Definitions of abnormality

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Example of statistical infrequency

Answer 3

Example - low iQ is regarded as abnormal as only 2% of below 70 → would be regarded as intellectual disability disorder

Question 4

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Who came up with the criteria of good mental health?

Answer 5

Jahoda

Question 6

What is meant by deviation from social norms?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Example of deviation from social norms

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is failure to function?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Statistical infrequency

Utility

Answer 9

+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

Question 10

Statistical infrequency

subjectivity and bias

Answer 10

+ objective - based on data

Question 11

Statistical infrequency

Measurability

Answer 11

+ objective - based on data
+ Measurable ( based on diagnosis rates)

• Might be flawed by unreliable data
  ( misdiagnosis/ under or over diagnosing)

Question 12

Statistical frequency

Socially sensitive

Answer 12

+ 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

Question 13

Deviation from social norms

Utility

Answer 13

+ application in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

• still other factors to considered such as distress deviation to social norms is not sole issue

Question 14

Deviation from social norms

subjectivity and bias

Answer 14

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 **

Question 15

Deviation from social norms

Measurability

Answer 15

• Norms are always changing so it is hard to have concrete measure of what’s acceptable and what isn’t
  Varies between generation

Question 16

Deviation from social norms

Socially sensitive

Answer 16

• Social norms dictated by majority within a culture - so in sections of society behaviour is seen as normal

Can lead to lack of understanding

Question 17

Failure to function adequately

Utility

Answer 17

+ Attempts to include subjective experience of individual - acknowledges experience of the patient using criterion
- It is difficult to assess distress

Question 18

Failure to function

subjectivity and bias

Answer 18

• subjective judgements
  Someone has to judge whether individual is failing to function

+ although methods for making judgements objective
‘Global assessment of functioning scale’

Question 19

failure to function

Measureable

Answer 19

measurable , can be seen ( unable to cope with stress) - tests can be questionnaires

• if based on self report - limited accuracy

Question 20

Failure to function

Socially sensitive

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Deviation from ideal mental health

Utility

Answer 21

Jahoda criteria is quite strict as not many people meet the full criteria. Therefore, the concept lacks utility.

Question 22

Deviation from ideal mental health

Subjective and bias

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Deviation from ieal mental health

Measurability

Answer 23

DIMH is difficult to measure as reality is subjective and we can’t put into use concepts like personal growth.

Question 24

deviation from ideal mental health

socially sensitive

Answer 24

It is a more positive approach, in contrast to other approaches which seem to ignore it