behaviour is regarded as ‘norm’ - making a collective judgement
* Social norms differ in cultures and generations
Example of deviation from social norms
Example - A person with antisocial personality disorder = impulsive, aggressive → deviate from social norms according to DSM-5
* We make social judgement that a psychopath is abnormal because they don’t conform to our moral standards
What is failure to function?
Behaviour that prevents a person from coping with everyday life
Seligman and rosenhan - suggested signs that can be used to determine when one is not functioning
* No longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules
* When a person experience severe personal distress
* Behaviour becomes irrational / dangerous
Statistical infrequency
Utility
+Useful → identify people who need support ie IQ
All assessments of patients with mental disorders include a measurement of their severity of symptoms compared with statistical norms
**Practical useful application to clinical assessment **
- however, can identify those that don’t need support / label –> waste of resources and time
So is never used alone to make a diagnosis
Statistical infrequency
subjectivity and bias
+ objective - based on data
Statistical infrequency
Measurability
+ objective - based on data
+ Measurable ( based on diagnosis rates)
- Might be flawed by unreliable data
( misdiagnosis/ under or over diagnosing)
Statistical frequency
Socially sensitive
+ based on numbers rather than opinions, which is arguably less biased than e.g. DSN;
- however not ethical to label someone purely based on numbers - they should ‘need’ help
Deviation from social norms
Utility
+ application in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder
- still other factors to considered such as distress deviation to social norms is not sole issue
Deviation from social norms
subjectivity and bias
Subjective as it is based on a groups views and what they see as acceptable
Creates issues for people from one culture living within another group - **culture relativism **
Deviation from social norms
Measurability
- Norms are always changing so it is hard to have concrete measure of what’s acceptable and what isn’t
Varies between generation
Deviation from social norms
Socially sensitive
- Social norms dictated by majority within a culture - so in sections of society behaviour is seen as normal
Can lead to lack of understanding
Failure to function adequately
Utility
+ Attempts to include subjective experience of individual - acknowledges experience of the patient using criterion
- It is difficult to assess distress
Failure to function
subjectivity and bias
- subjective judgements
Someone has to judge whether individual is failing to function
+ although methods for making judgements objective
‘Global assessment of functioning scale’
failure to function
Measureable
measurable , can be seen ( unable to cope with stress) - tests can be questionnaires
- if based on self report - limited accuracy
Failure to function
Socially sensitive
People who are failing to function adequately are judged on their own perception of their life and how they function, instead of the psychiatrist judging them.
Deviation from ideal mental health
Utility
Jahoda criteria is quite strict as not many people meet the full criteria. Therefore, the concept lacks utility.
Deviation from ideal mental health
Subjective and bias
DIMH is biased toward an individualist view.
* In collectivist cultures, they are more oriented to the group needs and so values of independence may not be promoted.
* Therefore it is culture-biased/not valid for non-individualist societies.
Deviation from ieal mental health
Measurability
DIMH is difficult to measure as reality is subjective and we can’t put into use concepts like personal growth.
deviation from ideal mental health
socially sensitive
It is a more positive approach, in contrast to other approaches which seem to ignore it
